The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) ( ar, المنتدى العربي للبيئة والتنمية) is a not-for-profit regional non-governmental organization, membership-based organization headquartered in

Beirut Beirut, french: Beyrouth is the capital and largest city of Lebanon. , Greater Beirut has a population of 2.5 million, which makes it the third-largest city in the Levant region. The city is situated on a peninsula at the midpoint o ...

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to the north and east and Israel to the south, while Cyprus li ...

, with the status of international organization; grouping experts together with the civil society, business community and media, to promote prudent

environmental policies Environmental policy is the commitment of an organization or government to the laws, regulations, and other policy mechanisms concerning environmental issues. These issues generally include air and water pollution, waste management, ecosystem mana ...

and programmes across the

Arab region The Arab world ( ar, اَلْعَالَمُ الْعَرَبِيُّ '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, refers to a vast group of countries, mainly located in Western As ...

. While it maintains its character as a non-governmental organization, AFED admits, in the capacity of observers, national, regional and international bodies working in the fields of

environment Environment most often refers to: __NOTOC__ * Natural environment, all living and non-living things occurring naturally * Biophysical environment, the physical and biological factors along with their chemical interactions that affect an organism or ...

and

sustainable development Sustainable development is an organizing principle for meeting human development goals while also sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the economy and society depend. The des ...

. It has been endorsed by the

League of Arab States League or The League may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band * ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football Sports * Sports league * Rugby league, full contact footba ...

(LAS) and the

United Nations Environment Programme The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on th ...

(UNEP). AFED was officially proclaimed in

on 17 June 2006, at the conclusion of a regional conference on Public Opinion and the Environment, organized by Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia ( Environment & Development magazine). The initiative, which started in 2001 by Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia publisher

Najib Saab Najib or Najeeb ( ar, نجيب) is an Arabic male given name. Notable people with the name include: Given name * Najib ad-Dawlah Yousafzai (died 1770), Pashtun warrior who fought in the Third Battle of Panipat * Najib Amhali (born 1971), Morocc ...

as an informal gathering of the magazine's region-wide readers, was established as a regional organization on the occasion of its tenth anniversary. AFED has subsequently earned the status of international non-governmental organization, with the associated amenities for its secretariat based in

. Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia magazine became an organ of AFED as of January 2013, after

Saab Saab or SAAB may refer to: Brands and enterprises * Saab Group, a Swedish aerospace and defence company, formerly known as SAAB, and later as Saab AB ** Datasaab, a former computer company, started as spin off from Saab AB * Saab Automobile, a fo ...

turned it over to the

pan-Arab Pan-Arabism ( ar, الوحدة العربية or ) is an ideology that espouses the unification of the countries of North Africa and Western Asia from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea, which is referred to as the Arab world. It is closely c ...

organization.

Mission

Since 2007, AFED has been a public forum for influential eco-advocates. During six years, it has become a major dynamic player in the environmental arena. AFED works towards bringing together all parties concerned with environment and development in the

Arab world The Arab world ( ar, اَلْعَالَمُ الْعَرَبِيُّ '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, refers to a vast group of countries, mainly located in Western A ...

to discuss regional and national issues related to the

, in view of local and global changes, emphasizing the pivotal role of

civil society Civil society can be understood as the "third sector" of society, distinct from government and business, and including the family and the private sphere.private sector The private sector is the part of the economy, sometimes referred to as the citizen sector, which is owned by private groups, usually as a means of establishment for profit or non profit, rather than being owned by the government. Employment The ...

. It groups regional

environmental organization An environmental organization is an organization coming out of the conservation or environmental movements that seeks to protect, analyse or monitor the environment against misuse or degradation from human forces. In this sense the environment ...

s and experts with leading academic institutions, media and the business community, on common debate grounds to further the cause of environment and sustainable development. The

Forum Forum or The Forum (plural forums or fora) may refer to: Common uses * Forum (legal), designated space for public expression in the United States *Forum (Roman), open public space within a Roman city **Roman Forum, most famous example *Internet ...

