9 July 2018
ESCWA Ministerial Launches Arab Centre for Climate Change Policies
adelphi https://www.climate-diplomacy.org/
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The Ministerial Session led to a resolution on the establishment of an ESCWA-led Arab centre for climate change policies.

The centre will focus on delivering technical assistance and advisory services, and building capacity through institutional strengthening and policy making, among others.

Its functions include helping Arab countries prepare for climate change negotiations, and formulate policies and measures in the areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation.

29 June 2018: The UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) 30th Ministerial Session established an ESCWA-led Arab centre for climate change policies to prepare studies and build Arab capacity, especially in the field of climate change negotiations.

The centre will focus on five work areas: delivering technical assistance and advisory services; building capacity through institutional strengthening and policy making; enhancing regional platforms for exchange, coordination and consensus building; promoting integrated responses to and management of climate-related challenges; and providing access to regional knowledge products, data and information.

The centre will also help Arab countries to: prepare for climate change negotiations; prepare projects for funding; formulate policies and measures in the areas of climate change adaptation and mitigation; and inform policies and projects through scientific assessments and evidence-based studies.

The Ministerial Session adopted an outcome document that sets new and reaffirms existing commitments towards achieving the SDGs in the Arab region.

The ESCWA 30th Ministerial Session meeting, which convened from 25-28 June 2018 in Beirut, Lebanon, focused on technology for sustainable development in the Arab region. It provided the opportunity to address regional challenges, including high unemployment, particularly among youth, natural resource depletion, and other issues that lead to political instability and conflict. Participants discussed actions required from governments, the private sector and civil society in Arab countries in response to rapidly emerging disruptive technologies, or “frontier technologies,” to maximize technology benefits for sustainable development and lower risks of abuse and possible negative impacts.

The ministerial session adopted an outcome document titled, ‘Beirut Consensus on Technology for Sustainable Development in the Arab Region,’ which, inter alia, sets new and reaffirms existing commitments towards achieving the SDGs in the Arab region.

Held every two years, the Ministerial Session is ESCWA’s main governing body, and provides a platform for discussing the Secretariat’s activities, ESCWA’s future work programme, and economic and social development issues in the region. [UN Press Release] [ESCWA Press Release at Conclusion of Ministerial] [30th Ministerial Meeting Page] [Proposal for Establishment of an Arab Centre for Climate Change Policies at ESCWA]


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