30 July - 5 August 2012 - orsam

Ecological Footprint and Sustainability Options in the Arab Countries
The 2012 AFED report will analyze sustainability options in Arab countries, based on a survey of
available renewable resources (biocapacity) and consumption (footprint).
As basis for the analysis, AFED has commissioned the Global Footprint Network (GFN), who are
world leaders in this field, to produce an Ecological Footprint Atlas exploring resource constraints in
the Arab countries from the perspective of the regenerative capacity of nature. The study covers the
period from 1961 to 2008, the last year data is available. It covers the 22 members of the League of
Arab States as: individual countries, sub-regions and region, which allows for comparisons.
The Ecological Footprint aims to provide an ecological bank statement for the Arab region,
evaluating its endowment of ecological services and contrasting this with its demand on the global
biosphere, both for resource provision and waste absorption. It is hoped that the 2012 AFED report
on Sustainability Options in the Arab Countries will help promote the concept of ecological accounts
and move towards their integration in decision-making.
The AFED 2012 report will aim at stating the facts. Ignoring signs of deterioration will not solve the
problem. But we don‘t seek to promote a doomsday prophecy. The report will call to face the
challenges and find alternative paths for development in positive and hopeful spirit.
Based on the GFN results and the findings of previous AFED Annual Reports, AFED will prepare an
analysis of about 20,000 words to constitute the core of its 2012 report, entitled: Sustainability
Options in Arab Countries. A small group of experts, who have already contributed to previous
AFED reports, have been invited to contribute to this analysis, which will then be compiled and
professionally edited in a unified piece. Below is plan of main topics and messages:
1- Can any single Arab country, the Arab region as a group or any of its sub-regions, be self
sufficient in food/water, and at what cost? What are the alternatives?
2- Sustainability of rising population. Special analysis: impact of rising percentage of expatriates in
GCC countries. Are the ecosystems of GCC countries prepared to sustain ‗imported‘ population of up
to 90% expatriates? Is it growth for growth, or growth for sustainability?
3- Sustainable Energy, Intensity, Efficiency and Renewables, as a strategy to reduce footprint and
harness non-conventional resources- eg. desalination of water.
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