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In recognition of Earth Day on April 22, The Middle East Institute (MEI) is pleased to announce a week of special programming to highlight the expanse of impacts climate change has had in the Middle East. Exacerbating conflicts, displacement, and food and water security, the already dire climate crisis in the Middle East is approaching a critical point. What are the emerging initiatives across industries and geopolitical fault lines to prevent further insecurity and loss of life? How can cooperation across the region facilitate a more sustainable approach to green energy, economic development, agriculture, and governance?
To address these challenges and more, MEI will bring together leading experts and advocates in the climate world in a series of panels, roundtable discussions, and interviews. Please register using the links below, and stay tuned for further updates to this program.
Monday, April 19
9:00-10:00am | Mapping the Middle East Climate Crisis
Omar El-Arini
Honorary Chief Officer, Multilateral Fund for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol
Ayat Soliman
Regional director, Sustainable Development, Middle East and North Africa, World Bank
Andrew Freedman (moderator)
Energy and climate reporter, Axios
10:30-11:30am | Raising the Alarm: Climate Activism in North Africa
Khayreddine Dabaya
Environmental activist, Tunisia
Hajar Khamlichi
President, Mediterranean Youth Climate Network
Ahmed Mebrouk
CEO of Nrecycli
Moussa Elimane Sall
Executive director, Mauritanian Climate and Sustainable Development Platform
Intissar Fakir (moderator)
Fellow, Middle East Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Tuesday, April 20
9:00-10:00am | Roundtable: Youth in Climate Action
Malak Altaeb
Analyst, Storyzy, France
Kholoud Al Ajarma
Alwaleed lecturer in the Globalised Muslim World, University of Edinburgh
Adil Jouamaa
Geomatician, Marchica Med
Vera Noon
Youth ambassador, UNESCO-IOC MSPGlobal International; maritime spatial planner
Mohamed Saad
Lecturer of chemical engineering, University of Sirte
Eliza Campbell (moderator)
Associate director for Innovation and Impact, MEI
Wednesday, April 21
9:00-10:30am | Water Sharing Challenges and Pathways forward in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Ahmad Rafay Alam
Environmental lawyer based in Pakistan
Saleem Ali
Blue and Gold Distinguished Professor of Energy and the Environment, University of Delaware
Said Hashmat Sadat
Project Manager, SWECO
Erum Khalid Sattar
SWM Program Lead and Water Diplomacy Track Leader, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University
Syed Mohammed Ali (moderator)
Nonresident scholar, MEI
12:00-1:00pm | Climate in the Black Sea: Regional Responses
Anna Dimitrova
Head of Department, Energy policy, environment and innovation, EVN Bulgaria
Serkan Köybaşı
Assistant Professor, Bogazici University
Andrei Covatariu
Nonresident scholar, MEI
Gonul Tol (moderator)
Senior fellow and director, Turkey program, MEI
Thursday, April 22
9:00-10:00am | Balancing Development, Sustainability and Resilience in Egypt
Sara El Battouty
CEO, ECOnsult; nonresident scholar, MEI
Reem El-Saady
Regional principal manager, SMEs, Finance and Development, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Hani Sewilam
Professor, Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology, American University in Cairo
Mirette F. Mabrouk (moderator)
Senior fellow and director, Egypt Program, MEI
11:00am-12:00pm | Against All Odds: An Ambitious Climate Policy for Lebanon
Silvia Crescimbeni
Policy Officer, Middle East, North Africa and the Gulf, European Commission Directorate-General for Climate Action
Jessica Obeid
Independent Energy Policy Consultant; Non-Resident Fellow, MEI
Vahakn Kabakian
Climate Change Advisor and Portfolio Manager, UNDP
Christophe Abi-Nassif (moderator)
Lebanon Program Director, MEI
Friday, April 23
11:30am-12:30pm | Trends in Green Finance in the Middle East and Lessons to be Learned from China
Damien Ma
Director of the Think Tank, Paulson Institute
Amb. Yasser El Naggar
CEO, EN Investment; non-resident scholar, MEI
Anthony Muhanna
Principal, TPG
David Sandalow
Fellow, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia University; former Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs
Deborah Lehr, moderator
CEO, Basilinna; Board member, MEI
Photo by Bloomberg / Contributor via Getty Images.