, which cooperates with regional and international institutions, aims at spreading

environmental awareness Environmentalism or environmental rights is a broad philosophy, ideology, and social movement regarding concerns for environmental protection and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks ...

through promoting sensible information and education programmes, as well as supporting civil society organizations active in the environmental sector. AFED aims at encouraging Arab societies to protect the environment and use

natural resource Natural resources are resources that are drawn from nature and used with few modifications. This includes the sources of valued characteristics such as commercial and industrial use, aesthetic value, scientific interest and cultural value. O ...

s in a sensible manner resulting in sustainable development. An independent periodic report on the State of Arab Environment (SAE) is yearly produced by AFED, to be presented to the General Assembly of the Forum. The high-level annual forum is designed to attract participants from the private and public sectors, academia, experts, media and civil society.

Goals

* Bringing together those concerned about environment and development in the

Arab countries The Arab world ( ar, اَلْعَالَمُ الْعَرَبِيُّ '), formally the Arab homeland ( '), also known as the Arab nation ( '), the Arabsphere, or the Arab states, refers to a vast group of countries, mainly located in Western As ...

, to discuss problems in the light of changing regional and global conditions, and help addressing challenges, through appropriate policies. * Motivating Arab societies to protect the environment, rationally utilize natural resources, and realize sustainable development goals, through positive interaction among policy makers, businessmen, academia, civil society, media, and other stakeholders. * Propagating environmental awareness, by supporting

environmental education Environmental education (EE) refers to organized efforts to teach how natural environments function, and particularly, how human beings can manage behavior and ecosystems to live sustainably. It is a multi-disciplinary field integrating discip ...

and information and providing capacity building for civil society organizations.

Course of action

AFED works to achieve its goals through the following course: * Issuing a periodical report on the state of the environment and natural resources in the

, with an emphasis on evaluating the progress towards the realization of

targets, as well as examining Arab contribution to global environmental endeavors. * Convening regularly to discuss regional reports on environmental matters and to investigate their impact on the process of sustainable development in the Arab world, with subsidiary meetings to discuss issues of special concern or specific sub-regional problems. * Working with the business community in the Arab world to develop a

Corporate Environmental Responsibility Programme A corporation is an organization—usually a group of people or a company—authorized by the state to act as a single entity (a legal entity recognized by private and public law "born out of statute"; a legal person in legal context) and re ...

, adopt sustainable practices and move towards

cleaner production Cleaner production is a preventive, company-specific environmental protection initiative. It is intended to waste reduction, minimize waste and Air pollutants, emissions and maximize product output. By analysing the flow of materials and energy ...

technologies. * Encouraging scientific research on current and emerging environmental issues in the Arab world. * Cooperating with the media and the advertising sectors to promote

through various tools. * Working with educational institutions, universities, and research centres towards the development of environmental education programmes at all levels, both for promoting constructive environmental behavior and attitudes, and building up capacities in the domains of environmental sciences and management. * Supporting networking of

NGO A non-governmental organization (NGO) or non-governmental organisation (see spelling differences) is an organization that generally is formed independent from government. They are typically nonprofit entities, and many of them are active in h ...

’s active in the domain of environment and development and coordinating joint programmes among them.

Governance

The Arab Forum for Environment and Development is governed by a

Board of Trustees A board of directors (commonly referred simply as the board) is an executive committee that jointly supervises the activities of an organization, which can be either a for-profit or a nonprofit organization such as a business, nonprofit organiz ...

, representing environmental experts alongside business, media, and civil society leaders. The Board of Trustees elects an

Executive Committee A committee or commission is a body of one or more persons subordinate to a deliberative assembly. A committee is not itself considered to be a form of assembly. Usually, the assembly sends matters into a committee as a way to explore them more ...

that includes a

Chairman The chairperson, also chairman, chairwoman or chair, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the grou ...

Vice Chairman The chairperson, also chairman, chairwoman or chair, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the grou ...

Secretary General Secretary is a title often used in organizations to indicate a person having a certain amount of authority, power, or importance in the organization. Secretaries announce important events and communicate to the organization. The term is derived ...

Treasurer A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The significant core functions of a corporate treasurer include cash and liquidity management, risk management, and corporate finance. Government The treasury o ...

and members. It also appoints honorary members and an

external auditor An external auditor performs an audit, in accordance with specific laws or rules, of the financial statements of a company, government entity, other legal entity, or organization, and is independent of the entity being audited. Users of these enti ...

. It meets annually to decide on AFED policies, programs, and

budget A budget is a calculation play, usually but not always financial, for a defined period, often one year or a month. A budget may include anticipated sales volumes and revenues, resource quantities including time, costs and expenses, environmenta ...

