UAE, October 19, 2016 – The high-level 7th Arabia CSR Forum, the latest edition of the leading annual Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability forum in the Arab region, officially opened today (October 19, 2016) amidst mounting calls for a unified regional approach to sustainability. Being held under the patronage of the League of Arab States (LAS) and in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the two-day forum organized by the Arabia CSR Network, a UAE-based regional think tank, is a climate-neutral event which will run until October 20, 2016.  

Habiba Al Marashi, President & CEO, Arabia CSR Network, said: “The historic opportunity opened up by the Arab region’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has tremendous implications. The region is currently facing serious economic, political, environmental and social challenges, and given its diversity, countries here have different levels of economic and political stratification. However, all of them have a single and uniform Arab identity, which is at the heart of our region and crucial to our social and cultural futures, and our economic and political destinies.” 

Renowned regional and international speakers have joined the forum to share their thoughts, views and ideas on SDG and its role in furthering Arab governments, businesses and peoples. Each session in the forum will highlight various crucial sustainability components relevant to the region, namely innovation, collaboration, social enterprise, philanthropy, SDG policy framework, SDG implementation across sectors, and youth.  Some of the participating high-profile speakers are Dr. Mohammed At-Twaijri, Assistant Secretary General, Economic Affairs of the League of Arab States; H.E. Saeed Al Tayer, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority; Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Earth Institute at the Columbia University; Dr. Iyad Abumoghli, Regional Director and Representative, UNEP; Dr. Nasser Saidi, Chairman, Clean Energy Business Council among others. 

Many public and private organizations extended their support to ensure the forum’s success, including Strategic Supporter UNEP; Strategic Sponsor ENOC; Platinum Sponsor Maaden; Gold Sponsor Diamond Developers; Silver Sponsors Gulf Petrochemical Industries Corporation and Tristar; and Expert Consulting on Governance Inc.  Other supporters include myclimate and DNV-GL, as well as Media Partners like 7 days, Gulf News, Moon Media Consultant, Orient Planet and Cyber Gear. 

Under the theme ‘Accelerating the Arab Sustainable Development Agenda Through Innovation and Collaboration’, the forum was organized to also underscore the UN’s Global Goals developed with the backing of its member states.  According to the UN, sustainable development will address a range of social needs, from education and health to social protection and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection. The Arab region has identified its own strategies according to the Global Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.