Egypt joined Arab nations today in celebrating Arab Environment Day 2025, under the theme “Rangeland Sustainability and Enhancing Resilience”, with renewed calls for joint Arab action to address escalating environmental risks across the region.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Manal Awad, Egypt’s Minister of Local Development and Acting Minister of Environment, underscored the urgency of tackling shared environmental threats such as climate change, desertification, water scarcity, and pollution, which increasingly impact sustainable development efforts in Arab countries.
“Environmental action is a shared responsibility,” Awad said, noting Egypt’s pivotal role within the Arab and global environmental landscape. She emphasized that the region’s environmental challenges require collective solutions and coordinated responses.
A Day for Awareness and Action
Arab Environment Day, observed each year on October 14, is a regional initiative that aims to raise awareness and promote collaborative efforts to preserve natural resources and protect ecosystems. The annual observance was officially launched in 1986, commemorating the first Arab Ministerial Conference on Environmental Affairs, held in Tunis.
This year, Egypt’s Ministry of Environment took a leading role in designing the official logo for the celebration, reaffirming the country’s commitment to regional environmental leadership.
The Call for Unified Arab Efforts
Dr. Awad stressed that Arab nations face an increasingly complex web of environmental risks that demand scalable, regional solutions. She highlighted the need for intensified cross-border cooperation, knowledge sharing, and sustainable policy frameworks to address the deepening environmental crises.
The 2025 theme—focused on rangeland sustainability—underscores the importance of protecting fragile ecosystems, supporting rural livelihoods, and building climate resilience across arid and semi-arid zones in the Arab world.
Regional Solidarity in the Face of Global Climate Threats
As global environmental pressures mount, Egypt’s participation in Arab Environment Day reflects its broader environmental agenda, which includes:
- Advocating for sustainable land and water use
- Championing climate adaptation for vulnerable communities
- Integrating environmental awareness into national development strategies
- Promoting circular economy and green innovation across sectors
The Ministry reaffirmed that strengthening regional environmental solidarity is essential not just for safeguarding the Arab region’s ecosystems, but also for contributing to global climate resilience and biodiversity protection.
