British Council Global Changemaker, Kuwait

Sustainability is the process of meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Focusing on emerging economies from developing countries in the MENA region, it is becoming increasingly difficult for governments to implement a strategy that would achieve environmentally sustainable economic growth. The region is a hotspot for development, especially for product and retail markets (3 of the top 10 emerging countries for retail are in the Middle East), thus, it is the perfect time to ensure the foundation laid out for sustainable growth.

The glaring threat of water scarcity in the region makes addressing this issue imperative; around 6% of the world’s population lives in the MENA region, yet only 1% of the world’s fresh water resources exist in the region. Kuwait for example, has no fresh water resources whatsoever. Therefore, sustainable development along with finding new technologies to keep up with the rising demand for water, are absolutely necessary to avoid the possibility of a ‘water war;’ while both technology and changing the way we live are necessary in maintaining the agricultural industry in the region.

A proposed project by the EU suggests using the solar energy received by the Saharan Desert in North Africa, to provide Europe’s electricity. Only 0.3% of the sunlight falling on the Sahara and Middle East deserts is required to meet all of Europe’s energy needs. The 35 billion pound proposed supergrid provides a massive economic opportunity for countries to participate in: the profits generated from this project would fuel the economies of the participating countries, allowing for the expansion of other sectors, such as education and health. This would ensure the safety and economic security of the future generations, simultaneously taking care of the current generation.

Environmental sustainability can be achieved by tapping into one of the richest resources in the region: the youth. The 4 pillars of sustainability are innovation, leadership, creativity, and values. There is no doubt that all these factors are available in the youth population of the MENA region. It should also be noted that over 45% of the youth working-population is currently unemployed – laying a foundation for sustainability would create a job market for these young people.

The world now understands the economy better than ever before; past economic trends have shown that in order for an economy to enjoy continuous growth, the manner in which growth is achieved must be sustainable, and thus, defining sustainability as a way of moving forward is crucial for the region to excel and emerge as a global competitor.