undp in lebanon · the occupied lebanese land, but maintained control in southern lebanon over the...

********** LEBANON’S REPORT TO THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - JOHANNESBURG 2002

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Which Sustainable Development for the Third Millennium?

The tremendous developments that the world is witnessing give sustainable development multiple dimensions that can generate visions often impacting on political regimes, social fundamentals, and religious concepts.

Therefore, what query can be raised by a nation such as Lebanon, a country that discovered that through meeting challenges and overcoming difficulties is a road to a multicultural and diverse society where the right of the other to exis,t and to be different, is an inalienable right.

Lebanon is fully aware of its responsibilities in view of the new millennium while others persist in building a world without justice and planting the seeds of fear and thus harvesting conflict. Everyday we witness and experience the erosion of basic human rights and their objectives.

Lebanon’s Report to the World Summit on Sustainable Development is just a realistic and unashamed reading of our reality, problems, and issues. This is where our duty lies if we intend to prepare the Lebanese intellect to face the future well prepared with modern tools and unrestricted horizons.

The prevalence of private interests seems to be a characteristic hard to discard within the near future of human development especially when we take into consideration the multitude of social, political, and cultural movements seeking to escape the limits of any conscious comprehensive framework. The fundamental aim of any development project or sustainable life agenda is not to mask, but to consolidate the reality through a measured commitment. This, to avoid a future of broken promises and comprise, and to achieve an enlightened structure where the individual is central, crucial, and ultimately the target.

In view of that, the essence of sustainable development will remain the antonym of certitude. Throughout past centuries, nations and regimes were lulled into an unprecedented immovability, time had the rationale to seep and become established in minds and thoughts. Time in the third millennium is a synonym for a motion filled with clamor and incredible violence. Nations and regimes are dissatisfied with what was achieved; they are constantly looking for, planning, achieving, and sharing their achievements as individuals would share the joys of enlightenment- a continuous motion until the fatigue diminishes.

The type of challenge faced by sustainable development is unique. It intensifies when approaching countries, such as Lebanon, that labor to achieve an effective presence within the big transformations, and the defining moments to be witnessed by humanity. By accepting such a challenge, these countries, like Lebanon, are contributing to restoring fundamentals to the realm of the third millennium, and thus returning to it some of the attractiveness that may liberate it from itself!

Emile Lahoud President of the Republic of Lebanon


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SUPERVISED BY:

The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Emigrants

&

The Lebanese Ministry of Environment

In collaboration with the

United Nations Development Programme

Lebanon


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CONTENTS:

I. Introduction

II. Methodology Applied: A Continuous Partnership Mechanism

III. Lebanon’s Achievements for 1992 –2002: A. The Economy B. The Social Domain C. The Environment D. Governance

IV. Awareness

V. Shortcomings / Challenges faced by Lebanon in Implementing its

Commitments and Fulfilling its Aspirations.

VI. Prospects and Recommendations.

VII. Appendix: Conventions and Protocols Ratified during the Past Decade. * Governance or Good Governance is a new concept ascribed to political administration in the globalization era. This concept substitutes for Government and indicates the mechanism for sustainable participation and deliberation to be adopted by the state and the civil society in the actual globalization framework.


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I. Introduction Lebanon attended the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and along with the other participants committed to the principles set forth by “The Rio Declaration”. One of the most significant of these principles states that all countries, worldwide, are to bear jointly the responsibility of achiving sustainable development, each according to its capacity. The world witnessed during the last decade significant developments in sciences, technology, economics and politics. Humanity’s foremost problems worsened dramatically during this era: poverty, shrinkage of social welfare allocations, urban overpopulation, air pollution, climate change, increasing danger of ozone layer depletion, territorial sea pollution, loss of biodiversity, decrease of fresh water resources and decline of drinking water quality, added desertification and loss of green areas. The predicament of developing nations intensified as they attempted to conform to the framework of globalization, to define a direction when dealing with the new reality, and to protect the interests of all popular factions within the new world order. On the national level, Lebanon’s biggest challenge was to approach the issue of sustainable development with a comprehensive perspective i.e. according to a strategic thinking that reckons with the interaction and correlation between the four dimensions of sustainable development, namely the economic, the social, the environmental and the governmental dimensions. The period 1992-2002 was also the time when Lebanon succeeded in establishing its internal security and launched its reconstruction process. This same period witnessed a state of extreme tension in the Middle East due to the Israeli governments aggressive policy towards the Arab world, the continuous occupation of Arab land, and the Israeli refusal to adhere to a final, comprehensive, and fair settlement. Tension increased to precarious levels during the last year, a worst-case scenario warning. The aforementioned tension resulted in a permanent state of disarray in the region. Because of that, Lebanon who was facing the challenges of reconstruction, restructuring the economic infrastructure, and solving the major social problems set off by the Lebanese Civil War (the return of the displaced populations, restoring the infrastructure in the areas of resettlement, rebuilding the country’s infrastructure destroyed by the war etc.) had to cope with a status of relentless violence brought about by the Israeli occupation of wide areas in Southern Lebanon and the Western Bekaa region. Under pressure from the valiant Lebanese National Resistance, Israel partially withdrew in the year 2000 from most of the occupied Lebanese land, but maintained control in Southern Lebanon over the Shabaa Farms area and by so doing, maintained a state of tension all over the Lebanese border. This situation kept Lebanon in a continuous state of alertness, facing the Israeli aggression on the one hand, and on the other working towards reinforcing the internal security situation and achieving political stability gradually through returning the country after the year 1990 to the setting of the institutional state and the rationale of law, by reactivating the democratic political mechanism via the electoral process whether parliamentary elections that were interrupted for more than twenty


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years or the municipal and local elections, suspended for thirty years. Lebanon tried to face the costs of rebuilding the infrastructure by encouraging the repatriation of Lebanese capital abroad, supporting a stable exchange rate, and setting a policy of economic incentives in order to achieve a steady economic growth. Lebanon also undertook to adjust to the realities of globalization and to prepare its adherence to the World Trade Organization. Other major international developments: Lebanon signed several Arab cooperation agreements, especially with Syria, and early in 2002 ratified the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership Agreement.


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II. Methodology applied: A Continuous Partnership Mechanism: According to democratic traditions, based on the actual United Nations methodology that furthers cooperation between the Civil Society and the State in policy setting and the national choices decision making process, and in accordance with the spirit of transformation in the era of globalization towards a governance based on a continuous partnership between the State and the two branches of the Civil Society –the Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and the Private Sector- Lebanon approached the preparation of this report as a national endeavor that congregates all efforts in a national workshop to assess the period 1992-2002; drawing attention to the shortcomings, difficulties, prospects, and then setting the recommendations. The Government entrusted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the coordination and management of this national report preparation and the Ministry of Environment with the secretariat. All ministries and public institutions concerned with sustainable development were requested to participate in the preparation of the documents and studies and to participate in the related workshops held since mid 2001. The Government widened the circle of participation by including all economic institutions, labor unions, independent trade associations, and NGOs concerned with sustainable development or the environment in the groundwork, whether research or workshops. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported this effort by making available to the Lebanese Government an advisory team of experts in the environmental, legal, economic, societal, and governance fields to assist at each and every step of the preparation process. Several regional meetings were held during the preparation process period. The purpose of these meeting was to debate in depth subjects common and specific to the Arab region, and for the Arab countries to consult over the mechanisms used in the preparation of the national reports.


