The Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications announced the winners of the Sustainathon for Sustainable Mobility competition for university students during an event that also marked the launch of a suite of sustainability initiatives.
The event was held in line with the United Nations Decade of Sustainable Transport and was attended by ministers, executive leaders, and academics, with the participation of Khalid Abdulsalam Al Mekwad, United Nations Resident Coordinator in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
The Sustainathon for Sustainable Mobility competition aims to stimulate innovation in sustainable land transport solutions and empower Bahraini youth to contribute to the sector’s development.
The Ministry expressed appreciation to the judging panel for their efforts and expertise, which contributed to the competition’s success and the quality of its outcomes.
HE Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications, said the launched initiatives reflect the Ministry’s commitment to embedding sustainability as an integrated institutional approach that enhances service quality, strengthens sector readiness, and supports the Kingdom’s comprehensive development goals.
The Minister noted that the initiatives align with Bahrain’s direction to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 through integrated national plans to reduce emissions, expand green spaces, adopt circular carbon economy principles, and increase reliance on renewable energy.
HE Dr. Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed emphasised that the transportation and telecommunications sectors are key pillars supporting economic growth and improving quality of life, noting that the Ministry is responsible for ensuring the sustainability and efficiency of infrastructure and enhancing its ability to adapt to future challenges.
The Minister added that Bahrain’s total carbon dioxide emissions in 2022 reached approximately 33.8 million metric tons, with the transport sector accounting for nearly 10% of total emissions, underscoring the need to accelerate the adoption of innovative and sustainable solutions in this sector.
HE Noor bint Ali Alkhulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development and Chief Executive of the Economic Development Board (Bahrain EDB), commended the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications for its role in advancing sustainable transport. She commended the qualitative steps taken to implement the showcased initiatives, noting that they reflect Bahrain’s leadership and alignment with international standards.
Alkhulaif highlighted the effectiveness of the Ministry’s operating model in integrating environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards into the core of its operations.
Fatima Abdulla Al Dhaen, Undersecretary for Land Transport and Postal Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications and Chair of the Ministry’s Governance and Sustainability Committee, emphasised the importance of launching the Ministry’s Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Sustainability Report in accordance with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards.
She noted that the report is the first of its kind among ministries and government entities and reflects the Ministry’s commitment to transparency and institutional disclosure. It provides a comprehensive assessment of sector performance across environmental, social, and governance dimensions, identifies areas for development in line with international best practices, and supports empowering young national talent to obtain specialised certifications.
Al Dhaen added that, as part of its sustainability efforts, the Ministry recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the "Safa" platform to strengthen partnerships with national environment-supporting platforms, activate carbon offset mechanisms through accredited environmental projects, and link offsets to gradual emissions reduction plans. This supports a balance between operational growth and environmental commitment and contributes to achieving carbon neutrality in line with national and international frameworks.
She also noted the Ministry’s launch of a platform for projects linked to the Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at enhancing government project management and aligning projects with development objectives, improving planning and implementation efficiency, strengthening impact measurement mechanisms, and supporting data-driven decision-making.
Last Updated Date: 17-02-2026
