Requirement Two
Recommendations Contained in the NIHR’s Seventh Annual Report for the
year 2019
Section One: Environmental impact and climate change in human rights
(1) Text of recommendation and summary of the competent authority’s
reply to NIHR:
Call on the competent authorities to review relevant environmental laws
and regulations in force and make the necessary amendments thereon, in
a manner consistent with environmental changes and emerging issues.
Alternatively, enact a comprehensive and integrated law on the
environment to provide for the necessary protection of all types of
environmental issues, whether it is land, marine, or those related to climate
change.
Summary of the Ministry of Works, Municipalities Affairs, and
Urban Planning reply to NIHR:
The Ministry did not provide a reply on this recommendation.
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.
Ninth Annual Report of the NIHR
42