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III. Lebanon’s Achievements for 1992-2002: A. THE ECONOMY: Due to a sequence of tragic events that started in 1975, the Lebanese Government had to confront a taxing economic situation with limited resources: to simultaneously rebuild the infrastructure, stimulate the economy, restore the social structure, reinforce the civil peace, and to prepare the country for reintegration in the international community, reassuming a solid economic position, and regaining its competitiveness. All of this had to be achieved while political and military tensions prevailed due to the continuous Israeli occupation of a large part of Southern Lebanon and the West Bekaa region, and due to the unrelenting Israeli attacks on Lebanon, by air, land, and sea. In spite of that, Lebanon was able to restore during the first years of recovery part of its economic vitality: a stable exchange rate, a gradually visible improvement in the infrastructure and services (phone, electricity, water, roads), and an annual growth rate of 7.1% from 1993 to 1995. Later on, the growth rate regressed to 3.5% for 1996-1998 and to 1.5% in 2001. The major part of the infrastructure rehabilitation project was completed: the road network, the electricity grid network including the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the power plants and the grid destroyed during the Israeli air raids, the sewerage system, the partial modernization of the water supply. The major part of the telephony network was also restored and a cellular radiophone system was set up. Beirut Commercial City Center Reconstruction Project was completed. The implementation of the program for the return of the war displaced population reached an advanced stage including providing aid for the restoration and rehabilitation of areas subjected previously to events that led to displacement. The Lebanese Government gradually undertook specific measures aimed at preparing the country to enter world markets, at encouraging investments, and at setting up an environment conducive to competitiveness. We will mention some of these measures adopted during the last two years: Substantial custom duty exemptions: full exemption on 28% of the imports,

and a partial exemption (a set 5% custom duty) on 44% of the imports. Ratification of agreements with several countries aimed at promoting and

protecting foreign investments. Open sky policy and a reduction of airline fares. A reduction in employers’ contributions to social security without reducing

social security benefits, and the adoption of a legislation authorizing a voluntary affiliation option for the self-employed.

Ratification of taxation protocols with several countries aimed at preventing duality in taxation.

Legislation aimed at regulating ownership rights for foreigners and at reducing property registration tax.


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The establishment of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), a national institute for encouraging investments and promoting exports.

Initialing the Euro-Lebanese Partnership Agreement within the framework of the in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership.

Setting up the “One Stop Shop” aimed at speeding up the bureaucratic process of licensing to investors.

The implementation, starting February 2002 of the Value Added Tax (VAT). The annulment of laws aimed at protecting commercial exclusivity agencies. The establishment of Kafalat, an institution aimed at availing soft loans to

small and medium-sized enterprises. The specific conditions of the main economic sectors during the last decade: A.1.Agriculture and Rural Sustainable Development: As per 1999 estimates, the total Lebanese cultivated area is 248 000 hectares, i.e. 24 % of the Lebanese territory. It was estimated in the year 2000 that the agriculture sector employs195 000 farmers, two third of which have a second employment outside the sector. Agricultural production is concentrated (42%) in the Bekaa area, followed by Akkar and Koura in North Lebanon. In the year 1995, the contribution of Agriculture to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was estimated at 1.5 billion U.S. dollar, i.e. 12.4 % of 1995 Gross National Product (GNP). The proportion of land used for field crop culture dropped by half compared to the period 1980-1995 while the olive groves surfaces increased by 50% and the areas used for the growing of vegetables doubled. In 1999, 42% of all cultivated land was irrigated while 2% was used for greenhouse cultivation methods. The Government is aware that inadequate agricultural practices can lead to the deterioration of soil fertility, the depletion and pollution of groundwater, and to the endangering of public health in case of inept waste treatment in slaughterhouses and bad administration of animal farms. Therefore, the Government urged a rational use of fertilizers in order to conserve soil fertility, prohibited the import of more than 110 types deemed harmful to the soil, and encouraged sustainable agriculture. The Government also proceeded to set policies to promote agricultural productivity within safe environmental parameters. This fostered an advanced framework that helped to open for Lebanese agricultural products foreign markets, especially European markets. The Government also endeavored to increase the supply of irrigation water, especially in the South, by the means of manmade lakes, canals, and bridges aimed at improving water storage capacity to be used for sustainable agricultural development. It is worth noting that during the last decade, Lebanon relied on external loans, some of which were provided by the World Bank, for the completion of several development projects in the mountains and the rural areas. Some first-rate agro industries were possible due to the joined efforts exerted by local communities and civil societies.


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Following the government willingness to ban all practices harmful to the agricultural environment, the Lebanese private sector showed an increased interest to invest in the agricultural sector. The priority objectives of the government being to raise the quality of sustainable agriculture in the country and to promote the competitiveness of Lebanese agricultural products, while conserving natural resources and protecting the environment. IDAL drew a strategy aimed at promoting Lebanese agricultural exports by motivating the main players in this sector to seek quality and variety in production. Both these characteristics of agricultural production are directly linked to the conditions for achieving sustainable agricultural development. The presence of a certain harmony between the measures undertaken by various official authorities to promote sustainable agriculture and rural development is worth indicating, particularly between the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture (including the Green Plan), and the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities. The local authorities contribute, by way of local initiatives, in the upholding of governmental policies for environmental conservation in agricultural and animal husbandry. A.2.Industry: The Lebanese Industrial sector witnessed, since the end of the civil war, a noticeable expansion that was accompanied by a number of perils: imprecise definition of the industrial areas, and noncompliance with the existing laws and conventions that regulate environment conservation and public health protection. In the year 1995, the Industrial sector accounted for 17.3% of GNP (about 2 billion U.S. dollar). In the year 1999, it contributed by only 1.7 billion U.S. dollar. A 2001 census of manufacturing establishments in Lebanon revealed 22026 institutions, half of them located in Mount Lebanon, and 17.5% in the North. Most are light industries, more than 90% employing less than 10 persons. Forty-seven employ more than 100 workers and 20 employ more than 250 persons. Eighty-nine per cent are grouped under eight types of industries (food 20%, metallic 16%, non-metallic 12%, furniture 11%, clothing 10%, wood and timber 10%, leather 6%, textile 4%). The workforce in the industrial sector is estimated at 114 000 workers, 31% self-employed, and about 40 000 seasonal workers. The decree #5243 of 2001 aimed at reforming the threefold classification system previously applied to industrial and non-industrial institutions alike. It replaced the decree #4917 of 1994 that did not take into consideration during the process of classification of institutions the levels of health hazards and dangers to the environment, but classified the institutions only according to size, number of


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employees, and equipment power evaluation measured by horsepower. The decree #5243 of 2001 undertook to classify institutions according to five categories based on environmental standards (effects on water, air, soil, environmental danger, odor, noise, etc.). Nevertheless, some obstacles hinder full implementation due to the lack of a precise text to manage and set the standards, principles and conditions to be observed in the process of instituting and running an industry. There are in Lebanon 72 industrial areas. They are not all within the set industrial zoning areas and thus do not comply with conditions necessary to set and manage manufacturing establishments, for example waste management. Some of them are located next to or overlap on residential areas resulting in a real hazard to public health. In fact, the majority of industrial establishments in Lebanon remain outside the legal industrial zoning areas. The Lebanese Government is aware of the perils arising from the problems that plagued the Industrial sector during the war years. The government via all ministries is working hard to remedy the situation by legislations and practical measures. It is forcefully implementing these remedial measures in order to ensure public health safety and sustainable natural resources. The Ministry of Environment made available a plan of financial incentives to those institutions that comply with the new environmental standards. Many hopes are attached to the Environmental Impact Assessment Decree actually under study. This project will allow a full cooperation among the various governmental authorities to ensure public health, public safety, and a sustainable environment. It is worth noting that a number of industrial institutions chose willingly to improve quality and abide by environmental safety standards. Four Lebanese industrial institutions gained the ISO 14000 qualification, and 77 obtained the ISO9000. A.3.The Construction Sector: The construction sector, at each of its stages, has a permanent impact on the environment: starting with the extraction of raw materials- stone quarries and cement production- to the building process- noise, dust and harmful materials- to the housing phase – sewage, wastewater management, energy use, refuse disposal. The absence of building standards and urban planning needed to regulate this sector compounded its negative end-results on the environment. There are in Lebanon about 520 000 buildings (1996 estimates) including residential, non-residential and mixed use buildings. The mixed-use buildings constitute, along with the industrial institutions, 20% of the whole number. There are 1.450 million residential units in Lebanon, 73% residential and 27% non-residential. The 2001 studies and reports indicate that less than half of the building license applications submitted to the engineers association have been approved (11.406 applications for 1997, against 34941 for 1995). This is the result of stricter regulations and the reinforcement of the Directorate General for Urban Planning.


