The Saudi undersecretary of Meteorology and Environment Protection for Environment and Sustainable Development Affairs, Abdul Bassette Al-Sairafi, has urged all Arab countries to take a unified stance against the high pollution rates and develop a clear strategy to face environment challenges.

 

“There have been some environmental improvements over the past 40 years. However, there is evidence which reveals that the current environmental challenges require stronger efforts to increase green areas and protect natural resources,” Al-Sairafi said in his opening speech at the first session of the Arab Joint Ministerial Committee meeting for environment and sustainable development of Arab countries which was held in Jeddah.

 

He said that adverse environmental changes had raised concerns among Arab countries which had resulted in the adoption of the recommendations of international conventions and protocols in order to protect the environment from natural disasters such as desertification and the negative effects of climate change. The committee discussed in addition, a number of important topics like the oil pollution of Lebanese shores and following up on the implementation of the Arab environment summits’ decisions in addition to other topics including the environment and sustainable development.

 

The meeting also discussed the implementation of the resolutions of the World Summit for Sustainable Development (WSSD), the Sustainable Development Initiative in the Arab region and the United Nations Conference for Sustainable Development. The meeting further discussed the Arab strategy to reduce the risks of disasters.

 

A-Sairafi highlighted the importance of the Montreal Protocol and the Vienna Convention for Ozone Layer Protection. He appealed to the countries which had adopted the protocol to exert more efforts and take a unified stance to protect their environmental interests prior to attending the 26th conference of the Montreal Protocol and the Vienna Convention for Ozone Layer Protection which will be held in Paris from November 17 to 21.

 

The executive office of the Arab Council of Environment Ministers will hold its meeting on Saturday with the attendance of eight ministers which will be followed by the meeting of Arab ministers for environmental affairs on Sunday and Monday.