When the long-simmering social crises in Arab countries erupted to the surface in 2011, these events immediately shifted government attention from the economic to the social fields. Suddenly it became clear that years of substantial economic growth had not improved social outcomes and Governments rushed to increase public employment and wages, improve services, increase social transfers and invest in social infrastructure.

Arab Society: A Compendium of Social Statistics, Issue No. 12 provides an overview of demographic and social dynamic across the region.

Statistics reveal that land transport is responsible for more than three quarters of the emissions by the transport sector worldwide. Consequently, this sector is considered to be one of the most important sectors to be focused on with regards to measures aimed at mitigating climate change, which was agreed by regional and international organizations. This study includes a presentation on energy consumption in the transport sector in general and in the ESCWA region in particular, and its implications on the environment and climate change.

This report presents the findings of a detailed review and analysis of gender issues associated with energy services in Lebanon. It calls attention to the challenges and barriers rural women face in employment and entrepreneurship in energy sectors. It also highlights the potential for gender mainstreaming and identifies  opportunities to support the local private sector, and to promote and expand the use of small-scale renewable energy technologies, while emphasizing the environmental and climate benefits associated with them.