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It is worth noting that Lebanon owns a unique architectural heritage that is threatened by unregulated urban expansion. Protest over the issue of the unabated increase in quarries intensified due to their dramatic effects on the environment. According to a 1996 census: there are 710 quarries (stone and sand), 46% not licensed, 71% do not comply with the most fundamental standards, and 52% are located in Mount Lebanon. A recent government study showed that the retail price of one cubic meter of stone is estimated at six U.S. dollar with a profit margin of 40% i.e. 2.4 U.S. dollar. The implementation of environmental protective measures (dust, noise and tremor reduction together with the rehabilitating of mined sites) would increase the cost of one square meter extraction by 71 US cent. The government is working hard to apply the necessary environmental regulation while launching an information campaign to negate the popular belief that the implementation of the environmental parameter would increase dramatically the cost of construction primary material raw materials and would overburden the end user, the average citizen… It is also worth noting that, especially during the war years, several tourist development projects were erected along the Lebanese coast without observing the appropriate environmental standards. In several coastal areas where new land was reclaimed from the sea, buildings were erected without any infrastructure including sewerage and garbage management systems. The decree #10490 of 1997 instituted the re-organization of the Directorate General for Urban planning within the Ministry of public works. The number of departments in this directorate was increased to 10 technical departments. Twenty departments (in the provinces) and offices (in the districts) for urban planning were formed on the regional level. They were entrusted with the technical studies related to municipal public works, including the preparation of the specification and conditions tender booklets. Their authority included the supervision of construction and public works executed by the municipalities. Given that only 20% of the Lebanese territory is included in the directive plans, the public department for urban planning is working to set up guidelines for the remaining urban, mountainous, and rural areas. The Ministry of Environment endeavored to establish general environmental guidelines to be observed during the construction of residential buildings in areas of environmental concern (Resolution 0/90 dated 19/11/2000). The Environmental Impact Assessment law project can be considered a major achievement. It was concluded in 2001 and presented for discussion, to be followed by ratification and implementation. A national zoning and land exploitation plan is under preparation. The Higher Council for Urban Planning has been established and it has already proceeded to apply environmental guidelines within the process of construction licensing. The Government is seriously encouraging the cooperation between the concerned public administrations within the existing framework of the Higher Council for Urban Planning.


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Given that the building and construction industry had required huge quantities of primary materials (stones, gravel, sand, etc.), a decree regulating the works of the quarries and crushing plants, aimed at reducing their negative impact on the environment and natural resources, was adopted by the government. Actually, the government is laboring to implement this decree fully. After the partial Israeli withdrawal from the South on May 25, 2000, the construction and building industry in this area boomed. The central authority decided on exempting the area from construction licenses in order to encourage and support the local inhabitants in their reconstruction endeavor. Then again, licensing exemption, sometimes, go hand in hand with a disregard of the guidelines necessary for the respect of the environment and the preservation of sustainable natural resources. A.4.Tourism: Traditionally, tourism in Lebanon was urban in nature, but lately tourists are increasingly drawn to natural sites. The traditional tourism style was definitely damaging to the environment, however nature oriented tourism requires road and facilities building which can also threaten the environment. Before the Lebanese Civil War, tourism contributed significantly to the national economy, in 1974 more than 1 900 000 tourists visited Lebanon. Subsequent to the resolution of the Lebanese Civil War, Tourism is once again a promising sector that grew rapidly during the last few years. In the year 1998, the tourism sector contributed 1.3 billion U.S. dollar to GNP compared to 673 million U.S. dollar for 1994. In the year 1995, the services sector including tourism accounted for 16.4% of GNP. The last decade witnessed the rehabilitation and enlargement of Beirut International Airport, together with the restoration and development of hotels including the building of some grand hotels part of the well-known international chains. Huge efforts are channeled into the restoration of archeological sites, as they are an important part of the Lebanese heritage. The rehabilitation process was slowed by, on one side a real concern for the environment and the preservation of the natural, archeological and cultural heritages, and on the other side the economic motivation to attract tourists. Among the chief achievements is the rehabilitation and inauguration of the National Museum, the restoration of the archeological sites in Byblos, Sidon, Tyr, Tripoli and Baalbek, and improved tourist reception and other management conditions in a manner that allows for the sustainable exploitation and preservation of these sites. The Lebanese Government worked hard on adding Lebanese archeological and natural sites to UNESCO’s world cultural heritage list. Lebanon took part actively in the international campaign organized by UNESCO for the protection of Tyr archeological sites. The Government is also working on building the competence of all concerned public administrations (archeology, patrimony, education, agriculture,


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environment) in order to be able to restore fully all tourist sites while complying fully with all conditions and standards needed to ensure a sustainable environment. Lebanon is doing its utmost to look after all tourist locals and activities including hotels, sea and mountain resorts, sport activities clubs (Country Clubs), skiing stations, archeological and natural sites, and various cultural activities (music, singing, theatre and the audiovisual arts). The Lebanese goal is to develop its economic possibilities in a vital sector such as tourism and to concurrently elaborate standards and conditions aimed at protecting the environment and preserving natural resources. Incidentally, Lebanon is witnessing the emergence of a new form of tourism that is strongly supported and encouraged by the government, ecotourism. A.5.The Transport Sector: According to the Lebanese Ministry of Transport 1998 survey, the number of cars on the roads in Lebanon is 783 213. The total number for 2002 was estimated by various studies to about 800 to 900 thousand cars. Sixty-four point four per cent of the Lebanese households own at least one car, 20.6% of them own 2 cars and 35% do not possess any means of transportation. It is worth noting that 84% of all of these cars were manufactured in the 1980s and 12% are 25 years old; all leading to very high levels of pollution as old cars burn gas and oil in bigger amounts and with less efficiency, thus spelling out more pollutants into the air. The government tried to remedy the transportation problem via modernizing public transport and building high ways and beltways in an effort to reduce congestion in the cities and especially on the city entrances of Beirut and Tripoli. In an effort to decrease the number of road accidents, the government proceeded to adopt strict measures, namely the compulsory use of seat belts (a 2001 resolution by the Ministry of Interior), penalizing and pursuing speed limit violations, the strict observance of traffic light signals, and criminalizing drunk driving. The government encouraged the use of unleaded gasoline by reducing its selling price. It, furthermore, prohibited by the decree #7858 of 4/5/2002 the usage for public transport of cars and buses that run on diesel oil, as of 15/6/2002 for cars, and as of 15/7/2002 for buses, however it made indemnities and incentives available to the owners of these vehicles. The Lebanese government is actually in the process of promulgating a decree that would prohibit the import of ozone depleting substances. Within the same context, the law #341 of 6/8/2001 stipulated the minimization of air pollution resulting from the transportation sector and the encouragement of the use of lesser pollutant fuels. The decree #6603 of 4/4/1995 was aimed at regulating the conditions required for the use of diesel oil in trucks, buses, and public motor vehicles. Furthermore, Lebanon formulated the requirements and specifications for industrial gas emissions and devised a national project aimed at monitoring air pollution levels. The efforts of the Lebanese government to shift from fuel oil to natural gas in the process of energy production are worth mentioning. Within this context, it ratified an agreement with Syria aimed at the import of natural gas. The final aim is to replace


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the actual highly polluting fuel oil operated power plants with the less polluting natural gas operated ones. The entire course of action adopted by the Lebanese government in the transportation sector is in fact a set of means and procedures aimed at reducing air pollution. The National Green House Gases Inventory has been developed and the priorities of the struggle against climate change have been set. B. THE SOCIAL DIMENSION: Despite the devastating consequences of the Lebanese civil war, limited potentials, and the absence of international aid, Lebanon was able during the last decade to achieve noticeable improvement in all social sectors and progress on the level of most social indicators, albeit quite slow for some of them. Average life expectancy increased from 66.1 to 71 years, infant mortality rates dropped from 36 per thousand to 28per thousand. Illiteracy receded from 19.9% to 14.4% in the overall population and almost disappeared in the youth. Schooling reached 96%, the average daily intake of calories grew by a third, and per capita share of GNP multiplied by 4.7. Lebanon adopted a number of measures in the social field, the most significant being:

Establishing the National Council for Economy and Social Affairs in accordance with the resolutions issued from the Al-Taef National Reconciliation Agreement.

