Hariri Foundation and UNEP Organize a Consultative Environmental Day in Saida Focusing on Circular and Blue Economies
Date: 25 June 2024
As part of the “Saida Roadmap towards an Environmentally Sustainable City,” and under the patronage of the Ministry of Environment (MoE), the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development (HF), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – West Asia Office, organized an environmental day in the historic district of Saida. The event was held at the Foundation’s Community Center and included two consultative sessions: the first focused on the Circular Economy (CE) Action Plan, and the second on the Blue Economy (BE) Action Plan.
This initiative, part of the EU-funded “SwitchMed II” program, aimed to explore sustainable policies and procedures as part of the roadmap. The roadmap itself was developed through 20 weeks of participatory meetings, consultations, and field visits with local stakeholders across public and private sectors, civil society, and academia. The event was inaugurated with the participation of Dr. Hazem Badih, Mayor of Saida; Dr. Rubina Abou Zeinab, Executive Director of the Hariri Foundation, representing its President, Mrs. Bahia Hariri; Ali Sharif, President of Saida Traders’ Association; Imad El-Hajj Chahine, Head of Saida Port Authority; and Myriam Suleiman, Head of Saida Port. Also in attendance were representatives from UNEP, including SwitchMed Project Assistant Doha Al-Qudmani, as well as municipal council members, organizations like the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS), Berytech, the Ministry of Industry, and labor unions. Participants included members of the School Network for Saida and Neighboring Towns, the Lebanese Red Cross, various international and local NGOs, startups in the environmental sector, and graduates – “Green Ambassadors”- of the Hariri Foundation’s “Outreach and Leadership Academy – OLA”.
Opening Remarks
Dr. Rubina Abou Zaineb, speaking on behalf of the Hariri Foundation, stated:
“Our gathering today reflects our serious preparation to advance Saida’s environmental agenda. This partnership with UNEP serves as a model for good practices in West Asia and represents a promising start for spreading sustainability transformations in Saida as a regional example.”
She highlighted that the SwitchMed project, funded by the EU and implemented in partnership with UNEP, marks a pioneering effort in adopting a roadmap approach in two key areas: circular economy and blue economy, with a focus on governance and empowerment.
“This day is part of a two-year process transitioning from narrow project objectives to a comprehensive environmental agenda for the city, working towards solutions for environmental challenges,” Abou Zaineb noted.
Mayor’s Address
Mayor Dr. Hazem Badih expressed gratitude to UNEP and the Hariri Foundation for their leadership in developing Saida’s circular and blue economy action plans. He reaffirmed the municipality’s commitment to spreading environmental practices through the roadmap.
He emphasized the importance of the Circular Economy Action Plan, highlighting recent municipal efforts in solid waste management. These include resolving waste collection and transportation issues by contracting a new company and advancing plans to rehabilitate and equip the waste sorting and processing plant, with an eye on source-segregation of waste.
Regarding the Blue Economy Action Plan, Dr. Badih noted ongoing efforts to clean Saida’s coastline and separate wastewater channels from rainwater systems, reducing marine pollution.
Session Highlights
Session 1: Circular Economy Action Plan
This session featured presentations by Mr. Mohamed Hariri, Director of Research and Development at the Hariri Foundation; Mr. Malik Jibaei, Sustainability and Climate Action Specialist at the Hariri Foundation; and Mr.Ralph Sbeih, the Foundation’s Circular Economy Consultant. Discussions centered on proposed projects and programs in three sectors: food and beverages (F&B), education, and industry.
Session 2: Blue Economy Action Plan
The second session focused on the Blue Economy, with contributions from Mr. Mohamed Hariri; Mr. Malik Jabai; Mr. Mustafa Hijazi, Municipal Council Member and Director of the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Unit at the Saida-Zahrani Municipal Union; Mr. Imad El-Hajj Chahine, Head of Saida Port Authority; Dr. George Garious, the Hariri Foundation’s Blue Economy Consultant.
This session explored findings from national studies and proposed projects across three key sectors: marine fisheries, coastal tourism, and port activities.
National Context
This session is part of the broader multi-level Lebanon Blue Economy Dialogue (LBED), launched by the Hariri Foundation and UNEP under the Ministry of Environment’s patronage, through the EU-funded SwitchMed II program. It builds on the outcomes of the inaugural National Blue Economy Conference held in early May at the United Nations House in Beirut. The workshop is also part of a series of local and national events organized by the Hariri Foundation and its partners to promote sustainable practices and policies in Lebanon.