2016 Report of the Arab Forum for Environment and Development ARAB ENVIRONMENT ARAB ENVIRONMENT•9 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 2016 Report of the Arab Forum for Environment and Development ARAB ENVIRONMENT•9 This AFED report on “Sustainable Development in a Changing Arab Climate” Arab Forum for Environment highlights the policy options available for the Arab countries to realize the and Development (AFED) is an SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT Sustainable Development Goals by the 2030 target set by the United Nations, international not-for-profit, in light of the new political, economic, and social developments. non-governmental, membership-based organization The report recommends an alternative approach, based on integrating headquartered in Beirut, Lebanon. IN A CHANGING ARAB CLIMATE sustainable development principles within the anticipated rebuilding efforts. Members include corporations, It calls upon local, regional, and international aid organizations not to limit universities, research centers, How Can Arab Countries Achieve Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 their efforts to providing safety and basic necessities to those affected, but rather to use the relief plans as a launch pad for promoting new approaches media networks, and civil society to development, rooted in a transition to green economy. alongside government entities as observers. Since 2007, AFED EDITED BY: This report, on prospects and challenges along the path towards achieving the has been a public forum for • NAJIB SAAB SDGs, builds on the previous eight reports on the state of Arab environment, influential eco-advocates. During 9 eight years, it has become a ABDUL-KARIM SADIK produced by the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) since 2008. AFED annual reports have so far addressed major development issues major dynamic player in the DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABLE in the Arab region, including Water, Food Security, Energy, Green Economy, global environmental arena. Ecological Footprint, Sustainable Consumption, and Climate Change. The flagship contribution of AFED AFED annual reports have become main source of information and prime driver is an annual report written and for policy reforms in Arab countries. The Energy-Water-Food Nexus proved edited by experts on the state specifically significant, especially with the growing impact of climate change. of Arab environment, tracking AFED reports have repeatedly emphasized the importance of promoting better developments and proposing efficiency and fair access to energy, water and food, and reducing waste, as policy measures. Other initiatives there are tough limits to what Arab ecosystems can support. include a regional Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) program, capacity building, public awareness, and environmental education. AFED enjoys Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission (ECOSOC), and has an observer member status with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the League of Arab States (LAS), and many other regional and international organizations and conventions. As an Arab think tank, it has played a major role in international negotiations on environment and development, including advising governments and regional organizations on 2016 matters such as climate change, green economy and sustainable development. www.afedonline.org Arab Forum for Environment and Development Islamic Development Bank P.O.Box 113-5474 Beirut, Lebanon Tel: (+961) 1 321 800 Fax: (+961) 1 321 900 e-mail: [email protected] ARAB ENVIRONMENT•9 SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN A CHANGING ARAB CLIMATE EDITED BY NAJIB SAAB ABDUL-KARIM SADIK 2016 REPORT OF THE ARAB FORUM FOR ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT © 2016 Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) Published with Technical Publications and Environment & Development magazine P.O.Box 113-5474, Beirut, Lebanon [email protected] http://www.afedonline.org This report should be cited as follows: AFED (2016). Arab Environment: Sustainable Development In A Changing Arab Climate. Annual Report of Arab Forum for Environment and Development, 2016; Saab, N. and Sadik, A. (Eds.); Beirut, Lebanon. Technical Publications. If the reference is to a specific chapter, include also number of the chapter and respective author(s). AFED and respective authors are solely responsible for opinions expressed in this report. The contents are based on best available data. Sponsors and supporting organizations do not necessarily endorse the views expressed in this report. Editors: Najib Saab and Abdul-Karim Sadik Chief Adviser: Mohamed El-Ashry Lead authors: Abdul-Karim Sadik (Section 2), Ibrahim Abdel Gelil (Section 3), Hussein Abaza (Sections 4 and 5), Iman Nuwayhid (Background paper