Rabat: 20/04/2019

At the close The Fifth Meeting of the Islamic Executive Bureau for the Environment at the Ministerial Level: Adoption of several reports, projects and reference documents aiming at promoting joint Islamic action in the field of environment and sustainable development

Today, at the headquarters of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), the Fifth Meeting of the Islamic Executive Bureau for the Environment at the ministerial level concluded its proceedings. The meeting was held by ISESCO and the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (GAMEP).

The participants in the meeting adopted “the Report of the Director General on ISESCO’s Efforts in the Fields of Environment and Sustainable Development since the 7^th Session of the Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers (ICEM)”; invited Member States to benefit from the programmes and funding mechanisms of international specialized institutions and bodies; commended the role the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia plays in the implementation of the Islamic Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the generous financial support it provides for the convening of the respective ICEM sessions, thus significantly contributing to their success; and recommended the adoption of this

document by the Eighth ICEM.

The participants also adopted the report of the Director General on ISESCO’s Efforts in the Fields of Environment and Sustainable Development since the 7^th Session of the Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers;  invited Member States, specialized organizations, partners and donors to support ISESCO’s efforts in this area in such a way as to meet the needs of Member States and fulfill their commitments regarding the goals of Agenda 2030 and in line with the relevant international instruments, thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the generous support it provides for convening ICEM and IEBE sessions, thus significantly contributing to their success; and recommended the adoption of this document by the Eighth ICEM.

In addition, the participants called upon IEBE Secretariat to revise the “Draft Strategy for the Activation of the Roles of Cultural and Religious Factors in Protecting the Environment and Achieving Sustainable Development in the Islamic World” and send the amended draft to IEBE members to express their opinion thereon and approve it prior to its submission to the upcoming session of the Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers (October 2019); invited Member States to give more importance to the religious and cultural factors in making national policies and strategies to address the economic, social and environmental challenges in such a way as to meet their needs and keep in line with their priorities; and recommended the adoption of this document by the Eighth ICEM.

Moreover, the meeting adopted the “Draft Guidance Document on Strengthening the Role of Youth and Civil Society in the Protection of the Environment and Achievement of Sustainable Development”; recommended involving civil society institutions in preparing programmes and activities that raise awareness about environmental issues, and encourage and provide support for youth development initiatives in such a way as to achieve sustainable development goals; and recommended  the adoption of this document by the Eighth ICEM. The participants also adopted the “Project of the Establishment of the Islamic Network for Environmental Action and Sustainable Development”, taking into consideration the observations of IEBE members; invited Member States’ relevant public institutions and authorities, and parallel international and regional organizations to cooperate with the Network to promote the joint Islamic environmental action and facilitate the exchange of expertise and best practices in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development; and recommended the adoption of this document by the Eighth ICEM.

Likewise, they adopted the “Progress Report on the Creation of the Islamic Academy for the Environment and Sustainable Development”; thanked the Kingdom of Morocco, represented by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development, for doubling the size of the plot reserved to building the Academy headquarters and for the commitment of the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco to take the necessary technical measures and cooperate with ISESCO in this regard; and recommended the adoption of this document by the Eighth ICEM. The participants also adopted the Report on the “Award of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Environmental Management in the Islamic World”; reiterated thanks and gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for creating this Award, his wholehearted approval to expand its scope to cover the entire Islamic world, and entrusting ISESCO with its General Secretariat so as to anchor the wider concept of environmental management and promote sustainable development in the Islamic countries; praised the efforts exerted by both ISESCO and GAMEP for the good preparation for the Award’s first edition and congratulated its winners; and recommended the adoption of this document by the Eighth ICEM.

In the same vein, the participants adopted the “Report on the Programme of the Celebration of the Environmentally Friendly Islamic Capitals”; called again upon Member States to join this Programme and take the necessary measures to make their cities green in a way that is consistent with the international best practices and to keep up with the fast growth of cities over the next decades; and recommended  the adoption of this document by the Eighth ICEM. They also adopted “ISESCO Report on the Executive Work Plan for Natural Disaster Risk  Reduction and Management in Member States”, taking into consideration the observations of IEBE members; called upon Member States to activate the measures and actions intended to reduce the risks of natural disasters and cooperate with the relevant international and regional institutions; and recommending the adoption of this document by the Eighth ICEM.

Moreover, the participants adopted “the Draft Agenda of the 8^th Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers” agreed that the Conference be convened at ISESCO headquarters, Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, on 02-03 October 2019; and invited ISESCO to take all necessary arrangements for holding the Conference, in cooperation with the GAMEP and in coordination with the OIC and the competent authorities in the Kingdom of Morocco.

The IEBE recommended preparing a special session during the 8^th  Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers to pay tribute to His Excellency Dr. Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri, ISESCO Director General, in recognition of  his outstanding and great efforts in the service of joint Islamic action especially in the field the environment and sustainable development.

At the close of its meeting, IEBE addressed a message of thanks and gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco, expressing appreciation for his unfailing support to the Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers, IEBE and ISESCO in their efforts to foster joint Islamic action for the environment. The message also commended His Majesty’s support for the creation of the Islamic Academy for the Environment and Sustainable Development, the civilizational project initiated by Morocco with the purpose of boosting joint Islamic action and Islamic solidarity in all fields.

Another message of gratitude and appreciation was addressed by IEBE to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in recognition of the continued support given by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the Islamic Conference of

Environment Ministers and to IEBE and for his approval to expand the scope of the KSA Award for Environmental Management to cover the Islamic world and entrusting

ISESCO with its General Secretariat to help boost scientific, study-based and management research on the environment and foster joint Islamic environmental action.