(1) Text of recommendation and summary of the competent authority’s reply to NIHR: Enact a new comprehensive and integral law on environment to provide the necessary protection for the different types of environmental issues, whether related to land, marine or climate change.  Summary of the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs, and Urban Planning reply to NIHR: This recommendation has not been answered.  Summary of the Supreme Council for Environment reply to NIHR: a) The Council stated that the substance of the recommendation has been achieved in practice. It explained that the government, composed of the competent authority and the Legislation and Legal Opinion Commission, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Shura and Representatives Councils, has been involved in drafting an environmental bill, in line with modern legislation, for the purpose of preserving the environment, protecting natural resources, and sustainable development, in conformity with international environmental conventions and treaties. b) It clarified that the government has submitted the draft law (bill) and presented it to the House of Representatives, and it was referred to the Shura Council after voting on it. On the last day of the previous session (the third session of the fifth legislative term), the Shura Council returned the draft law to the Council of Representatives to consider some articles. It is hoped that this draft law will be approved, submitted to His Majesty the King to be ratified and published in the Official Gazette to enter into force. (2) Text of recommendation and summary of the competent authority’s reply to NIHR: Update and disseminate the national environment strategy, and conduct national consultations with the constitutional authorities, civil society institutions, academics and environmental rights defenders during all stages of the formulation of this strategy.  Summary of the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs, and Urban Planning reply to NIHR: The Ministry did not provide a reply on this recommendation. Ninth Annual Report of the NIHR 33

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