. The executive committee oversees the overall management of AFED, including programs and finance, and meets at least twice a year. Responsibility for the daily management of AFED lies with the Secretary General, assisted by a core secretariat.

Funding

AFED funds come from: * Membership fees * Contributions to AFED

Endowment Endowment most often refers to: *A term for human penis size It may also refer to: Finance *Financial endowment, pertaining to funds or property donated to institutions or individuals (e.g., college endowment) *Endowment mortgage, a mortgage to b ...

Sponsorship Sponsoring something (or someone) is the act of supporting an event, activity, person, or organization financially or through the provision of products or services. The individual or group that provides the support, similar to a benefactor, is k ...

by corporate partners and organizations * Income from activities and services As a not-for-profit organization, any surplus

capital Capital may refer to: Common uses * Capital city, a municipality of primary status ** List of national capital cities * Capital letter, an upper-case letter Economics and social sciences * Capital (economics), the durable produced goods used f ...

is invested in new initiatives or existing programs.

Membership

Prospective members and observers must submit their applications to AFED

, which will consider each case according to the set criteria. Membership continues as long as a member meets the criteria and pays the annual dues. AFED membership is open to all those committed to the goals of

in Arab countries. The main requirement is acceptance and adoption of AFED

mission statement A mission statement is a short statement of why an organization exists, what its overall goal is, the goal of its operations: what kind of product or service it provides, its primary customers or market, and its geographical region of operation ...

, and commitment to help achieve AFED goals. AFED provides a platform to address and reach a wider audience, in public and private sectors, while allowing networking, exchange of expertise, and exposure to similar initiatives around the world. Working together in such a unique partnership allows members to advance their knowledge of emerging trends and business strategies, while serving a good social and environmental cause. In turn, these efforts will contribute to empowering Arab countries and societies to better tackle the challenges of an increasingly complex world, and embrace the transition to a green economy, that will lead to recession-proof growth, economic vitality, and welfare of Arab societies. ''AFED membership is institutional'' In five years, 110 institutional members joined AFED, including: 40 corporate members, 24 NGOs including one political Green party, 12 universities and research centers, 24 media organizations, and 10 government agencies as observers.

Membership categories

Corporate

Businesses active in the Arab region, which are willing to advocate, promote, and adopt policies of sustainable development.

Media

Broadcast and print media which commit to promoting public awareness of environmental issues and furthering of the AFED mission

NGOs

Representing grassroots leadership in mobilizing the public to support environmental causes, as well as advising and pressuring the public sector on these issues.

Academic and research institutions

Offering educational and research programs related to various aspects of environment and sustainable development.

Observers

National, regional, and international governmental and inter-governmental bodies, whose mandates cover environment and sustainable development issues.

Annual reports

AFED released seven reports covering environmental issues in the Arab world: * AFED Report 200
“Arab Environment 1: Future Challenges”
* AFED Report 200
“Arab Environment 2: Climate Change, Impact of Climate Change on Arab Countries”
* AFED Report 201
“Arab Environment 3: Water, Sustainable Management of a Scarce Resource”
* AFED Report 201
“Arab Environment 4: Green Economy, Sustainable Transition in a Changing Arab World”
* AFED Report 201
“Arab Environment 5: Survival Options, Ecological Footprint of Arab Countries”
* AFED Report 201
“Arab Environment 6: Sustainable Energy – Prospects, Challenges, Opportunities”
* AFED Report 201
“Arab Environment 7: Food Security”
*AFED Report 201
"Arab Environment 8: Sustainable Consumption"
*AFED Report 201
"Arab Environment 9: sustainable Development in a Changing Arab Climate"
*AFED Report 201
"Arab Environment 10: Arab Environment in 10 Years"
*AFED Report 201
"Arab Environment 11: Financing Sustainable Development in Arab Countries"
AFED's expert-written, policy oriented annual reports have become the main reference on the state of Arab environment. Findings and recommendations have been endorsed by national and regional bodies. Alongside the original Arabic and English editions, the reports were translated into other languages, including Japanese and Spanish. AFED's reports can be downloaded fro
AFED website

Annual conventions

The most recent AFED convention, held in

Sharjah Sharjah (; ar, ٱلشَّارقَة ', Gulf Arabic: ''aš-Šārja'') is the third-most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi, forming part of the Dubai-Sharjah-Ajman metropolitan area. Sharjah is the capital o ...

