Fourth Meeting. of the Islamic Executive Bureau for the Environment & Senior Environmental Experts' Preparatory Meeting

Transcription

1 IEBE-4/2017/2.5 Fourth Meeting of the Islamic Executive Bureau for the Environment & Senior Environmental Experts' Preparatory Meeting Report on ISESCO s Efforts in the 22 nd Conference of the Parties on Climate Change and Preparation of the 23 rd Session of the Conference ISESCO Headquarters, Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco Sha aban 1438 A.H / 9-10 May 2017

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3 1- Participation in COP 22 and security management: Information Meeting organized by the Chief of the Protocol and Public Relations in the UNFCC and UN Security Manager on various aspects of COP 22, October 5th, 2016 It has been attended by the all Diplomatic institutions in Morocco at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Headquarters, Rabat. 2- Co-organizing Meeting in preparation for the Arab-African preparatory experts meeting to COP22 on Biosphere reserves in the context of Climate Change, organized in Tangier, July 18th 2016, attended by representatives from ISESCO, UNESCO, Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, The Moroccan Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la Désertification and the Agence pour la promotion et le développement du Nord. The participants discussed financial and organizational aspects related to the upcoming Arab-African meeting on biosphere reserves in the context of climate change and how to have accreditation of such side event in COP Participation in the First Arab-African Conference as a preparatory experts meeting to COP22 on Biosphere reserves in the context of Climate Change organized from the 18th to 20th of October 2016, in Tangier, Morocco, by ISESCO, UNESCO, Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, The Moroccan Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la Désertification and the Agence pour la promotion et le développement du nord. The agenda contained three panels on Biospheres being an Observatory of climate change and a sustainable development laboratory, Water governance and Articulation of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development and the Paris agreement. A field visit, to the Mediterranean Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve, was organized for almost 100 representatives of Man and Biosphere reserves (MAB) National committees (Arab and Africa), managers of the biospheres and International Hydrologic Programs IHP focal points from: Burkina Faso, Côte d Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Guinea, Jordany, Kenya, Kuweit, Lebanon, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Oman, Palestine, Senegal, Soudan, Tunisia. 4- Participation in the summit of consciences for the future held on November the 3rd 2016, in Fes, Kingdom of Morocco, days before Morocco hosting the UN International Conference of Climate Change (COP 22). The results and recommendations of the summit will be discussed in a special side event at COP22. Organized by the Moroccan Economic, Social and Environmental Council and the Rabita Mohamadia of Oulemas, this summit mobilized ethical, philosophical and spiritual leaders from different faiths and beliefs who established a high-level intercultural and inter-religions dialogue on climate change. 5- Participation in the Opening Day of the United Nations International Conference of Climate Change (COP 22) held on the 7th of November, attended by HE Dr. Amina ELHAJRI, 5

4 Deputy Director General along with eminent Political and scientific figures from all continents who addressed the importance of mitigation and adaptation to climate change as well as issues related to the Paris Convention. 6- Participation in the United Nations International Conference of Climate Change (COP 22) held from the 7th to 18th of November 2016 in Marrakesh, kingdom of Morocco. ISESCO has organized some side events with other partners and has attended to other activities in line with ISESCO s strategies in different fields as follows: 7- Health & Environment: Side-Event on held on the 9th of November and organized by the Moroccan Society of Medical Sciences and the World Health Organization (WHO) and attended by representatives of civil society, institutions, press, and decision-makers from different countries who Focused on promoting the concept of environment - health which states the importance of preserving the environment for being a key factor to ensure the development of humanity in healthy surroundings as dictated by sustainable development goals. 8- Biosphere reserves: An observatory for climate change, a laboratory of sustainable development, Side-Event organized on the 9th of November by UNESCO and The Moroccan Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la Désertification as follow up to Tanger activity with ISESCO, attended by representatives of Man And Biospheres (MAB) National committees, managers of the biospheres, and International Hydrologic Program (IHP) focal points who discussed the recommendations of the Arab-African meeting held in Tangier, in October, with the perspective of building an UNESCO/ISESCO initiative on Biosphere reserves and climate change to bring to COP Climate resilience: what solutions for risk management in africa? Side-Event organized on the 9th of November by ISESCO, UNESCO and the Association of Ecole Mohamedia s Engineers. Decision-makers, Actors in Economy, politics and society along with engineers and researchers took part in the Side-Event and discussed financial engineering and risk management, current situation and prospects of desertification in Africa and Integrated Management of natural resources as a mean to mitigate and adapt to climate change. 10- Building the Divest/Invest Movement with Faiths, Foundations and Finance & Official Handover of COP22 Faith Leaders Statement, Side-Event held on the 10th of November and organized by Green Faith, the participants, in the event, from different faiths and communities discussed perspectives and modalities along with financial aspects of moving from a fossil fuels based energy to an energy system that is fair and clean for all, they, also, endorsed the release of the COP22 interfaith statement. 11- Meeting of the African Ministers of Tourism on Climate & Tourism issues in Africa held on the 10th of November and organized by the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism and attended by more than 25 Ministers of Tourism from the African continent with a goal to emphasize 6 Fourth Meeting of the Islamic Executive Bureau for the Environment & Senior Environmental Experts' Preparatory Meeting

