On 24 May 2016, ESCWA joined hands with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the League of Arab States (LAS) to organize a meeting on the different regional visions to begin the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the new Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The meeting was organized on the sidelines of the United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya (23-27 May 2016). Participants in the meeting were representatives of the Arab region, North America, Asia and the Pacific, as well as regional and international delegations from 180 countries.

The highlight of the meeting was the ESCWA Arab Sustainable Development Report, which was jointly drafted with UNEP, and which also discusses the Arab vision for the regional and national implementation of the global agenda. The Report notes that it is necessary to establish high-level bodies in countries of the region to integrate sustainable development into national socio-economic plans.  Participants shed light on regional and country experiences in this area.

It is noteworthy to mention that LAS will submit its recommendations concerning the strategic framework for sustainable development to the upcoming Arab Economic and Social Development Summit, scheduled to take place in Mauritania. The Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment (CAMRE) was tasked with drawing up the suitable strategies concerning environment-related SDGs.

The Report also includes a statistical assessment of the present state of sustainable development in the Arab region, as well an analysis of trends over the past two decades. It indicates several major challenges like the deterioration of water and land resources, and the impact of this matter on poverty and the social status of the population. The Arab region was classified as the region that is facing the most pressing social, political and economic pressures.

To access the report, please click here