NAJIB SAAB

Bio

An architect by training, Najib Saab is Secretary General of the Arab Forum for Environment & Development (AFED), and publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia (Environment & Development), the leading pan-Arab magazine on sustainable development. He started his career working for UNEP under Mostafa Kamal Tolba, and continued the relation in various capacities, most recently as member of the High Level Group (HLG) overseeing Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6). He participated as head of delegation, adviser, delegate and/or speaker in all key international conferences on environment and sustainable development. He has played a pivotal role in shaping regional positions towards climate and green economy. He is a laureate of the United Nations Environment Programme's Global 500 Award in 2003 for environmental achievements, and of the Zayed International Prize for Environment in 2011 for environmental leadership leading to change in society. He is editor of the series of annual reports published by AFED on the state of Arab environment (2008-2018), which have become a main source on sustainable development matters and have triggered major policy changes across the region. More