Establishing a High Commission responsible for the affairs of the handicapped.

Establishing a special ministry to deal with the affairs of the war displaced population, and forming an Indemnities Central Fund for compensating the displaced.

The founding of a remedial loan society aimed at helping the establishment and consolidation of small and medium-sized enterprises in order to create new job opportunities and limit rural migration.

The founding of rehabilitation homes for the street children. The ratification of a law that makes primary-school education compulsory. The ratification of a labor law aimed at reducing child labor and setting the

age limit that defines child labor. The introduction of a budget expense clause that stipulate improving prison

conditions and implementing an inmate rehabilitation program.

B.1. Poverty: Lebanon witnessed during the last few years additional pressures due to a dramatic drop in economic growth, which reflected negatively on the class structure by a widening of the social gap: a destitute majority, a very small class of the extremely wealthy and a dramatic reduction in the middle class. Studies indicate that around 61.9% of the Lebanese households fit in the low-income bracket, and that 12.9% are in the below 70 U.S. dollar per capita group.


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The decline of the middle class is due to economic stagnation and soaring unemployment. Studies indicate that unemployment rates reached 21% in the year 2001. B.2. Population: Recent estimates indicate a population of 3 million 400 thousand inhabitants, one third of them residing in the bigger Beirut area. The annual growth rate is 1.7% while the emigration rate is 0.2%, which means that the factual annual growth rate is 1.5%. Fifty per cent of the population is below 24 years old, and a fifth of the population is between 15 and 24 years old. The average age of marriage is close to the peak of world levels and the highest in the Arab world with 27.5 years for women and 30.9 years for men. B.3. Women: Lebanon ensures equal opportunity to both males and females at all stages of education, school and university. Women constitute less than a third (28%) of the economically active population, with a total income of only 21.8% of GNP. It is important to indicate that the work of women in the agricultural sector alongside their families and domestic activities are not economically accounted for. The main income providers in 14% of Lebanese households are women. During the last decade the scope of women activities widened, they entered new professions and fulfilled new career opportunities. The government and women associations became increasingly active in the fields of awareness and education aimed at women empowerment. The Lebanese government established the National Commission for Women Affairs (law #216/98) who in cooperation with the Civil Committee for Woman Affairs has set in 1996 a common national strategy and a work plan to be implemented by a joint effort of the civil and the official sectors. The final goal is the development of women abilities and the enhancement of their participation on all levels and in all fields of work. Accordingly, a legal amendment was issued acknowledging the right of women to participate in commercial activities and lifting the travel restriction to which married women were previously subjected. For the first time, the Government has appointed a number of women in leading administrative positions (grade of General Director) as well as main diplomatic postings (grade of Ambassador). Some women entered parliamentary life and were elected deputies during the course of parliamentary elections held on regular basis since 1992. B.4. Childhood: The health situation for children has remarkably improved during the last decade. Infant mortality dropped to 29‰ while mortality rate for children under the age of five dropped to 32 ‰. The rates of vaccination against rubella for the under one year old increased from 68% to 81%. More than 97% of children under the age of two have


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been vaccinated against polio, and whooping cough – diphtheria – tetanus (the triple vaccine). With the increase in the numbers of working mothers, children day care centers became widespread. The Juvenile Protection Association keeps track of and follows up the files related to delinquent kids. The Government assigned an independent part of the prison to be a special center for the incarceration of delinquents. An agreement has also been concluded with two supervisory centers where the condemned youth carry out their sentences under the supervision of correctional institutions. Furthermore, the Lebanese Government proceeded to modify the law related to the physical punishment of children, formed a parliamentary committee for the assistance of mothers and children, and ratified children rights international conventions. B.5.The Youth: The Youth in Lebanon form 19% of the population, 21% of them are active in the workplace, of these 75% are male and 25% female. Young people constitute the majority of the groups active in NGOs, especially in the fields of voluntary work and environmental concerns. They are also the majority of those active in political movements and parties. The Lebanese Government gave special attention to the concerns of the Lebanese Youth by establishing in the year 2000 a parliamentary committee for the Youth, then in the same year a Ministry for the Youth and Sports. B.6.The Displaced: Following the resolution of the Lebanese Civil War, one of the most delicate files was the issue of the populations displaced by the war, noting that one third of the total population suffered issues of displacement. In 1992, the displaced were estimated to be 90 000 families or about 450 000 persons. Half of them were living in houses belonging to others, and 12 000 families lived in squalid conditions in locals not designed originally for housing purposes. The government undertook a campaign aimed at evacuating the illegally occupied houses, returning the displaced to their houses, and helping to them to renovate or rehabilitate their domicile. An important part of the project has already been achieved. B.7. The Labor Force and Work Opportunities: The Lebanese labor market counts 1 million active persons, 150 000 unemployed, and the period required to find new employment is about 16 months. Given that one of the reasons for unemployment is the failure of the educational system to be in line the market demand, the government endeavored to encourage the formation of vocational training schools and higher institutes for technology. It also introduced a new


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academic degree in the field of technology. During the last few years, the number of vocational schools and universities increased notably. The availability of an alternative to classical higher education has visibly begun to influence the students’ higher education choices, inclinations, and areas of specialization. The Government also encouraged universities to diversify their curriculum by offering subjects more in line with the labor market requirements. The Lebanese University modernized and reformed its curriculum, added a higher institute for technology, developed its applied sciences department, and made available more funds to all its applied disciplines departments and schools. It is worth noting that 83% of the workforce newly entering the work market is employed by the private sector as it has the most significant recruitment potential. The Government is aware of the problems related to employment and unemployment and accordingly established the National Employment Office, and a credit institution aimed at encouraging the creation of jobs through promoting the establishment of small and medium size businesses. B.8. The Elderly: The Lebanese government gave special attention during the last two years to the 65 years old and above age bracket, the Elderly, who are about 6.1% of the total population. In the year 2001, the Government established the National Committee for the Elderly (the third age), and urged the Social Security Fund to subscribe the Elderly to the social security benefits programs. The Cabinet furthermore entrusted the Ministry of Labor with the stipulation of a law project related to the Elderly and old age pension benefits. The Government undertook in March 2001 a measure aimed at reforming the retirement plan for teachers; the teacher will have the choice between a retirement annuity and a monthly pension benefit. B.9. The Refugees: Lebanon is host, since the 1948 events in Palestine and the ensuing migration to 344 800 Palestinian refugees, 53.2% of whom live in refugee camps, under destitute conditions: unfit housing, lack of basic services including hygiene, health and environmental safety. The level of unemployment among the Palestinian workforce is unacceptable (40% of the Palestinian workforce is unemployed). The return of these refugees to their homeland has been sadly delayed repeatedly while year after year the basic services offered to the refugees by the UN and the UNRWA were reduced. All of this led to a dramatic deterioration in the living conditions of these refugees year after year, exacerbating the problems of the refugees and increasing the burdens on their surroundings on all social, health, and environmental levels. Hence, the Palestinian refugee camps remain islets of continuous and sustained misery and deprivation.