UAE The United Arab Emirates (UAE; ar, اَلْإِمَارَات الْعَرَبِيَة الْمُتَحِدَة ), or simply the Emirates ( ar, الِْإمَارَات ), is a country in Western Asia (The Middle East). It is located at th ...

, in October 2013, brought together over 600 delegates from the public and private sectors, scientists, civil society and media, who engaged in an open debate on

Sustainable Energy Energy is sustainable if it "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Most definitions of sustainable energy include considerations of environmental aspects such as greenh ...

in the Arab region. The 2012 convention, in

, tackled Survival Options and

Ecological Footprint The ecological footprint is a method promoted by the Global Footprint Network to measure human demand on natural capital, i.e. the quantity of nature it takes to support people or an economy. It tracks this demand through an ecological accounti ...

. The 2011 convention discussed

Green Economy A green economy is an economy that aims at reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities, and that aims for sustainable development without degrading the environment. It is closely related with ecological economics, but has a more politi ...

, while the 2010 convention debated AFED's report Water: Sustainable Management of a Scarce Resource. The 2009 convention discussed the impact of

climate change In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to E ...

on Arab countries. The first 2008 convention in

Bahrain Bahrain ( ; ; ar, البحرين, al-Bahrayn, locally ), officially the Kingdom of Bahrain, ' is an island country in Western Asia. It is situated on the Persian Gulf, and comprises a small archipelago made up of 50 natural islands and an ...

tackled future environmental challenges. All AFED conventions issue recommendations for action, which are discussed with governments and other stakeholders, and in many cases have contributed to changes in national policies.

AFED activities

AFED Mag

AFED and ‘’Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia’’ ( Environment and Development magazine) launched, in March 2013, the first comprehensive online environmental portal in Arabic, making over 35,000 pages of references freely available to readers and researchers. The domain includes a full archive of the magazine contents during the past 18 years. The website is updated daily with news, information and commentaries. The domain’s nam
www.afedmag.com
(AFED magazine) reflects a new epoch of the magazine, which became an organ of AFED as of January 2013, after its publisher

turned it over to the

organization.

AFED documentaries

AFED produced six documentaries. * The latest, “Powering Arab Future”, summarized AFED report on

, and was shown during

ESCWA The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for West Asia (ESCWA; ar, الإسكوا) is one of five regional commissions under the jurisdiction of the United Nations Economic and Social Council. The role of the Commission is to promote e ...

Renewable Energy Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale. It includes sources such as sunlight, wind, the movement of water, and geothermal heat. Although most renewable energy ...

Conference in

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...

, 2013. * “That They May Have Life” , discussed

and the right of future generations to natural resources. * “Green Change” was launched at AFED's 2011 annual convention. * A documentary on water scarcity in the Arab world, entitled “The Last Drop”, was screened in its third annual conference in November 2010, and broadcast in Cancun Summit and on several Arab televisions networks. * Its 2009 “Wet and Dry” documentary on climate change was broadcast more than 450 times on national and regional television networks. * The earlier “Testimony of an Old Man” in 2008 was broadcast 600 times, and over 6000 DVDs were distributed to schools, civil society organizations, business executives, and governments. AFED continues to support the capacity building initiatives of its member NGOs, as well as its

awareness campaigns Consciousness raising (also called awareness raising) is a form of activism popularized by United States feminists in the late 1960s. It often takes the form of a group of people attempting to focus the attention of a wider group on some cause or ...

, school competitions, and training of journalists.

Environmental education

AFED has developed
comprehensive environmental education program
supported by a wide-ranging handbook. It provides all material needed to initiate environment activities at schools and incorporate environment in the curricula. Each of the 2 topics is supported by graphics, posters, documentaries, songs and plays, all available online. AFED program includes developing

curricula In education, a curriculum (; : curricula or curriculums) is broadly defined as the totality of student experiences that occur in the educational process. The term often refers specifically to a planned sequence of instruction, or to a view ...

at the national levels and teacher training workshops.

