IUCN Regional Office for West Asia and the Middle East has recently published the latest report that I have edited entitled "Future of Sustainability in the Arab Region". The report is a synthesis of the proceedings of a regional meeting that was held at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in June 2008.The meeting gathered an experienced group of Arab intellectuals and practitioners concerned with sustainability in its environmental, economic, social and political dimensions.
Issues discussed include: looking at the concept of sustainable development, human security, the role of the private sector, the use and influence of culture, institutional frameworks, and a look at relationships between the environment and economy.
Participant recommendations include:
- Governments: use of current institutional structures such as the Arab League and the Arab Summit for Development to highlight sustainability challenges, develop practical programmes and monitoring indicators; establish national institutional frameworks for sustainability and link these to highest level of decision making; provide economic and tax incentives for the private sector
- Private sector: institutionalise and expand social and environmental programmes and ensure these include cultural and social values of solidarity and support; promote best practice and success stories linking sustainability and profitability
- Civil society: target advocacy at Arab leaders and high profile events, such as the Arab Summit; respond to local problems while spreading awareness of the larger global issues
- Educational and media institutions: highlight successful examples of sustainability and pursue public campaigns to spread a culture of sustainability; develop curricula to eradicate negative stereotypes and support
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