10 November 2014: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the League of Arab States (LAS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 51st Meeting of the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment (CAMRE). The MoU provides the basis for enhanced cooperation and coordination on a range of programmes and activities related to biodiversity, climate change, environmental governance, the green economy, post conflict assessments and recovery, sustainable consumption and production (SCP) and water resources.

The MoU builds upon a previous agreement between UNEP and LAS, which was signed in 1986, and will help to advance cooperation on planning and implementing global and regional environmental programmes in the Arab region. The MoU is “aligned with joint UN-LAS strategic priorities for Economic, Social and Environmental Clusters for the period 2013-2017,” and also responds to the outcome of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) outcome document, according to UNEP.

UNEP Deputy Executive Director Ibrahim Thiaw, who signed the MoU on behalf of UNEP, said the agreement will help UNEP and LAS to “strengthen our partnership and commitment to work together to address the environmental challenges and opportunities of the region.” Thiaw noted that the region hosts eight out of the ten most water-stressed countries in the world, and “competition over access to land and water is one of the root causes of major conflicts in the region.” In addition, climate change, population growth and growing urbanization could complicate the region’s energy and food security, he said.

At the same time, Thiaw highlighted the region’s opportunity to shape its future, including through negotiations on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and taking measures to climate-proof its economies and build resilience. He concluded by highlighting examples of Arab countries that have incorporated an integrated approach towards sustainable development.

The Head of Department of Environment, Housing and Water Resources and Sustainable Development in LAS, Jamaleddine Jaballah, signed the MoU on behalf of the LAS. The 51st meeting of CAMRE took place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. [UNEP Press Release] [UNEP Deputy Executive Director Statement] [UN Information Centre in Cairo Press Release]