Triangular Climate Action in Lebanon
Government, the private sector and civil society, a climate action triangle in favour of a low-carbon economy. A roundtable on the "Lebanon Climate Act" was organised by the Lebanese delegation during the COP22 in Marrakesh, Morocco. Vahakn Kalbakian, head of the Lebanese delegation, explained that this initiative aims to support the business sector, NGOs and state structures in order for them to develop according to the demands of the fight against climate change. This initiative is carried out in collaboration with the Green Mind association, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union's ClimaSouth project.
Is industry aware of the effects climate change will have on business and of the ways to adapt to it? During the roundtable, Nadim Farjallah, a researcher at the American University in Beirut (AUB), presented the preliminary results of an ongoing study: industry is generally aware of the climate change issue, but only partially so as it pertains to its impact on their work, their own contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, and strategies to address it.
Adaptation to the demands of climate change is not synonymous with diminished growth. Bernardo Sala, head of the ClimaSouth project, recalled during his presentation that EU countries have already reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 22% compared to 1990 in the last few years, which did not stop their economy from growing significantly. Yamil Bonduki, of the UNDP, insisted that actions aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can represent a new industrial opportunity.
Key resources
Presentation by Vahakn Kalbakian, head of the Lebanese Delegation
Presentation by Bernardo Sala, head of the ClimaSouth project