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B.10. Special Needs Population: The handicapped of all age groups represent 1.2% of the total male population against 0.7% of total female population. Five point two per cent of the handicapped belong to the 20-29 years old age group and are those who suffer most from their disability. The indicators show that 18.33% of the handicapped live in families where no family member is employed, in 40.9% of the cases only one member of the family is employed, 82% of the handicapped are unemployed, and 50.6% are illiterate. Having recognized the necessity of providing for the handicapped, particularly in the aftermath of a war, the Lebanese Government established the National Committee for the Handicapped. The government supported the institution of a disability certificate that grants the holder several benefits including the free use of public transport, building tax exemption, water and electricity charge exemption, and free health care and hospitalization expenses (covered by the Ministry of Public Health). B.11. Housing: During the last decade, Lebanon had to deal with several interrelated housing problems, the first being rural migration to the cities, mainly the capital Beirut. The second being the massive displacement of population due to the war conditions that led to the formation of new building agglomerations in the suburbs, often without any infrastructure or urban planning. A consequence of migration and displacement has been the centralization of economic activities in urban centers with no consideration to zoning, which resulted in diminished green areas, increased population density, and acute problems in sewerage and garbage refuse management, transport, traffic, and pollution, air and noise. During the same period, Lebanon also witnessed a big construction boom, particularly the construction of residential apartments in Beirut and its close suburbs. However, the progressive economic stagnation of the last few years led to an aggravation of the social crisis and to a reduction in the purchasing power of several social factions, thus lessening their ability to invest in new houses. A relevant factor is that the speedy construction process did not meet in its qualifications and pricing the real needs of he population, but aimed at catching the projected economic boom and catered to the wealthy. Given the aforementioned conditions, the Lebanese Government worked on designing a housing policy aimed at helping all popular factions to become proprietors of their own houses. The government established the Public Housing Institution that merged two previous governmental housing institutions and undertook to cooperate with the banking sector to provide soft housing loans to the popular and lower middle classes. During the last two years, 6200 housing loans were granted. The resources available to the Public Housing Institution are still limited in comparison with the actual needs in view of an aggravation of the housing crisis. Currently, the Government is in the process of devising a new “rent law” (a law that


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regulates the relation between landlord and tenant) that would equally protect the interest of the tenants and landlords in the old areas still subject to rent control and gradually encourage home ownership by as wide a group of tenants as possible. B.12. Social Security System and Social Benefits: A number of public and private institutions offer various social and health benefits to their employees, workers, and office staff. The National Social Security Fund is the biggest institution that provides this type of benefits in Lebanon, together with the Cooperative for Government Employees, the mutual funds (judges, army, Lebanese University faculty), and some independent agencies such as the Regie (a government monopoly for tobacco and tumbak). The National Social Security Fund covers one third of the Lebanese population. Its administration is entrusted to a joint board of directors representing the State, the Employers, and the Employees. In addition to the social security institution, there are in Lebanon several private insurance companies that cater those who can afford to purchase private policies whether individual, familial, group or company policies. Some of these private insurance companies offer to cover the marginal difference between the health insurance payments within the social security system and the real cost of medical care. It is worth noting that the number of private insurers in Lebanon is 65 companies catering to about 175 000 persons. B.13. Emigration: Immigration reached alarming proportions during the Lebanese Civil War. The last decade witnessed the return of many emigrants, however the immigration levels increased, again, due to the severe economic crisis. Men account for 85% of the Lebanese migrant population, most of them belong to the 25-29 years age group, and the second largest group is in the 20-24 years age bracket. The indicators show that 90.5% are economical immigrants while 5% leave seeking higher education. The majority of female emigrants leave either to get married or to be reunited with their families. Immigration is almost equally distributed among non-skilled labor and the highly qualified or skilled (47% of the total emigrants). The government is in the process of setting a policy of economic incentives aimed at inducing businesses to create more work opportunities; it reduced the employers’ percentage in the contributions to the National Social Security Fund as they represented previously a real burden on many institutions. B.14. Health: The Ministry of Health undertook to settle the health bill of all citizens that are outside the social security system and cannot afford private insurance by the means of either using governmental hospitals and health centers affiliated to it or by contracting the service of private hospitals. Actually, 80% of its budget is spent on due payments to the contracted private hospitals.


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Health services related to pregnancy and motherhood are quite adequate. The indicator show that 92% of pregnancies are followed up by health professionals, 88% of women give birth in health institutions, and 90% deliver under the supervision of qualified persons The progress in the health care system in Lebanon reflected positively on the health situation of the general population. Average life expectancy in the year 2000 increased to 71.9 years for men and 75.1 years women compared to 63.1 years for men and 67 years for women in the year 1975. Hospitals in Lebanon actually count 10,000 beds. The number of licensed doctors is approximately 9,000 licensed doctors assisted by 3,000 nurses. Lebanon counts some 20 open-heart surgery units, 12 centers for artificial fertilization and 39 dialysis centers. The national health expenditure budget has three finance sources, the Government, the semi-governmental institutions, and the private sector. During the last decade, the Lebanese Government undertook to rehabilitate 13 governmental hospitals, and achieved the first phase of a project involving the establishment of primary health care centers in all regions. The government has also worked on making available to all vaccines, chronic disease medication, and incurable disease medications. Furthermore, it monitored the quality of drugs and of water. In February 2002, the Government liberalized the import of quality-controlled medicines in an effort to reduce the consumer’s drug bill. B.15. Education: In Lebanon, 9.3% of the GDP is allocated to Education. The yearly budget expenditure for every student enrolled in the public schools system is 1300 U.S. dollar while the cost of private school education per student reaches a minimum of 1500 U.S. dollar annually. The Government also supports financially non-profit private schools, and subsidizes the education of civil servants children by the means of education vouchers. The government introduced, since 1996, new school curricula. The subject of civic and national education was introduced to all academic years as mandatory and taught according to standardized school books – prepared by the state and intended for both, private and public schools. The unified civic and national education school book includes many concepts aimed at increasing awareness of the problems related to the environment, citizen rights and duties, human rights, civil liberties, and democratic practices. Actually, the Government is seeking to improve the quality of education and to guide it towards the development of new skills befitting the requirements of the labor market. Within this context, the Government is working on developing the vocational and applied sciences educational sectors. The chief government priority following the law for compulsory education is the implementation of this law by making available to all citizens primary schools.


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C. THE ENVIRONMENT: The law #216 of 1993, initiating the establishment and organization of the Ministry of Environment, reflected the clear intention of the Lebanese government to intensify its efforts in the environmental field in conformity with the Rio summit commitments and its awareness of the importance of environmental wealth and the perils surrounding this wealth. This law was first amended the year 1997 and is again due for a full revision in 2002. The amendments will aim at improving the ministry’s ability to accomplish its ambitious goals: to consolidate decentralization, to preserve the environment, to manage efficiently and rationalize the use of natural resources, as well as to forestall the eminent risks to the environment. Obviously, these undertakings are complementary in nature to the responsibilities of many other Ministries as well as to the activities of various civil society groups from economic institutions to NGOs and consumers. The law #444 of 8/8/2002 has set a code for the protection of the environment that represents a legal framework and set of principles based on the concept that the right to a healthy environment is a basic human right, and that the protection of the environment is a public interest issue. The code stresses the need for basic prevention measures and thus lays down the necessity for an assessment of the environmental impact of each commercial project before granting an operating license, and to make the polluter bear the costs of environmental cleaning and rehabilitation. The significance of the aforementioned law resides in the fact that it is a comprehensive legal text that puts an end to the confusion and ambiguity that prevailed when dealing with environmental issues. A decree-law project, inspired by the environmental code and stipulating the implementation of an environmental impact assessment procedure before granting an operating license to any commercial project is in the preparation process. The Government is working on publishing (2002) an environmental charter specific to each economic sector, based on the “Citizen Charter” of 2001. Within the framework of surveying the environmental conditions and preparing the studies and suggestions required for managing the issues of sustainable environment, the Government has elaborated a set of progress reports concerning the state of the environment (1996), the last of these reports was the 2002 State of Environment Report (SOER): a detailed precise report of the various dimensions of sustainable development. A real qualitative shift in thought and vision, because it studies all the aspects of social development from an environmental viewpoint i.e. in view of their environmental interaction. At the outset of this new decade, SOER is a tool at the disposal of the government empowering it to set a global strategy for sustainable development from an environmental standpoint. In addition to the aforementioned legislative measures and studies, a number of major environmental issues have been managed in the following manner:


