Arab Forum for Environment

Restore Land to Build Resilience 

Based on the decision of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment - CAMRE (S600 – D.A.32 - 14/10/2021 - article three) that approved the establishment of the "Arab Environmental Forum" and entrusting the Technical Secretariat to coordinate with Arab and international organizations wishing to participate and organize. The first session of the forum was hosted in Egypt, and the second session was hosted by the Sultanate of Oman. During the thirty-fourth session of CAMRE (S641 - Dr. A. 34 - 26/10/2023), the Council adopted a decision to set the theme of the upcoming forum's third session as "Restore Land to Build Resilience," and invited the United Nations Environment Programme, represented by the West Asia Office, to establish a permanent joint secretariat for the forum with the League of Arab States.

Organizing Partners

The third session of the Arab Forum for the Environment will be hosted the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (host country), represented by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture. The forum will take place for two days on the 3rd and 4th of June in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and will be organized by the permanent joint secretariat of the forum.

Objective

The Forum aims to discuss and develop technical recommendations regarding emerging or critical environmental issues in the Arab region. It aims to contribute to the agenda of the CAMRE, providing the relevant information and priority topics to be incorporated into the Council's decisions. Furthermore, the forum will serve as the regional nexus, facilitating the alignment of visions and supporting a stronger role for Arab countries in shaping the global environmental agenda through the United Nations Environment Assembly.

The main purpose of holding Arab forum for Environment sessions is to exchange experiences in relevant fields, identify potential cooperation partnerships, establish regional dialogue among stakeholders to discuss the current situation and anticipate prospects for environmental work in the Arab region. It aims to provide a regular platform for dialogue among various stakeholders, including policymakers, international and regional experts in various environmental fields, while expanding opportunities for partnerships and possible cooperation among key actors.