Arab Green Economy Initiative

In May 2009, AFED launched the Arab Green Economy Initiative (AGEI), designed to facilitate the transition of governments and businesses to more environment-friendly practices. The AGEI covers: Public Policy Recommendations, Economics of

Eco-system An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Energy enters the syste ...

Investing,

Corporate Environmental Responsibility Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) refers to a company's duties to abstain from damaging natural environments. The term derives from corporate social responsibility (CSR). Background The environmental aspect of CSR has been debated over ...

(CER), New Business Workshops, Sustainability Reporting, and Web-based

Consumer Education Consumer education is the preparation of an individual to be capable of making informed decisions when it comes to purchasing products in a consumer culture. It generally covers various consumer goods and services, prices, what the consumer can e ...

. AFED carried out workshops for stakeholders in seven Arab countries to kick-start the AGEI program and select priorities. The 2011 AFED report Green Economy: Sustainable Transition in a Changing Arab World was one component of the initiative. Other components are 2 handbooks which AFED produced and are in use across the region, on: *

Water Efficiency Water efficiency is the practice of reducing water consumption by measuring the amount of water required for a particular purpose and is proportionate to the amount of essential water used.Vickers, Amy. “Water use and conservation." Amherst, MA ...

, which is a practical guide, providing tips on achieving better sensible use of water in buildings. *

Energy Efficiency Energy efficiency may refer to: * Energy efficiency (physics), the ratio between the useful output and input of an energy conversion process ** Electrical efficiency, useful power output per electrical power consumed ** Mechanical efficiency, a ra ...

, which is designed to help better environmental housekeeping in office buildings. In January 2012, the

announced its national initiative «Green Economy for Sustainable Development”.

Corporate environmental responsibility

AFED launched its corporate environmental responsibility (CER) initiative in

Abu Dhabi Abu Dhabi (, ; ar, أَبُو ظَبْيٍ ' ) is the capital and second-most populous city (after Dubai) of the United Arab Emirates. It is also the capital of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the centre of the Abu Dhabi Metropolitan Area. ...

, on 29 November 2007, at the conclusion of the Arab CER Summit, organized by AFED and

Environment Agency Abu Dhabi The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) is a governmental agency established in 1996 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) tasked with environmental protection matters in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. History In 1989, the National Avian Res ...

(EAD). Over 120 CEOs, representing major business sectors from across the

, have committed to advance the principles of

environmental responsibility Environmentalism or environmental rights is a broad philosophy, ideology, and social movement regarding concerns for environmental protection and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health se ...

and

, and set a target to reduce energy and water consumption by 20% in their operations by 2012. The CER program works with business enterprises to institutionalize environmental thinking and action in corporate decision making. It also aims at developing a comprehensible roadmap for navigating a transition to environmental responsibility, by integrating environmental goals more effectively into core business operations and strategy.

Cooperation with organizations

AFED has contributed to over 200 regional and international meetings, reports and programs. Its reports, recommendations and initiatives have been discussed and considered at high-level regional and international meetings, including

UNEP The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on th ...

, the

Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environment A council is a group of people who come together to consult, deliberate, or make decisions. A council may function as a legislature, especially at a town, city or county/shire level, but most legislative bodies at the state/provincial or natio ...

(CAMRE), the

World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Interna ...

and

ILO The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency whose mandate is to advance social and economic justice by setting international labour standards. Founded in October 1919 under the League of Nations, it is the first and ol ...

. AFED gained

observer status Observer status is a privilege granted by some organizations to non-members to give them an ability to participate in the organization's activities. Observer status is often granted by intergovernmental organizations (IGO) to non-member parties and ...

with

UNFCCC The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established an international environmental treaty to combat "dangerous human interference with the climate system", in part by stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations in the ...

and LAS.

Quotations

* Dr. Andrew Steer President,

World Resources Institute The World Resources Institute (WRI) is a global research non-profit organization established in 1982 with funding from the MacArthur Foundation under the leadership of James Gustave Speth. WRI's activities are focused on seven areas: food, fore ...

