The Union of Arab Chambers participated in the Arab Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Biodiversity Financing to Enhance Climate Resilience, held on September 17–18, 2025 at the ESCWA headquarters in Beirut. The event was organized by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), in cooperation with a number of regional and international partners, within the framework of the Multi-Stakeholder Platform for Biodiversity Protection in the Arab Region, launched in 2023 in partnership with the Government of Sweden.
The forum addressed biodiversity priorities in the Arab region in light of climate challenges. It reviewed innovative financing tools and strategies that can be applied at both national and regional levels.
Joint implementable projects were also presented, contributing to ecosystem protection, the promotion of renewable energy, and the halting of land degradation. The forum focused on strengthening cooperation between governments, the private sector, civil society, and regional and international organizations within the framework of the Multi-Stakeholder Platform.
The forum revolved around three key areas:
1. Preserving natural ecosystems in the face of climate change impacts.
2. Halting land degradation and protecting agricultural systems in dry and fragile areas.
3. Linking biodiversity protection with renewable energy development as part of the sustainable development path.
Participants:
The forum included representatives from:
· Arab governments: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Yemen, the UAE, Tunisia, and Oman.
· Regional and international organizations: ESCWA, the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD), the Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), research centers, and universities.
· Private sector institutions and civil society organizations concerned with environmental and sustainable development issues.
Outcomes:
· Affirming the priority of protecting ecosystems and combating land degradation as an essential part of the response to climate change.
· Reviewing innovative financing tools and practical strategies for biodiversity financing, benefiting from regional and international experiences.
· Presenting joint projects that can be implemented at national and regional levels, while exploring ways to scale them up and mobilize the necessary resources.
· Highlighting the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships to ensure the success of biodiversity protection initiatives and the strengthening of climate resilience.
The participation of the Union of Arab Chambers in this forum constituted a qualitative addition to efforts highlighting the role of the Arab private sector in green financing and environmental protection. The forum provided an opportunity to enhance the Union’s presence in regional discussions and to build new bridges of cooperation with regional and international organizations.
The forum recommended following up on the outcomes and exploring partnership opportunities in the proposed projects, thereby strengthening the Union’s position as an active partner in the path of sustainability and climate resilience in the Arab region.
Source (Union of Arab Chambers)