5 the importance of sustainable tourism while debating climate issues. The participants in the meeting took part in the ratification of the Marrakesh Declaration and the signing of the African Charter for Sustainable Tourism towards the development of the sector of tourism in Africa. 12- Islamic Climate Change Declaration: A call to Action, Side-Event held on the 10th of November and organized by ISESCO, the Global Muslim Climate Network, The Growald Family Fund, Islamic Relief Worldwide, IFEES/EcoIslam and GreenFaith. The Side-Event gathered decision makers, leaders and actors from different faiths and communities to implement the Istambul Islamic Climate Change Declaration and discuss and share best practice case studies showing how the Muslim world has responded to the call to action through establishing green sustainable initiatives in Muslim majority countries. 13- Meeting of Space Agencies on the contribution of space technologies to the implementation of the COP agreements Organized on the 11th of November by the Royal Center for Space Remote Sensing (CRTS), the Royal Center for Space Studies and Research (CRERS) and the French National Center for Space Studies (CNES), Directors of space agencies along with researchers in the field discussed current and future programs and initiatives to collect and analyze information and indicators on climate change as well as available resources and mechanisms to establish bilateral and multilateral partnerships. 14- The Forum of Young Reporters for the Environment held on November the 14th and organized by Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training, Foundation for Environmental Education. ISESCO is a member of national jury for Young Reporters of Environment. This event has been organized with the participation of YOUNGO and the Secretariat of the United Nations in favor of students, instructors and NGOs in the field of environmental education for sustainable development. 15- Day of Education on sustainable development held on the 14th of November by Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment and the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training. This high level event has been under the presidency HRH Princess Lalla Hasnaa, president of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, along with her excellency the DG of UNESCO and the Moroccan Minister of Education. The theme was How to consolidate education on sustainable development in national educational programs. 16- Addressing Policy Risk in Renewable Energy Investments, Side-Event organized on the 15th of November at the green zone of COP22 by the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDBG), Participants in the event had the opportunity to debate the value of green investment opportunities and demonstrate the potential of Islamic finance in helping sustainable and environment friendly projects in the member countries. 7

6 17- Environment and sustainable development in the Euro-Mediterranean region: Intercultural Approaches, Colloquium held in Paris, France, on the 30th of November Attended by eminent personalities from Islamic Christian and Jewish faiths, and organized by l Institut des Hautes Etudes Islamiques (IHEI) and the Italian Muslim Community (COREIS) at the National General Assembly building. Two sessions were set to discuss the intercultural approaches regarding ethics and protection of the environment and how to train policy-makers in order to keep balance between the environment protection, social equity, economic development and culture valorization in the process of making policies. 18- Report on Islamic Climate Change Declaration and the Islamic Framework for Sustainable development and ISESCO activities and vision on in the field of Climate change and sustainable development, sent as a participation of ISESCO to the Mediterranean Colloquium on: Intercultural Approaches in Environment and sustainable development previously held in Paris, January Preparatory meetings with UNESCO office in Rabat as a follow up of common activities in COP22, with the perspective of building an Arabe-African UNESCO/ISESCO Initiative on Biosphere Reserves and Climate Change to bring to COP23 as a field initiative in climate change to be sponsored, January-March This project will be discussed in a big expert meeting organized with other partners before the COP International conference on: Promoting strong networks in the area of climate change towards COP23 & SDGs: International Event on the Arab African Initiative for Biospheres as climate change observatory and laboratory for sustainable developpement, to be held in Morocco, july This event will gather networks like UNESCO programs Man and Biosphere (MAB) / International hydrological Program (IHP) / Arabe Network for Disaster Risk Reduction recommended by ALECSO as a partner on this activity. This event will be also co-organized with Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment (FM6E) and the Moroccan Haut Commissariat aux Eaux et Forêts et à la Lutte Contre la Désertification (HCEFLCD). 21- Workshop on access of the Cities and local Governments to Green Fund for Climate, organized by the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa, to bring to COP 23, Rabat, 7 April This participation of ISESCO came after preparatory meetings related to common activities with UCLG Africa on climate change issues before COP23 during the coming months of th Regional Symposium on Climate Change and its Impact of Coasts in the Arab Region organize in partnership with teh Arab Federation for Youth and Environment, Hurgada, Egypt, April This event usually gathers more than 100 participants from the Arab world on the issue of Environmental protection and Climate Change. 8 Fourth Meeting of the Islamic Executive Bureau for the Environment & Senior Environmental Experts' Preparatory Meeting

7 23- National Training Workshop for Sensitization of Youth and Women on Climate Change Impacts, organized by ISESCO with Mali National Commission, Bamako, 5-7 June More than 60 participants from different regions of Mali are invited to attend to this event. 24- Other possibilities of cooperation or accreditation of common side events with ISESCO partners in COP 23 still discussed also during the coming time before the COP. 9