Shaping an Eco-Kuwait: A Policy Framework for Sustainable Living

Kuwait faces unprecedented temperature increases and severe climate change impacts, largely due to its geographical location and heavy reliance on fossil fuels for urban development. In 2016, temperatures reached 54.4 degrees Celsius, the highest ever temperature recorded in Asia.

However, if climate change has created a sense of emergency worldwide, this has yet to be fully acknowledged in the Gulf. Kuwait is still considered the fourth most polluting country in the world in according to the World Bank (2020 data) and despite a commitment to move to a carbon neutral economy by 2060, there is little discussion as to what this pledge means and how it will be implemented. Additionally, little attention has been paid to understanding and changing user behaviour related to car dependency, inefficient building and construction practices, and excessive energy consumption, contributing to higher levels of air pollution and climate change events, such as severe dust storms and flooding, while exacerbating socio-spatial inequalities.

This project seeks to provide evidence-based data and policy recommendations to foster a more sustainable and resilient future for Kuwait by assessing governance policies and structures, understand behaviour drivers, and propose innovative public engagement strategies. Consequently, helping Kuwait's environmental sustainability by exploring the relationship between policies – practices and behaviour - in urban development, energy use, and access to transportation systems.

This project forms part of Kuwait Programme, funded by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science (KFAS).

_{‘Air Conditioners in Kuwait: A Glimpse into Cooling energy Dependency’ - (C) Alexandra Gomes (2020)}