The initiative, which started in 2001 by Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia publisher Najib Saab as an informal gathering of the magazine's region-wide readers, was established as a regional organization on the occasion of its tenth anniversary.
It groups regional environmental organizations and experts with leading academic institutions, media and the business community, on common debate grounds to further the cause of environment and sustainable development.
An independent periodic report on the State of Arab Environment (SAE) is yearly produced by AFED, to be presented to the General Assembly of the Forum.
AFED works to achieve its goals through the following course: The Arab Forum for Environment and Development is governed by a Board of Trustees, representing environmental experts alongside business, media, and civil society leaders.
AFED provides a platform to address and reach a wider audience, in public and private sectors, while allowing networking, exchange of expertise, and exposure to similar initiatives around the world.
The most recent AFED convention, held in Sharjah, UAE, in October 2013, brought together over 600 delegates from the public and private sectors, scientists, civil society and media, who engaged in an open debate on Sustainable Energy in the Arab region.
AFED and ‘’Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia’’ (Environment and Development magazine) launched, in March 2013, the first comprehensive online environmental portal in Arabic, making over 35,000 pages of references freely available to readers and researchers.
AFED continues to support the capacity building initiatives of its member NGOs, as well as its awareness campaigns, school competitions, and training of journalists.
The AGEI covers: Public Policy Recommendations, Economics of Eco-system Investing, Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER), New Business Workshops, Sustainability Reporting, and Web-based Consumer Education.
Other components are 2 handbooks which AFED produced and are in use across the region, on: In January 2012, the UAE announced its national initiative «Green Economy for Sustainable Development”.
Over 120 CEOs, representing major business sectors from across the Arab world, have committed to advance the principles of environmental responsibility and cleaner production, and set a target to reduce energy and water consumption by 20% in their operations by 2012.
Its reports, recommendations and initiatives have been discussed and considered at high-level regional and international meetings, including UNEP, the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for Environment (CAMRE), the World Bank, ESCWA and ILO.
Join AFED to network and cooperate with business pioneers, public leaders, scientists, civil society organizations, and media from across the region, and contribute to the environmental decision-making process and formulation of future strategies.