Muna Dajani, a researcher and environmental activist from Jerusalem, and Rami Serhal, the Coordinator of the Youth Movement in the Green Party of Lebanon, explain to us why Arab citizens is supposed to care about the environment as part of the discussions taking place in Doha 2012 UN Climate Change Conference.
Why do you think Arab citizens should care about the discussions taking place in the 2012 UN Climate Change Conference in Doha?
Muna: There is a big gap between the Arab citizens and their political regimes. One of the expressions of this gap is the state’s immense control over the environmental resources, while the citizen is incapable of influencing neither the resources nor the way they are managed. This also increases the citizen’s detachment from his/her environment, whilst busy ensuring daily bread. But the reality is that the environment can’t be separated from the economic problems and daily life of the citizens.
Rami: The society needs to care about what is going on in the Doha Conference because the decisions that are being taken by politicians convening here will eventually impact the daily life of the Arab citizen. I believe that the Doha Conference is an opportunity for Arab civil society organizations to influence politicians, so they realize better the aspirations of the Arab street.
Can you give me a simple example of how the Doha Conference will affect the daily life of the Arab citizen?
Muna: One of the fundamental issues discussed in the Doha Conference is the potential funding from industrial countries causing the highest degrees of environmental pollution in developing countries, since this pollution will result in climate change. Therefore, the Arab delegates’ stance in this conference should amplify the average Arab citizens’ voice and concerns, who in fact are the most affected by the negative impacts of climate change. It’s also essential that we ensure to influence the policies of our Arab governments, so as to be more sustainable and resilient to inevitable environmental catastrophes.
Rami: In such conferences, we should try to influence the industrial countries’ decisions, such as the US, China, and India. Those decisions have the highest effect on the global environment, and therefore on the life of the Arab citizens, if not on the existence of humankind.
What are the achievements that you deem vital, and can they be attained or were attained in previous conferences?
Muna: Till now, these conferences did not formulate any binding treaties except the Kyoto Protocol. The commitment period of this protocol, however, ended this year. Now, the convening partners have to look into extending this protocol, or to come up with a new treaty with new articles covering the period till 2020.
Rami: In fact, till now no effective mechanism to alter climate change has been reached, except for the Kyoto Protocol. The likelihood is extending the protocol and not reaching a new treaty.
Do you agree with those who think it’s better to discuss these issues from a non-ecological perspective? That is by focusing on the ability of green solutions to improve people’s economic conditions and their capacity to face and resist the future challenges?
Muna: Protecting the individual cannot be estranged from protecting the earth. Although it is true that the state is the only entitled party to issue binding and efficient laws for the reduction of carbon emissions, it remains a reality of life that the state cannot do much without the involvement of the people. Based on my actual experience in green projects, and despite their importance, these projects will never be sufficiently effective unless supported by laws and regulations.
Rami: Regardless to the angle we use to look at the problem, the result remains the same: the ecological problem is linked to the economic problem. The question that troubles me is why governments refrain from efficient implementation of environmental agreements alleging the effect on the economic growth, albeit environmental problems will eventually lead to a full economic regression.
Do you feel that the Arab youth participation in this conference is more effective after the Arab Spring?
Muna: I have noticed that, as a result of the revolutionary period, the youth have become more aware of the notion of social justice, which is also associated with the notion of environmental justice. I would like to draw the attention to the outstanding efforts of the Arab Youth Climate Movement (AYCM) which excelled in preparing for the conference, and actively contributed to influencing the participating decision makers.
Rami: I think the youth who started the Arab Spring revolutions were aware that ‘doing business as usual’ in the Arab countries is not an option any more. It’s also important that the culture of holding governments accountable has become common among Arab youth, which wasn’t the case in previous times. Holding governments accountable in regard to environment, is of essence. As youth, we should make our voice audible through this conference; that is if we want to have a role not only on the Arab arena, but also on the international level.