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C.1. The preservation of the Ozone Layer: By virtue of the laws #253 of 30/3/1993, #120 of 3/11/1999, and their amendments, Lebanon adhered to the 1985 Vienna Convention for the protection of the ozone layer, the 1987 Montreal Protocol related to stratospheric ozone depleting substances, the 1990 London amendment, and the 1992 Copenhagen amendments related to the protection of the stratosphere. Lebanon proceeded to implement projects aimed at replacing the ozone depleting substances. The principal widely used ozone depleting substances are: chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) and methyl bromide (CH3Br bromo-methane). Until 2002, the replacement factor was 42%. C.2. Fighting Deforestation and Desertification: Lebanon ratified the United Nations Convention to combat Desertification by virtue of the law #469/1995 and designed a five-year plan for re-forestation and increasing the green areas. The law #558 of 24/7/1996 that was intended to insure the protection of the forests has been followed by several decrees declaring some of the Lebanese forests protected areas. The issue of desertification was given particular attention in Lebanon; it was thoroughly studied, including an analysis of the economical impact of desertification. A national plan for the fight against desertification is being prepared and should be published during July 2002. The government gave special attention to the problem of forest fires considering the substantial increase in their numbers and the expanding area of affected forests. The government is seriously seeking to acquire the most advanced firefighting techniques available worldwide. It is also launching a preventive campaign designed at making citizens more aware of the methods and means to prevent forest fires. C.3. Protecting Biodiversity and Good Management of Biotechnology: Lebanon has accomplished in 1998 a national strategy and an action plan for the preservation of biodiversity and has been working on drafting a law to regulate hunting. Lebanon has also completed several studies about biodiversity and has concluded a mapping of biodiversity and wild life. Having ratified the Rio de Janeiro United Nations Convention for Biodiversity by virtue of law #360of 11/8/1994, Lebanon proceeded with the draft of a law specific to natural reserves. This project law is currently discussed at the level of parliamentary committees together with the natural reserves project -financed internationally- that groups the Ehden forest reserve, the Palm Islands reserve, and the Shouf Cedar reserve.


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C.4. Preservation of the Sea and the Shoreline: Following the signature of the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean from pollution (16/2/1976) and its ratification (decree #126 of 30/6/77), Lebanon designed a national master plan for sewage disposal, proceeded with the construction of sewage treatment plants, and implemented a program to monitor pollution along the costal area. Furthermore, the governmental decree #8/1/2001 defined the environmental qualitative specification for liquid refuse disposal along the seashore, also several sea and costal areas such as Tyr and the Palm Islands were declared natural reserves. In the same context, the civil society organizations carried out several campaigns to clean the seashore, and beaches. A comprehensive program for the management of tourist resorts along the coastal line was put into action. The state encouraged and supported municipalities to launch coastline preservation campaigns, and penalized the use of dynamite for fishing purposes. C.5. Water Resources Preservation: Being aware of the value of water resources, the Lebanese government exerted special effort to prevent water contamination, and to rationalize its use by: the issuance of a law regulating and reorganizing the water supply administering authorities, the construction of reservoirs and dams to collect rain water, the establishment of a meteorological observatory system to record and analyze the levels of precipitation, a comprehensive plan to manage river basins, and improve the technical competence of the national laboratories in charge of monitoring water quality. Pertaining to irrigation, The Lebanese government worked on updating water pumping techniques to minimize the levels of loss and evaporation customary to the traditional irrigation techniques. Moreover, the Lebanese government undertook to rehabilitate and modernize the potable water supply -specially in Beirut and Tripoli- in order to prevent contamination from sewage water and other pollutants. C.6. Managing Toxic Chemical Substances and Hazardous Wastes: Lebanon ratified the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal pursuant to the law #387 of 21/12/1994, and ratified the Stockholm Convention on Persistant Organic Pollutants for Adoption by the Conference of Plenipotentiaris by virtue of the law #432 of 8/8/2002. The Lebanese government, within the same framework, prepared for the issuance of a number of related decrees: a decree to regulate and monitor the import-export of industrial waste including hazardous wastes, a decree to classify wastes (industrial and toxic) and to regulate waste disposal methods for each of the classifications, and a decree to regulate the licensing process for companies in charge of industrial and toxic waste disposal.


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A decree to regulate hospital waste management was approved in the year2002 under #8006/2002. A resolution related to the regulation of waste import and to the amendment of the related previous decree #22/1 of 17/12/1996 came in action in the year 1997 (#71/1 of 19/5/1997). Furthermore, the government of Lebanon developed technical guidelines for sound environmental management related to some toxic wastes, and started working on a project involving the survey and management of Permanent Organic Pollutants (POP) in Lebanon. It is actually taking part in a regional program for the survey and management of Permanent Toxic Substances (PTS) in the Mediterranean region. It is also surveying the levels of dioxin soil contamination and is taking part in an Asian project aimed at censing dioxin and furan substances in the whole region. Moreover, the Government has elaborated a national plan for chemical safety that is to address all issues related to chemical substances at all stages: from import or manufacture to transport, storage, usage, and disposal. A number of studies have been concluded as to the size, quality and management options of industrial and non-industrial toxic wastes (hospital waste, spent oils, etc.). The mechanisms of cooperation with the custom authorities have been streamlined in order to combat illegal trading in toxic wastes and hazardous materials. A close working cooperation with the Association of Lebanese Industrialists and all parties concerned with the chemical and toxic waste management program was achieved. C.7. Managing Household Solid Waste: The Government succeeded in setting a national plan for the management of solid household waste that entails the sorting, recycling, and sanitary dumping of household garbage. It was fully implemented in the greater Beirut and Mount-Lebanon areas. Landfill areas for garbage disposal are under preparation in some of Lebanon’s regions, financed by loans from foreign donors including the World Bank. In some regions, NGOs in collaboration with the local municipalities established waste plants for the transformation of organic household refuse into organic compost. The recycling of paper, metals, and plastics sorted from household garbage has been practiced for many years. C.6. Mine-clearing Operations: One of the legacies of 15 years of civil war (1975 – 1990) and 22 years of Israeli occupation of most of South Lebanon and the Western Bekaa region (1978-2000) remains the estimated 150 000 unexploded landmines and gun shells that are a real threat to public safety. Following the partial Israeli withdrawal of May 25, 2000, the UN has estimated the number of unexploded landmines in South Lebanon and the Western Bekaa region to be 130 000 grouped in an area of no more than 850 km2. The Israeli government admitted to having left behind 70 000 landmines and 288 vehicle traps. About 188