(WRI) “I have seen many environmental organizations in my time and I think the combination that AFED brings is absolutely best practice. You bring a sharp pencil of analysis, together with the right mix of people: private sector, government, academic, civil society, financiers; because we need all hands on deck if we are going to solve the problem. This part of the world has given to all of us two extraordinary leaders in environment. One is Mustafa Kamal Tolba who was the executive director of UNEP and who has been a precursor in these events; and the other one is, Mohamed El-Ashry, who led GEF, the Global Environmental Facility, and who has been a leader in every thought process dealing with the transition to low carbon. It is not just a coincidence that both are AFED veterans.” * Kerstin Fritzsche

Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies Center or centre may refer to: Mathematics *Center (geometry), the middle of an object * Center (algebra), used in various contexts ** Center (group theory) ** Center (ring theory) * Graph center, the set of all vertices of minimum eccentricit ...

(CNMS), The Philipp

University of Marburg The Philipps University of Marburg (german: Philipps-Universität Marburg) was founded in 1527 by Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse, which makes it one of Germany's oldest universities and the oldest still operating Protestant university in the wor ...

, Germany “AFED reports have been a valuable source of information and inspiration to my students when learning about the Arab region” *

José María Figueres José María Figueres Olsen (born 24 December 1954 in San José, Costa Rica) is a Costa Rican businessman and politician, who served as President of Costa Rica from 1994 to 1998. He also ran for president in the 2022 Costa Rican general electi ...

Former President of

Costa Rica Costa Rica (, ; ; literally "Rich Coast"), officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( es, República de Costa Rica), is a country in the Central American region of North America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the no ...

and Chairman of the

Carbon War Room RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute) is an organization in the United States co-founded by Amory Lovins dedicated to research, publication, consulting, and lecturing in the field of sustainability, with a focus on profitable innovations for energy and ...

“The report which has been put out by AFED constitutes a very good footprint for action. And action it is what we are convened to undertake in the world of today."

Joining AFED

Interested in joining regional efforts to save the environment in the Arab world? Anxious to lead the combat against environmental challenges threatening our security and hampering our

socio-economic development Socioeconomics (also known as social economics) is the social science that studies how economic activity affects and is shaped by social processes. In general it analyzes how modern societies progress, stagnate, or regress because of their local ...

? The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) offers you this opportunity! Join AFED to network and cooperate with business pioneers, public leaders, scientists, civil society organizations, and media from across the region, and contribute to the environmental decision-making process and formulation of future strategies.

AFED structure

Secretariat

- Secretary General

Executive committee

* Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Awadi - chairman * Mr.

- secretary general * Mr. Samer Younis - chairman, Development and Fundraising Committee * Mr. Adonis Nasr - treasurer * Mr. Maroun Semaan - member * Mr.

Majid Jafar Majid Hamid Jafar (Arabic مجيد حميد جعفر; born 1976) is an Iraqi businessman based in the UAE and the CEO of Crescent Petroleum, the Middle East's oldest privately held oil and gas company. He is vice-chairman of the Crescent Group an ...

- member * Mr. Nabil Habayeb - member

Board of trustees

Founding members

* Dr.

Adnan Badran Adnan Badran ( ar, عدنان بدران ) (born 15 December 1935) is a Jordanian politician and academic. He was the 35th Prime Minister of Jordan from 6 April 2005 to 27 November 2005. Early life and education Badran was born in Jerash, Jorda ...

, Jordan Former PM, President of

Petra University University of Petra is a private university in Amman, Jordan. The University offers the Bachelor and Master Program and has more than 33 nationalities from Arab and foreign countries. The University is located on the airport road and features a ...

(chairman) * Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Awadi, Executive Secretary, Regional Organization for the Protection of Marine Environment (ROPME), Former Minister of Health * Mr.

, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia magazine, Architect * Mr.

Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish (born 6 November 1942, Ar Rass, Saudi Arabia)( ar, سليمان بن جاسر الحربش) ended his third five-year term as Director-General of the OPEC Fund for International Development in October 2018. Education *20 ...

, Director General,

OPEC Fund for International Development The OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) is an intergovernmental development finance institution established in 1976 by the member states of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The OPEC Fund was conceived ...

(OFID) * Mr.

Saad Hariri Saad El-Din Rafik Al-Hariri ( ar, سعد الدين رفيق الحريري, translit=Saʿd ad-Dīn Rafīq al-Ḥarīrī; born 18 April 1970) is a Lebanese-Saudi politician who served as the prime minister of Lebanon from 2009 to 2011 and 2016 t ...

