Abu Dhabi, 31 January 2007

The Arab Forum for Environment & Development (AFED) announced the launching of its regional work program during a press conference organized on the occasion of Environment 2007 conference and exhibition held in Abu Dhabi. This has been the first public proclamation of AFED, after it gained the status of regional non-governmental organization, with associated immunities as international agency granted to its Beirut-based secretariat. AFED is a pan-Arab civil society initiative, grouping corporate leaders, NGO's, media and experts, along with government agencies, that participate in the capacity of observers.  

Mr. Majid Al Mansouri, Secretary General of Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi conveyed the greetings of Mr. Mohammad Al Bowardi, founding member of AFED's Board of Trustees and Managing Director of the Environment Agency. He expressed gratification that the regional organization was launching its work programs from Abu Dhabi, and announced that the Environment Agency will cooperate with AFED "as it is inevitable to join forces among all regional stakeholders in the sustainable development process, be they government agencies, private sector corporations or civil society."

Director of Environment and Sustainable Development at the League of Arab States, Mrs. Fatima Al-Mallah, conveyed best wishes of the Secretary General Mr. Amr Moussa for a successful launch of AFED programs. She 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 (CAMRE), and said she was confident "it will provide strong contribution to the Arab endeavors towards achieving sustainable development."

AFED's Secretary General, Najib Saab, addressed the meeting, expressing his pleasure to launch the work program from Abu Dhabi "the capital of Arab environment." He described AFED as "a unique regional civil society initiative",  explaining that the Forum is a non-governmental organization, grouping experts together with the civil society, business community and media, to promote prudent environmental policies and programmes across the Arab region.

Saab added that "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 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 unifying environmental measures. On this level, the Forum fosters the creation of links among Arab chambers of commerce and industry and among scientific research centres and educational institutions in the Arab world aiming, through environmental collaboration, at the development of joint environmental programmes. The Forum will seek to prompt governments to adopt and develop environmental laws in conformity with the nature of the problems currently prevailing in the Arab world, with an emphasis on putting these legislations into effect."

AFED's Secretary General announced that the Forum has recently earned the status of international non-governmental organization, with the associated immunities for its secretariat based in Beirut. The organization has been endorsed by the League of Arab States (LAS) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with which it will cooperate to develop joint regional programs.

AFED Programmes

Saab said that the main output of AFED is the annual report on the State of Arab Environment (SAE), evaluating the progress towards the realization of sustainable development goals and examining Arab contribution to global environmental endeavors. The report will be discussed during the annual General Assembly of the Forum, designed to attract group of high-level representatives from all active players in the environment and sustainable development arena.

Alongside the report, AFED is launching special programs covering: Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER), including Cleaner Production; Environmental Awareness and Communication, in cooperation with regional media leaders; Environmental Education; Environmental Legislation; Environmental Governance; Water Resources Management; Combating Desertification; Waste Management.

AFED Governance

Arab Forum for Environment & Development is governed by a Board of Trustees, representing environmental experts alongside business, media and civil society leaders. AFED's funding comes from: Membership fees, contributions to AFED's Trust Fund, sponsorship of programmes by corporate partners and organizations, and income from the Forum's activities and services.

Founding members, representing all regions of the Arab countries, have elected the first Executive Board comprising: Dr. Mostapha Kamal Tolba, President (former Executive Director of UNEP); Dr. Adnan Badran, Vice-President (Former Prime Minister and President of the Arab Academy of Science); Dr. Abdelrahman Al-Awadi, Vice-President (Executive Secretary of the Regional Organization for the Protection of Marine Environment-ROPME and former Minister of Health); Maroun Semaan, Financial Affairs (Executive Director of PETROFAC International); Najib Saab, Secretary General (Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Environment & Development magazine). 

WHY BECOME A MEMBER OF AFED?

Najib Saab invited all concerned stakeholders to join the new regional organization, explaining that AFED's membership can provide s a platform through which members can reach a wider audience, in both the public and private sectors, while allowing networking and exchanging environmental knowledge and data, through the sharing of experience and expertise. It also cooperates with similar initiatives around the world. Membership allows access to and participation in a unique network of leading and influential voices from across the corporate, media, academic, NGO, and public sectors, thereby allowing members to further their knowledge of emerging trends as well as business strategies. While serving a good social cause, working together in such a unique partnership allows members to better tackle the challenges of an increasingly complex world.

Detailed information can be accessed through AFED website: www.afedonline.org

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© Press Release 2007