Ibrahim AlZubi

1
ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES IN WEST ASIA AND HOW THE
REGIONS YOUTH IS WORKING TO ADDRESS THEM

• Ibrahim Al-Zubi
• Emirates Diving Association
• On behalf of
• United Nations Environment Programme Regional
  Office for West Asia

2
AREAS TO BE COVERED

• Introduction to the role of UNEP in West Asia
• Major environmental challenges in the region
• Activities with Children and Youth

3
UNEP IN WEST ASIA

• The Regional Office for West Asia has 12 member
  states

4
UNEP/ROWAS WORK WITH CIVIL SOCIETY

• Work with youth in the region is through UNEPs
  Civil Society programme
• Organized through close partnerships with a
  number of key Civil Society Organizations in the
  region, including Emirates Diving Association
• Work within the region and also to ensure
  regional participation in global activities
• Currently organizing the 7th Global Civil Society
  Forum which will take place in Dubai, UAE in
  February 2006, as part of associated meetings to
  the 9th Special Session of UNEPs Governing
  Council/Global Ministerial Environmental Forum
  (GCSS/GMEF)

5
PRIORITY ISSUES

• Freshwater
• The Coastal and Marine Environment
• Land Degradation and Biodiversity
• Production and Consumption
• Support to Palestine and Iraq

6
WATER IN WEST ASIA
GEO2000
7
CAUSES AND IMPACTS OF WATER SCARCITY
Population pressure
Climate and geographical location
Prevailing Conditions
Inadequate pollution control
Inefficient use of water
Over-exploitation
Management
Water shortage
Quality degradation
Results
Threatened health and well-being of society
8
WATER CHALLENGES FOR THE REGION

• Limited water supplies of variable quality
• Increasing gap between demand and availability
• Lack of a comprehensive strategy for water
  resources
• Fragmented institutional framework
• Limited enforcement of legislation to protect
  water resources

9
INTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Environmental and Ecological Sustainability
Enabling Environment
Policies Legislation Fora mechanisms for
participation International Cooperation.
Institutional Roles
Management Instruments
Level of action Management boundaries Cap. Blding
Allocation Regulations Economic Tools.
Economic Efficiency (Economic Sustainability)
Social Equity (Social Sustainability)
10
WATER DEMAND MANAGEMENT
Legislation and regulation
Institutions
Community mobilization

• Focus on Efficiency Solution
• Efficiency of supply and delivery
• Efficient utilization
• Quality allocation
• Recycling

Subsidies
Public awareness campaigns
Licensing, water rights and metering
Advice to industry
Monitoring and enforcement
11
COASTAL AND MARINE ENVIRONMENT

• Recognizing rapid expansion of coastal urban
  areas
• Focus on Integrated Coastal Zone Management,
  including capacity building
• Global Programme of Action for Protection of the
  Marine Environment
• Biodiversity Protocols for the Regional Seas
• World Environment Day 2004

12
LAND DEGRADATION AND BIODIVERSITY

• Much of the West Asia region is classified as
  desert or desertified (over 70)
• Due to climate, population pressure and land
  management strategies
• Sub-Regional Action Plan being implemented under
  UNCCD
• Assistance to member state to finalize National
  Action Plans
• 2006 International Year of Deserts and
  Desertification
• Development of Protected Areas
• Implementation of CBD and Biosafety Protocol

13
PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION

• It is recognized that levels of consumption have
  risen steadily throughout the world
• West Asia is no exception
• Energy consumption in some West Asia countries is
  among the highest in the world
• Levels of hazardous waste produced per capita are
  also among the highest in the world
• UNEP is working with regional partners
  (governments, industrial organizations, the
  private sector, civil society) to promote cleaner
  production and sustainable consumption

14
SUPPORT TO IRAQ AND PALESTINE

• Working closely with UNEPs Post Conflict
  Assessment Unit to provide capacity building and
  support to Iraq and Palestine including
• Desk Studies on the Environment of both Iraq
  and Palestine
• Community based initiatives for the restoration
  of the Mesopotamian Marshlands
• Capacity building for Palestinian Experts on
  air and water quality monitoring and modeling

15
CONCLUSIONS

• The region, and indeed the world, faces a number
  of environmental challenges which in turn present
  major challenges to sustainable development.
• These challenges will not solve themselves, all
  of us have a part to play through our day-to-day
  activities.