SDG 13.3.5:Collaborating with NGOs on climate adaptation

The issue of climate change has become a global challenge, and a joint response to this problem has become an urgent necessity at the global level. 

Based on the importance of this thorny issue and its multiple direct and indirect negative effects on ecosystems, including oceans and biological diversity, as well as on sustainable livelihoods and sustainable consumption and production patterns, 

Given Lebanon’s commitment to the international community towards environmental issues, especially the issue of climate change, which is represented in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and Reducing Emissions, Lebanon issued Law No. 115 of March 29, 2019, which provides for the approval of concluding the Paris Agreement annexed to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate change.

On September 30, 2015, Lebanon signed the Nationally Determined Contribution of the General Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Lebanon’s contribution presents the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030, and this percentage is divided between a 15 percent reduction as an unconditional goal and an additional 15 percent reduction in emissions conditional on international support. 

Within the context of Lebanon’s commitment to international issues, it should be noted that the Lebanese Ministry of Environment participated in the Climate Change Summit that was held in New York on 9/23/2019, where the Secretary-General of the United Nations called on the participating countries to present concrete and realistic plans to enhance their nationally determined contributions by the year 2020.  In line with reducing gas emissions by 45 percent in the next decade, leading to zero emissions in 2050, pointing out that the world is in a race to confront climate change and achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. 

After climate change in Lebanon took a negative turn and caused a national water crisis, it had a negative impact on all sectors, especially the agricultural sector. The Islamic University in Lebanon played a prominent role in addressing the phenomenon of water scarcity through its cooperation with non-governmental organizations in order to rationalize water consumption. For this purpose, it organized a symposium on water crisis to present problems and solutions, in cooperation with the Bekaa Water Foundation and the Italian Civil Voluntary Work Association.