Prince Hassan talks Red Sea preservation at conservation conference

AMMAN — HRH Prince Hassan, Chairman of the Higher Council for Science and Technology (HCST), on Friday stressed the importance of regional and international cooperation to protect the Red Sea ecosystem, share knowledge and improve scientific research and development.

Speaking at the inauguration of "First International Conference on the Red Sea Ecosphere: Conservation and Management of the Red Sea Marine Environment", Prince Hassan said that the Red Sea is an important source of natural resources and is essential for community and population stability, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

He stressed the need for proactive planning and the exchange of relevant knowledge, experience and reliable information to better adapt to climate change.

Prince Hassan noted that genuine, scientific and effective development based on common interests is the foundation for stability on all fronts, including environmental stability.

He emphasised the significance of developing the Great Rift Valley and addressing disparities in order to empower its peoples.

The three-day conference, which is organised by HCST in cooperation with the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA), the University of Jordan and Yarmouk University, emphasises the crucial role that colleges, research institutions and government and non-government organisations play in understanding and preserving the Red Sea's environment.

HCST Secretary General Abdullah Moussa said that the Red Sea is "a strategic corridor for the global economy", not just for the nations along its shores, emphasising the need to safeguard its marine ecosystem and the environments of cities along its coast.

ASEZA Chief Commissioner Nayef Bakheet said that the conference brings together renowned environmentalists from Jordan and beyond, and that the gathering is envisioned to produce recommendations that benefit Aqaba's marine environment. 

Head of the Fellowship Advisory Team of the HCST Khaled Toukan said that hundreds of ships pass through the Red Sea every day, affecting its environment. 

The purpose of the conference, he said, is to present ideas based on real data regarding sea level and temperature, waste, marine life and the preservation of coral reefs. 

Advisor to the President of Cyprus on climate change Costas Papanikolas emphasised the need to develop an action plan to address the region's specific challenges, citing a decline in international and regional funding for climate change research and a suboptimal use of technology.