File photo used for representation only. Photo by Salim Matramkot/ The Peninsula
As the Middle East and the Arab world grapple with the effects of climate change, the region is at the fore of the climate emergency. The youth in the region, who are inheriting unprecedented climate challenges, have stressed the need for governments to take immediate and effective action and include the youth in policymaking.
Speaking to The Peninsula on the sidelines of the ‘Regional Conference for the Arab Region and West Asia - Global Sustainable Development Report 2023’ hosted by Qatar University, Rewa Assi, Unicef MENA Youth Representative, said the youth have the potential to create solutions. She added that they must learn to adapt to these challenges but can only do so if they are invited to the table.
“The youth have the potential to be there on the roundtable to discuss these important challenges, whether it is climate change, water scarcity or sustainable development because they are at the forefront of being affected by this,” Assi said.
“When we talk about sustainability or the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we’re talking about long-lasting solutions, and who will be there in the future? They are the youth of today. They will be the leaders of tomorrow. So we must invest in them, in training them to know how to mitigate actions and respond to the challenge we’re facing today.”
Climate change impacts in the region have led to increased desertification, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and sea level rise. Assi stressed that regional cohesion and a fundamentally holistic approach are needed to achieve objectives to combat climate change and meet the SDGs.
“If you look at the Sustainable Development Goals, we can notice that we cannot work on each one individually because they are interrelated. Once we come together, we cannot just work on the water sector without looking at agriculture or how societies are. So it’s imperative. When we have this multi-disciplinary approach, it will be more concrete and tangible. We cannot work in silos. We’re looking at systems, at different sectors together to promote sustainable development,” she added.
Assi, also the programme coordinator at Water Innovation Lab Lebanon, said sustainable freshwater production must be a common goal for the region. She highlighted desalination in the Gulf and the energy consumption and by-product of the process. To that, she said the region must optimise and explore innovative ideas.
“This is where innovation can step in. For marine life, we must also look at wastewater treatment plants. How can we reuse this water? How can we reuse this treated water for agricultural purposes? How can we enhance more innovative cultivating methods from vertical farming or aquaponics? “So, there are many things that we can interrelate between the different sectors, whether food, water, and energy. Water is an essential resource; many things are affected if we do not protect our water. So it’s crucial to shed light on protecting our water resource, our ocean, and so that we can complete the cycle of life more sustainably,” Assi said.
