The first meeting of the National Center for Environmental Compliance's board of directors was chaired by His Excellency Abdulrahman Abdulmohsen A. AlFadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
During the meeting, the board of directors reviewed the National Environment Strategy, transition roadmap, and the new institutional framework. Board members also approved the appointment of Eng. Ali AlGhamdi as Chief Executive Officer of the Center and Dr. Omar AlAttas as Deputy Chief Executive Officer.
AlFadley stressed the importance of the Center taking an active role in protecting human health and the environment, finding a balance between the ongoing growth of various development sectors and environmental protection and sustainability.
AlFadley also noted the significant role the Center's board of directors can play to support the CEO to work effectively. Adding that the Center will play a complementary role to the three newly established centers as they are closely interlinked.
The meeting emphasized that the Center aims to raise the level of environmental control, reduce sources of pollution, monitor the environmental commitment of all facilities, study the environmental impact, and issue environmental licenses, in addition to quality control of air, water and soil, and environmental inspection.
The Council of Ministers has lately approved a plan to establish four centers for environment sector development, including the National Center for Environmental Compliance, the National Center for Vegetation Cover and Combating Desertification, the National Center for Wildlife and the National Center for Meteorology.