Muscat: The Statistical Centre for GCC States (GCC-STAT) is organizing a two-day regional workshop focusing on the progress made in achieving the environmental dimension indicators set within the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The workshop aims to assess the current state of monitoring environmental indicators across GCC states, emphasizing the availability of relevant data.

According to Oman News Agency, the workshop will review both national and regional efforts to track SDG indicators, highlight environment-related statistical programs and projects, and explore opportunities to improve coordination mechanisms among entities responsible for producing environmental data. Additionally, it will examine the experiences of international organizations such as the Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Dr. Said Mohammed Al Saqri, the Minister of Economy, emphasized the workshop’s importance in enhancing statistical efforts to monitor environmental and sustainable development indicators within GCC states. He praised the GCC-STAT for its role in unifying efforts, coordinating data exchange, and developing modern methodologies for data handling.

Intisar Abdullah Al Wahaibi, Director General of the GCC-STAT, stated that the workshop aims to strengthen coordination among environmental data producers and national statistical institutions. This is to ensure that statistical activities align with international standards and to foster integration between national and GCC efforts in providing necessary data and statistics to monitor progress.

The first day of the workshop featured visual presentations on sustainable development indicators related to the environment, environment statistics from GCC countries, and data collection and dissemination methods. Experts from ESCWA and UNEP shared insights on modern monitoring applications and environmental data collection practices during a special session.

The second day is set to focus on success stories in monitoring environmental indicators, featuring sessions on building capacities and enhancing coordination between environmental bodies and national statistical establishments. The workshop is attended by representatives from GCC statistical departments, national environmental bodies, research and academic institutions, as well as regional and international organizations specializing in environment-related statistics and sustainable development.