, Lebanon MP, former PM, Businessman * Mr. Mohammed Al-Bawardi, chairman of the executive committee,

Executive Council of Abu Dhabi The Abu Dhabi Executive Council is the local executive authority of the Abu Dhabi Government for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It assists the Ruler of Abu Dhabi in enforcing local and federal decrees and leading the Abu Dhabi Government. The Council ...

* Mr. Salih Osman, former assistant executive director,

(UNEP) * Dr. Riyad Hamzah, secretary general, Higher Education Council, Former Vice President, the

Arabian Gulf University Arabian Gulf University is a university in the city of Manama, in the Kingdom of Bahrain. It is accredited by the Ministry of Education, Bahrain, and governed by Gulf Cooperative Countries, and is a member of Federation of the Universities of t ...

* Mr. Maroun Semaan, president,

Petrofac Petrofac Limited is an international energy services company that designs, builds, manages and maintains oil, gas, refining, petrochemicals and renewable energy infrastructure. It is registered in Jersey (number 81792), with its main corporate off ...

International

Founding honorary members

* Dr.

Mostafa Kamal Tolba Mostafa Kamal Tolba () (8 December 1922 – 28 March 2016) was an Egyptian scientist who served for seventeen years as the executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Biography Mustafa Kamal Tolba was born in the to ...

, former executive director,

(former chairman of the board) * Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Attiyah, former secretary general,

Gulf Cooperation Council The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf ( ar, مجلس التعاون لدول العربية الخليج ), also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC; ar, مجلس التعاون الخليجي), is a regional, interg ...

(GCC) * Mr. Abdulmohsen Al-Sudeary, former president,

International Fund for Agricultural Development The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD; french: link=no, Fonds international de développement agricole (FIDA)) is an international financial institution and a specialised agency of the United Nations that works to address ...

(IFAD)

Members

* Dr. Mohamed El-Ashry, former CEO,

Global Environment Facility The Global Environment Facility (GEF) is a multilateral environmental fund that provides grants and blended finance for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, persistent organic pollutants (POPs ...

(Vice Chairman) * Mr. Ahmad Al-Noaimi, managing director, Ibtikar, Former CEO,

Aluminium Bahrain Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) is the first aluminium smelter in the Middle East which started its commercial operations in 1971. 84% of Alba's employees are Bahraini nationals and the company has introduced numerous capacity building initia ...

(ALBA) * Mr. Nabil Habayeb, president and CEO-Middle East-North Africa-Turkey,

General Electric General Electric Company (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate founded in 1892, and incorporated in New York state and headquartered in Boston. The company operated in sectors including healthcare, aviation, power, renewable energ ...

International Inc. * Mr. Samer Younis, vice chairman and managing director, Kharafi National * Mr.

, CEO,

Crescent Petroleum Crescent Petroleum is the first and largest private upstream oil and gas company in the Middle East. Founded in 1971, Crescent Petroleum is headquartered in the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), with current operations in both the UA ...

* Mr. Adonis Nasr, CEO,

Academia Management Solutions International Al Mawakeb Schools ( ar, مدارس المواكب) is an international school system in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.Akram Miknas, chairman, Fortune Promoseven Holdings * Mr. Rami Alturki, president, Alturki Group * Dr. Mansoor Al-Jamri, editor-in-chief, Al-Wasat Newspaper * Dr. Saif Al-Hajari, vice chairman,

Qatar Foundation Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development ( ar, مؤسسة قطر) is a state-led non-profit organization in Qatar, founded in 1995 by then-emir Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his second wife Moza bint Nasser. Qatar Founda ...

* Dr. Asma El-Kasmi,

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

chair, Water, Women and Decision * Dr.

Adnan Shihab-Eldin Dr. Adnan Shihab-Eldin (born 1 November 1943), former Acting Secretary General and Director of the Research Division of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and former Director General of the Kuwait Foundation for the Adv ...

, director general,

Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the nort ...

(KFAS) * {{flagicon, Jordan Mr. Khaled Irani, former minister, president, the

Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature The Royal Society for The Conservation of Nature (RSCN) is an independent voluntary organization that is devoted to the conservation of Jordan's natural resources; it was established in 1966 with the late King Hussein as Honorary President. RS ...

External links

Official websiteAl-Bia Wal-Tanmia (Environment & Development magazine)AFED Eco School
International environmental organizations 2006 establishments in Lebanon Organizations established in 2006 Environmental organisations based in Lebanon