Arabs: the flavor of the session

As the Arab people harvest the fruits of the Arab Spring back home starting with key issues such as human rights, changing their constitutions and forming new governments, their representatives and negotiators are working hard at the UN climate talks.

One of the biggest roles an Arab country has taken up for 2012 culminated in Durban last year when the UNFCCC regional committee for Asia selected Qatar to host the next climate summit, COP18, at the end of 2012 despite the intense competition between Qatar and South Korea. The fact that the final decision was in Qatar’s favor was considered by some people as a risky step because Qatar is an oil producing country. It is however, considered as a win and a positive step among Arabs because it’s a sign of future policy changes and starting a new era of economy based on green technology not oil which is the brutal enemy and the main cause of global warming.

Expectations for COP18 are high and the perception is that on logistical issues the government of Qatar is planning to organize a great conference as the Qatari negotiator eagerly announced at the SBI meeting on Monday. On elements like visa fee exemptions for conference participants (which has been previously done before by host countries), hosting the conference in a green building which was built especially for the purpose of hosting this Climate Change conference, they seem to be getting their work in order.

Alongside the fact that the COP will be taking place on Arabian soil, other major roles Arab countries have taken on in 2012 include chairing key groupings and bodies within the UNFCCC subsidiaries like:
• Algeria is chairing the G77+China
• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is chairing the LCA

Arab roles taken on climate are not only limited to negotiators this year but also in the NGO sector as Mr. Wael Hmaidan from Lebanon - who I consider an icon, and a great example for the Arab youth to follow- was selected to be the new Climate Action Network (CAN) director this April which I am sure is going to add a lot to the network because of his intensive and active experience in the UNFCCC process.

“Seems like Arabs will have a lot of opportunities to lead a climate spring”