62nd Session of the Executive Office of Arab Ministers of Environment Convenes with Kuwait's Participation
Cairo, September 30 (KUNA) -- The Executive Office of the Arab Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs held its 62nd session today, Wednesday, with the participation of the State of Kuwait, represented by State Minister for Development and Sustainability Dr. Reem Al-Faleh. The meeting was chaired by Saudi Arabia’s Undersecretary of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture for Environmental Affairs, Dr. Osama bin Ibrahim, and attended by representatives of the Executive Office’s member states from Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, and Lebanon.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mahmoud Fathallah, Director of the Environmental and Meteorological Affairs Department at the Arab League, stated that the Executive Office’s meeting coincides with the Arab World’s celebration of Arab Agriculture Day, which this year is observed under the theme “Sustainability of Arab Rangelands: A Fundamental Pillar for Sustainable Agricultural Development and Ensuring Food Security for Future Generations.”
He added that this topic was adopted by the Arab Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs as the central axis for the work of their 37th session, under the slogan “Sustainability of Rangelands to Enhance Resilience.”
Fathallah clarified that the meeting will review the follow-up on the implementation of decisions from the previous 36th session of the Ministerial Council and prepare for the 37th session of the Council, scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday, and to be presided over by Yemen.
According to the agenda, the Executive Office will discuss 21 items distributed across two main axes. The first axis focuses on monitoring international environmental agreements and meetings, notably the outcomes of the 24th meeting of the Arab Team on Biodiversity and Combating Desertification, and the results of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention to Combat Desertification. This axis also addresses nature-based solutions and the interlinkages between water, agriculture, and environmental policies, as well as the follow-up on conventions related to chemicals, waste, and the ozone layer.
It also emphasizes enhancing the Arab approach to climate change issues, including coordinating the Arab negotiating position in preparation for the 31st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP31). Additionally, it covers topics on sustainable production and consumption, and preparations for the Arab Forum for Sustainable Development, the High-Level Political Forum, and the United Nations Environment Assembly.
Conversely, the second axis addresses Arab environmental affairs, including the Arab Environment Forum, the Arab Environment Facility, the environmental situation in the State of Palestine and Arab countries facing environmental disasters, as well as the designation of the Arab Environment Capital and the award of the Arab Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs.
Furthermore, the meeting will discuss the proposed agenda for the 38th session, the slogan for Arab Environment Day for 2027 and 2028, the environmental outlook report for the Arab region, the blue economy, and frameworks for international cooperation in various environmental fields.
The Executive Office is scheduled to submit the draft agenda and draft decisions to the 37th session of the Ministerial Council for consideration, adoption, and approval. (End) M.M. / M.A.A.