on Health), Mahmoud El-Solh (Back- gound paper on Zero Hunger). Graphics and Production Manager: Charbel Mahfoud Copy Editor: Rosalyn Saab Execution: Maguy Abou Jaoude Printing: Chemaly & Chemaly, Beirut Photos: Environment & Development Magazine Archive - iStock photos ISBN: 978-9953-437-58-3 ARAB ENVIRONMENT: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 3 Contents 5 PREFACE 8 AFED 2016 REPORT Sustainable Development in a Changing Arab Climate I. Introduction 9 II . Background on Sustainable Development 15 III. Implementation of the SDGs in a Changing Climate 21 I V. Requirements for the Implementation of the SDGs in Arab Countries 46 V. Financing the SDGs 56 VI. Conclusion 64 References 66 68 ANNEX Sustainable Development Goals and Targets 87 OPINIONS AND CASE STUDIES 112 HEALTH - Background Paper Health: A Unifying Regional Sustainable Development Goal for Wellbeing and Survival in the Arab World Iman Nuwayhid; Rima R. Habib; Suzanne El Khechen and Shelby Surdyk 132 ZERO HUNGER - Background Paper Contributing to Zero Hunger in Arab Countries Mahmoud El-Solh 143 CONTRIBUTORS 145 ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS 4 CONTENTS List of Opinions and Case Studies The Role of the World Bank in Implementing SDGs in Arab Countries Mahmoud Mohieldin 88 The Role of Arab Development Institutions in the Implementation of the SDGs in Arab Countries Abdulwahab A. Al-Bader 92 How Can OFID Contribute to Implementing SDGs in Arab Countries? Focus on Goal 7: Universal Access to Affordable and Modern Energy Suleiman Al Herbish 96 Government and Private Sector Partnerships to Intensify the UAE’s Response to the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak 99 The Challenges of Sustainable Education in the Arab World: AUB’s Current and Future Roles Saouma BouJaoude; Rima Karami Akkary and Fadlo R. Khuri 102 SDG 17: Strengthening the Means of Implementation and Revitalizing Partnerships for Achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the Arab Region Reem Nejdawi, Monia Braham and Fidele Byiringiro 105 Preventing Disease Through Healthy Environment: Assessment of The Burden of Disease from Environmental Risks in Arab Countries Mazen Malkawi and Basel Al-Yousfi 108 ARAB ENVIRONMENT: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 5 Preface Even if all conflicts and wars were to stop immediately, the Arab region cannot meet the target of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 using traditional methods. Many Arab countries have experienced collapse at gigantic scale over the past years, which has largely reduced their hopes to no more than re-establishing the status quo which prevailed in 2010, rather than achieving the SDGs by 2030. This AFED report recommends an alternative approach, based on integrating sustainable development principles within the anticipated rebuilding efforts. It calls upon local, regional, and international aid organizations not to limit their efforts to providing safety and basic necessities to those affected, but rather to use the relief plans as a launch pad for promoting new approaches to development, rooted in a transition to green economy. This report, on prospects and challenges on the path towards achieving the SDGs, builds on the previous eight reports on the state of Arab environment, produced by the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) since 2008. AFED annual reports have so far addressed major development issues in the Arab region, including Water, Food Security, Energy, Green Economy, Ecological Footprint, Sustainable Consumption, and Climate Change. The report highlights the policy options available for the Arab countries to realize the Sustainable Development Goals by the 2030 target set by the United Nations, in light of the new political, economic, and social developments. AFED annual reports have become main source of information and prime driver for policy reforms in Arab countries. The Energy-Water-Food Nexus proved specifically significant, especially with the growing impact of climate change. AFED reports have repeatedly emphasized the importance of promoting better efficiency and fair access to energy, water and food, and reducing waste, as there are tough limits to what Arab ecosystems can support. AFED continues to engage many regional players, including public policy officials, corporations, academia, NGOs, and the media, on the question of sustainable development, mainly through its annual policy-oriented reports. The present report concludes with a set of messages tailored to specific actors with a stake in the critical implementation of SDGs in the Arab region. The first message is that we need to stop treating Arab countries as a monolith. Individual countries have distinctive needs, priorities, and economic, political, and social contexts that must be recognized when developing implementation plans. Countries