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mine fields situated on the outskirts of villages and towns are spread from Ras Al-Nakoura on the coastline to the Shabaa Farms situated on the versant of Mount Haramoun. A report elaborated in July 2000, classified 249 zones in 196 villages as dangerous zones. The Lebanese Army surveyed another 508 dangerous zones in the districts of Nabatyyeh, Djezzine, Sidon, Hasbayya, Bint-Jbeil, Marj-ayyoun and West Bekaa. These zones are scattered over cultivated fields, roads, and agricultural lands, they were the cause so far of injury and harm to many citizens. Without any doubt, these unexploded mines rendered an important part of arable land in this region unusable, disrupted the livelihood of the villagers, and have been threatening the safety of all inhabitants of the area whenever they commute. The estimates put the victims of landmines explosion in these areas at about 2714 killed and wounded. Lebanon established (April 1988) an army mine-clearing bureau. The World Fund for Rehabilitation contributed in this regard by way of a program that improves awareness of the dangers of minefields, assists the victims, and supports the mine-clearing operation carried out by the Lebanese army. Several organizations, including civil society organizations, UN agencies, and other international agencies, have also launched awareness programs and activities. However, the most pressing issue is to reinforce Lebanon’s financial and technical ability to achieve the mine-clearing operation and liberate the population of South Lebanon and the Western Bekaa region from this imminent threat to their safety and livelihood. Many parties, including a number of countries and international organizations and led by the United Arab Emirates, are participating in the mine-clearing operations. D. GOVERNANCE: D.1. Reinstating the Rule of Law and the Democratic Process: Lebanon realized that steady progress and sustainable development could not be achieved except within the framework of the national institutions, unambiguous mechanisms, and a fully transparent legislative structure. Based on these convictions, the Lebanese Government sought to foster institutional work and promote the observance of the law, specially that the country has recently emerged from the painful events during which the authority of the state and the observance of the law collapsed. Following the dismantling of the armed militias, the deployment of the security forces, the return to the rule of law, and the resumption of political and democratic life, the government was quick to schedule parliamentary elections after almost 20 years of interruption. A law regulating parliamentary elections was voted in the year 1992, allowing the parliamentary elections to take place during that year. The 1996 elections took place under the rule of an amended law that was adopted following the extensive objections and various reservations in the circles of the civil society that the 1992 electoral law had raised. However, the


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1996 electoral law was also subject to criticisms and reservations, which led to the adoption of a new law by virtue of which the 2000 parliamentary elections were held. Thus, Lebanon returned to a democratic and political life that prevailed in the pre-war years. It is based on the constitutional right that states that the people are the source of all powers. The election of local municipal councils and mayors was reestablished in 1998, after having been interrupted for more than 30 years. Local representation was restored in most of Lebanese towns, villages and cities, strengthening regional participation in the administration of regional affairs, and participation in political life. Hence, Lebanon is witnessing a healthy political atmosphere with a lively debate between those who support or oppose the government. The media is actively participating in reporting the various opinions and providing a line of communication between society and the state. The Lebanese government chose to cooperate with the active members of the civil society and in particular, the concerned NGOs, when dealing with major social issues. In the human and social fields, a real partnership was established with the social and charitable organizations in order to promote issues of public interest. In the field of women rights, the government achieved several projects in cooperation with the civil society women organizations. In the field of preservation of the environment, the government worked on many projects in cooperation with the environmental organizations and the NGOs interested in public awareness and education. After launching of the reconstruction operations at the beginning of the last decade, the state prime objective was to reestablish the institutions, reinstate the rule of law, and apply the concepts of transparency and accountability in public life. In his presidential oath speech of the year 1998, the President of the Republic stated clearly the basic principles for the following period. The President has remarkably embraced in his speech the issues of poverty, public health, employment, and the environment. The environmental issue was also given special attention in the 2000 Governmental Declaration, which clearly stated that the environment is a Lebanese priority concern and that all citizens, politicians, intellectuals, industrials, and businesspersons have to work hand in hand to preserve the environment for future generations. The last decade has seen an increase in associations concerned with the environment until they reached 123 associations. The population in general has shown a visible interest in the issues related to the environment and a remarkable awareness about the dangers to the environment because of certain types of behavior and consumerism. The search for a better quality of life (quality of food products, drinkable water, air cleanliness, and the search for calm, nature, and green areas) became also a priority. Fully aware of the fact that environmental issues are related to and interrelated with all social concerns, the government established the Ministry of Environment and directed it to fully cooperate and collaborate with all other concerned public administrations and civil society organizations. The government also established a parliamentary committee for the environment that is in charge of studying the difficult files related to the environment and proposing appropriate solutions in the form of law projects. It is also in charge of reviewing the international legislation related to environmental issues and proposing appropriate measures.


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All of the aforementioned enables Lebanon to be in line with international developments and to adopt governance as a general basis for good management within the framework of globalization. Furthermore, there is an increased awareness of the need to promote discussion, consultation and cooperation between all the parties concerned by an issue in order to arrive to good and efficient management of public affairs. D.2. Administrative Reform: During the last decade, the Lebanese state saw the importance of human resources and designed measured plans to develop public administration and to engage citizens and the civil society organization in constructive participation. The government gave special attention to modernizing the structure of the ministries (new departments in charge of information and simplifying procedures) in addition to initiating measures aimed at improving the skills and training of employees. Aimed to promote a better communication between public administrations and the public as a whole, the government introduced a set of public service work ethics (public service, as work in the public sector is called, implies the concepts of “in the interest of the public “ and “for the public good”). In an effort to find a clear framework for the negotiation and resolution of conflicts between the citizen and public administrations, the Presidency initiated a service based on the ombudsman model; a government official (as in Sweden or New Zealand) appointed to receive and investigate complaints made by individuals against abuses or capricious acts of public officials. A strategy to create better communication and interaction between the central government and the municipalities made possible a better cooperation between the various branches of the public administration, thus resulting in a more efficient management of public affairs. A training plan aimed to advance coordination between the state and the civil society organizations is actually in the implementation stage with the support of various international parties, for example the UNDP, the World Bank and the European Union (EU). D.3. The Civil Society: Traditionally, Lebanon has been known historically for its vibrant civil society due to its social diversity, and liberal legislation in regards to the activities of NGOs, political parties and movements, and trade unions. Based on the principles of human rights and democratic liberty stated in the Constitution, the government tried to reinstate the atmosphere of freedom and democracy that prevailed in Lebanon before the civil war. During the last decade, the vitality, activities, and programs of the civil society organizations increased and expanded substantially (parties, NGOs, unions, associations, cooperatives, etc.). It is manifest that during the last few years the NGOs have gradually entered, in addition to their traditional voluntary and educational work, the sphere of activities and programs related to sustainable development. A number of programs and


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activities were achieved in collaboration with or under commission from various ministries and public administrations. The collaboration between the state and the civil society organizations was the translation of a real partnership that led to further coordination in the field of development between the state on one side, and on the other side, the NGOs and all those who are active in the civil society. In many cases, NGOs played a very positive role; they have acted as unofficial channels of communication and exerted pressures that led to the resolution of many issues and to the amendment of several laws and regulations. D.4. Human Rights and Democratic Freedom: It is important to note the polarization of political life in the country due a healthy wide diversity of political movements and programs. The political scene is witnessing debates that reach the level of public bickering between the government and the opposition in an atmosphere of freedom that Lebanon is trying to preserve. The Government revoked a previous decision that forbade demonstrations and public assembly due to security reasons during the last few years. Lebanon has been witnessing student and labor action, protests and marches. The Government is taking full precaution to avoid any friction between the protesters and the security forces as had previously happened. The previous events had brought about an investigation, arrests, and trials. From their side, the political and social movements are also exerting restraint. The Government has during the last decade given special attention to address the violations of Human Rights at all levels. An investigative committee in charge of studying the file related to those who were reported missing during the civil war was established. Civil committees took on the responsibility to address the issues relative to the “detainees” (not condemned but held in detention as a preventive measure) and in particular, those detained in Israeli prisons. The government exerted special efforts to improve the appalling conditions in the Lebanese prisons. A number of programs were implemented including the reform of prisoners by training and education, the rehabilitation of the women detention center and the restructuring of the juvenile reformatory (training school) via programs implemented by the government, supported by international organization, and assisted by the civil society organizations. D.5. Legislation and the Judiciary: The Lebanese Government ratified all international conventions related to the elimination of gender discrimination, and implemented them by amending Lebanese laws in accordance with the principles of women rights. Lebanon also ratified the international declaration for the rights of children and gave particular attention to this subject by initiating a parliamentary committee in charge of


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women and children affairs that proposed related legislation. The issuance of a law that sets the age limit for employment and prohibits child labor is one accomplishment worth noting. Whereas the state is under tremendous pressures due to the tense regional conditions, it is strongly seeking to develop the power of the judicial authority, and guarantee its independence from political and other interferences, as was the case during the civil war. In the year 2001, Lebanon added to the judiciary the function of public prosecutor for environmental affairs and on the regional level assigned it to the district prosecutor general.


