Beirut: Former Lebanese environment minister Nasser Yassin has affirmed that his ministry worked on facing challenges over three years despite the lack of resources, referring to some accomplishments made in that phase.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Yassin took charge of the ministry in 2021, amid many difficulties like the explosion of Beirut port and financial collapse. Despite these challenges, the ministry decided to address crises such as air pollution, a significant health and environmental issue in Lebanon and globally. "We have obtained a USD 8.8-million grant, in partnership with the World Bank, to combat persistent organic pollutants mainly those resulted from open burning of waste," he said, noting that part of this grant was allocated to re-operate the national network of air quality monitoring.
Yassin also referred to plans dealing with water pollution, solid waste management, biodiversity, and climate change, which were part of the ministry's strategic goals over three years. The ministry worked on fulfilling the infrastructure for integrated solid waste management, rehabilitating and operating it through international partners to ensure funding for management projects estimated at USD 100 million. This step aims to improve the sector's main infrastructure.
"In light of the devastating aggression, great financial collapse, and the absence of the state's head at that time, we decided to be in the hearts of all sectors and projects, and worked sincerely and transparently for public interest and to meet aspirations of people," Yassin stated. With cooperation from volunteers and local and international partners, the ministry achieved many accomplishments, Yassin said, hoping to meet the aspirations of all Lebanese and achieve the targeted vision.
The ministry has completed issuing laws and systems to regulate environment sectors, solid waste, air, chemical safety, and climate change, necessitating decrees to regulate related actions. Strategies and plans were also set up for some sectors. On combating air pollution, Yassin said they worked on gradual treatment from varied sources and presented a roadmap for 2025-2030 to improve air quality with three strategic goals.
Yassin highlighted collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to rehabilitate environmentally deteriorated sites and develop governance, including improving technical guidelines and standards and rehabilitating the cement sector. Steps were made to remove pollution in the Litani River basin by fulfilling infrastructure of solid and liquid waste management, and establishing centers in parts of the region. Laboratories of waste management suspended due to the Beirut port blast were rehabilitated, and a center for treating infectious waste at Beirut governmental hospital was established after comprehensive sector assessment.
On biodiversity and protection, Yassin said the ministry, supported by partners, made significant progress in combating wildfires in Lebanon through strategic initiatives, reducing the area affected by wildfires. In 2023, the ministry launched a "one-million-tree" campaign as part of Lebanon's commitment to combating climate change, in cooperation with local institutions and ministries.
Additionally, the ministry focused on the role of nature reserves in maintaining biodiversity and supporting local community living conditions. On climate change, the ministry, in collaboration with partners, devised a 4-pillar roadmap to plan climate action for the near future, including modernizing Lebanon's contributions for 2035 in commitment to the Paris Agreement. This roadmap aims to suggest ambitious goals to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change while updating scientific data on greenhouse gas emissions and impacts.
The minister emphasized efforts to preserve ecosystems through backing projects in targeted areas, pointing to two new grant projects estimated at USD 7.6 million to support ecosystems and agricultural development.