HBKU co-hosts environmental law and policy conference

Doha, Qatar: Hamad Bin Khalifa University s (HBKU) College of Law collaborated with Sohar University and the Association of Environmental Law Lecturer...

Doha, Qatar: Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) College of Law collaborated with Sohar University and the Association of Environmental Law Lecturers in Middle East and North African Universities (ASSELLMU) to jointly host the 5th MENA Environmental Law and Policy Scholars’ Conference from February 19-20, in Sohar, Oman.

Organised under the theme “Environmental Law and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: Legislation Towards a Sustainable Economy in the MENA Region,” the conference brought together leading environmental educators, administrators, and legal practitioners to exchange knowledge, experience, and learn from each other on how to advance the attainment of the SDGs in the MENA region by the global target date of 2030.

Through workshops and seminars, the participants highlighted national, regional, and international aspects of accelerating the SDGs, including the status of teaching and practice of environmental law and the green economy in MENA countries, as well as domestic and regional approaches to environmental law and practice.

Held under the patronage of H E Prof. Mahad bin Said bin Ali Ba Awain, Minister for Labour of Oman, the conference featured a keynote lecture by H E Dr. Abdullah bin Ali Al Amri, Chairman of Environment Authority, Oman.

Several prominent figures also gave conference keynote addresses, including Dr. Hamdan Sulaiman Al Fazari,Vice Chancellor, Sohar University, H E Dr. Leila Chikhaoui, Minister of the Environment of Tunisia; Patricia Mbote, Director of the Law Division, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP); Philipp Bremer, Director of the Rule of Law Programme Middle East & North Africa, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, and Professor Attiya Waris, United Nations Independent Expert on foreign debt, other international financial obligations and human rights.