Professor of Water Resources, Dean of the College of Education, Administrative and Technical Sciences at Arabian Gulf University, Dr. Waleed Khalil Al-Zubari, participated in the activities of the Executive Learning Program for Western Diplomats organised by the Gulf Research Centre in Riyadh, entitled "Deeper Understanding of the Arabian Gulf". He gave a lecture on "The Gulf after Oil: Climate Change and the Environment” addressing the interconnected relationship between water, energy and food in GCC countries, and the expected impacts of climate change on these sectors. 

The lecture reviewed the current status of water, energy and food and discussed critical inter-linkages regarding their security, besides the challenges facing GCC countries in maintaining the sustainability of these three sectors and their relevance to Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, it addressed the responses of GCC countries to these challenges, achievements made, and emerging trends such as adopting a circular economy approach, investing in renewable energy, commitment to carbon neutrality, energy efficiency programs, and other initiatives.

Dr. Zubari stressed the importance of adopting an integrated approach between the three sectors, in addition the environmental sector, which enables their sustainability through the consistent management policies. Adopting this approach will support transition to a stage wherein resource management is more efficient, leading to green economy (reduced carbon emissions) and circular economy (reduced waste), which contributes to sustainable development goals and national targets.