The Euro-Mediterranean Association for Cooperation and Development (EMA) has named Najib Saab, Secretary General of the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED,) as honorary member. During an event on Green Growth organized in Amman, Jordan, under the patronage of HRH Prince El-Hassan Bin Talal, President of EMA Adelheid Sailer-Schuster conferred the title to Saab "in recognition of his concerted efforts to advance sound environmental policies across the Arab region." She praised Saab's public awareness initiatives, starting with Environment & Development magazine, "which triggered changes at all levels in the Arab countries, and provided a reliable source of information to decision makers and researchers." AFED annual reports on the state of Arab environment, Schuster said, "became the most reliable source for information on sustainable development issues."
Saab delivered a keynote speech at the event, explaining how green economy can ease the deficit in natural resources. He said that the region is in a state of ecosystems bankruptcy, with consumption exceeding by two-fold what Arab nature can provide and regenerate. "The huge gap is being artificially bridged by a mix of imports and over-exploitation of the local natural capital, thus robbing future generations of their right to resources." Increase in GDP figures, he noted, "reflected a higher standard of living, but did not necessarily lead to a better quality of life, nor did it enhance the chances of sustainability, as the past 50 years witnessed a steady deterioration in environmental conditions." Saab emphasized that solutions are at hand, "provided bold decisions are taken at the highest political levels to embrace a transition to green economy, rooted in sustainable production and consumption, to replace the prevailing virtual economy based on speculation in oil and real estate markets." He concluded by stressing the need for regional cooperation, resource efficiency, and advancing scientific research to serve development. The turmoil which most of the region is going through, Saab said, should not be an excuse to abandon work on real development issues, "as after all revolutions and chaos, people will still be faced by the challenges of ensuring survival through sound resource management."
Caption: Saab delivering his address. On the stage to his left: Schuster, Prince El-Hassan, Riad Al-Saifi President of Amman Chamber of Commerce.
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