Arab Forum for Environment and Development

Arab Forum for Environment and Development



Feb 2007 - Arab countries are 
working together to achieve sustainable development in a new 
regional nongovernmental organization backed by both public 
and private sectors. The Arab Forum for Environment and 
Development was introduced to the international environmental 
community today at the Governing Council of the UN Environment 
Programme underway in Nairobi. 
The Arab Forum for Environment and Development, AFED, is a 
pan-Arab civil society initiative with a secretariat to be 
based in Beirut, Lebanon. It groups corporate executives, 
NGOs, media and scientific experts, together with government 
agencies that will participate in the capacity of observers. 
AFED Secretary General Najib Saab of Lebanon is founding 
publisher and editor-in-chief of Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia 
(Environment & Development) magazine. He is a UNEP Global 500 
award winner. 
"In order that the Arab countries may occupy a decent position 
in the new world market, we hope that this forum will succeed 
in encouraging Arab businessmen and economic institutions to 
collaborate in the direction of opening an Arab common market 
for products which are friendly to the environment as well as 
in the direction of harmonizing environmental measures," said 
AFED Secretary General Najib Saab. 
AFED will produce an annual progress report to trace the 
performance of Arab nations with respect to international 
development treaties, ranging from those pertaining to the 
elimination of ozone-depleting chemicals to the achievement of 
the Millennium Development Goals, a series of targets to slash 
global ills such as poverty and illiteracy by 2015. 
From left, UNEP West Asia Regional Director Habib El-Habr and 
Iraqi Environment Minister Narmin Osman participate in the 
press conference introducing the Arab Forum for Environment 
and Development in Nairobi today. 
Saab said that AFED will promote cooperation between the 
public and private sector in the Arab world - chambers of 
commerce, industry, scientific research centers and 
educational institutes – to develop joint environmental 
programs. 
"The AFED is a welcome initiative that lays down steps towards 
achieving sustainable development in a globalized world 
including through empowerment of civil society and the 
consumer," UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said today. 
AFED will cooperate with UNEP to develop joint regional 
programs. 
Saab said, "Common environmental problems demanding regional 
Arab cooperation are not few, among the most acute are water 
resources, air pollution, land degradation, desertification, 
and contamination of regional seas with the ensuing problems 
of low productivity." 
In Iran's Dasht-E-Azadegan plains, the lower stretches of the 
Karkheh River are badly depleted and have become briny after 
the Karkheh dam became operational in April 2001. 
AFED announced the launching of its regional work program 
during a press conference January 31 at the Environment 2007 
conference and exhibition held in Abu Dhabi. 
Director of Environment and Sustainable Development at the 
League of Arab States, Fatima Al-Mallah, commended the unique 
structure of AFED, which allows "true partnership between the 
civil society and governments." 
Mallah announced that AFED will participate in the activities 
of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the 
Environment, and said she was confident "it will provide 
strong contribution to the Arab endeavors towards achieving 
sustainable development." 
The AFED program will be funded by membership dues, 
contributions to AFED’s Trust Fund, donations by corporate 
partners and organizations, and income generated by AFED 
activities and services.

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