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IV. Awareness and Sustainable Development: In Lebanon, the last decade was characterized by a qualitative move towards public awareness, and a greater involvement of the NGOs, the media, and the public administrations in subjects relevant to sustainable development. Internal security, the return to the rule of law, and the free movement of people, played a significant role. Another important factor was the uncovering of implacable urgent needs in the wake of the events, when the extent of the destruction in the infrastructure and in private and public interests and properties became clear. It resulted in an irresistible drive that directed civil activity towards development projects on the one side, and towards awareness and education programs on the other side. The awareness initiatives aimed at reinforcing civic and civil culture and citizen behavior, and at defining human rights, the requirements for development, the value of the environment in the process of development, the actual perils to the environment, and the damages resulting from the previous period. The Government introduced environmental awareness and education to the national curriculum, publishing a unified schoolbook to teach this new subject uniformly in all Lebanese schools. The Government issued an edict (#73 of 1998) officially introducing the subject of environmental education as part of the national academic curriculum. In the same context, seven universities in Lebanon offer degrees in environmental studies. The press has devoted special pages, sections, segments, etc. to the environment, activities, problems, discussions, etc. The visual media joined in by giving time to programs related to the environment, awareness, natural resources, dangers, means of preservations, etc. The National Council for Scientific Research gave priority to all research subjects related to the environment, and introduced the environmental concern to all research and studies that the Council sponsors, finances, or publishes. The Council, furthermore, expanded the scope of its activities to include the subject of socioeconomic development. Previously its research activities were limited to basic sciences, they did not include the social sciences. Environmental societies became active in schools and university. They were supported by the state, the private sector, and in some instances international organizations. However, the main driving force came as a result of the expansion in the activities of the civil society organizations related to the environment, their gradual get-together, and finally the joining of their efforts on the national levels under one unifying body. Most of the civil society organizations entered into partnership programs with related public administrations and the Ministry of Environment to join efforts and potentials in order to achieve better results. Environmental publications (specialized magazines, periodicals issued by the environmental societies, etc.) prospered. Most civil society organizations (women and youth associations, political parties and organizations) gave special attention, aside from their traditional activities, to environmental awareness programs. This is how the issues of sustainable development


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and sustainable environment came to be introduced to the public debate in Lebanon, and eventually reached a quite advanced level on the echelon of public concerns. The Government has adopted the approach of education and increased awareness in its prevention campaign, and in order to rationalize individual and collective behavior towards an adherence to environmental principles. It also aims at drafting all concerned parties (civil society, public sector, etc) towards the national goal: preserving the environment and achieving sustainable development.


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V. Shortcomings / Challenges faced by Lebanon in Implementing its Commitments and Fulfilling its Aspirations: A. SHORTCOMINGS:

1. The cooperation mechanisms between the public administrations and the private and public institutions concerned with the issues of sustainable development are still inadequate.

2. Despite the widened circle of debate and evaluation of the last decade experiences, there is no institution or high council responsible for the setting of a comprehensive policy for sustainable development. The environmental subject gained increased attention, however it remained separate from the subject of sustainable development. The attention given to the interrelation of environmental issues with projects and programs related to all other dimensions also remains inadequate.

3. Many legislation projects, laws, governmental decrees and ordinances are still under study in parliament, in the cabinet, or by the concerned ministers. The government is aware of the urgency for reaching the resolution of these projects soonest and then to proceed with their implementation.

4. The National High Council for the Environment, which is to embody the partnership process, would guarantee a better performance in the fields of environment preservation and sustainability. This council has not been nominated yet.

5. Effective incentives are needed to encourage further businesses, particularly the industries, to adhere to principles, technologies, and specifications friendly to the environment.

6. There is a need to implement more effectively a number of laws related to environmental protection via penalizing the transgressors and remedying to illegalities.

7. There is no system to appraise the material value of the environment, thus the insurers do not have a basis to offer policies that cover the perils and damages resulting from environmental violations.

8. Pressures exerted by foreign investors and financiers lead sometimes to disregard the basic principles and specifications of environmental safety, due to the economic need for such investments and projects.

9. There is a need to set environmental standard specifications that would protect the environment without hindering the badly needed economic growth, especially in the fields of agriculture and economy.

10. There is pressing need to set a proper management of the mountainous areas, and to implement the law regulating the works of the quarries and crushers that remains unabated.

11. Lebanon is short on equipment designed to effect measurements indicating environmental health and the levels of pollution –air, water, sound, soil, etc.


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There is an urgent need to modernize and upgrade the laboratories of the research institutions, universities, and chiefly the Ministry of Environment.

12. More efforts need to be exerted to provide vocational and scientific training to administrative cadres in number of pertinent ministries and public institutions, in particular the Ministry of Environment.

13. The assessment of environmental impact is quasi-absent in many important fields like the banking and insurance sectors.

B. CHALLENGES:

1. The public debt, accumulated over the last few years (26,6 billion dollar), and resulting from the need to reconstruct the country after 16 years of civil war, is a real national problem. The servicing of the debt accounts for 47% of the 2002 budget. Accordingly, the government is under tremendous pressure to reduce public expenditures thus affecting negatively all sectors including the environmental sector.

2. The continuous Israeli occupation of the Shabaa Farms, the constant tensions along the Israeli-Lebanese borders, and the continuing Israeli harassment, are a source of pressures damaging to Lebanon, state and society. In a blatant disregard of international law, Israel is usurping Lebanese fresh waters thus preventing Lebanon from benefiting from a vital natural resource that would contribute positively to economic growth and social development. Furthermore, the Israeli policy of “brink of war” is resulting in a state of confusion that hinders stability and weakens economic confidence in the country, and the region as a whole.

3. The economic stagnation resulting from the two aforementioned causes has a negative impact on society and state in Lebanon. It is reason for higher unemployment levels, wider social differences, and increasing poverty levels.

4. In the context of an increased social and economic crisis, the issues of environmental protection and quality of life become increasingly costly to the individual, the state, and society as a whole. These issues, thus, take backstage to other popular concerns, fact that affects negatively the environment.

5. Lebanon is suffering from insufficient technical, financial, and material foreign aid permitting to effectively implement master plans for all Lebanese cities and regions, and to achieve a comprehensive zoning of cities. The level of international aid is usually proportional to per capita GNP of the recipient county; unfortunately, they do not take into account special case scenarios and the real need for aid in some specific instances. Lebanon, who is in the process of a full reconstruction of its infrastructure and institutions after the ravages of a 16 years civil war is in need of extraordinary aid funds that are much above the levels of aid granted to countries belonging the same per capita GNP bracket.

6. Lebanon will be needing substantial financial resources to put into application the national plan for waste management –solid household refuse, toxic waste,


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and chemical substances- according to public health protection standard requirements.

7. The Israeli occupation period witnessed the plundering of archeological sites, and the illegal appropriation of natural resource. The international community is not seriously pursuing the perpetrators in this instance -theft of water, soil, and artifacts, land mining, soil depletion, etc. Lebanon is in serious need of foreign aid for reparation in this regard.


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VI. Prospects and Recommendations: Lebanon is looking forward to overcoming the actual economic crisis by the means of measures aimed at increasing the returns to the treasury, rationalizing expenditures, and good management of the public debt. The process of privatization is supposed to be a factor in the reduction of the national debt. The Lebanese government is aware of the necessity to simultaneously, improve social and health services, and keep in check related expenditures. The government is also aware of the need to further the quality of public education, improve the performance of public education institutions, and concurrently control related expenditures. Lebanon is looking forward to a policy aimed at furthering an educational system (specially higher education) more in line with the labor market requirements. In this context, Lebanon is looking forward to initiating policies to encourage the youth to join the labor market, and to introduce a proper housing policy improving the possibilities for young couples to own their home, and as such encouraging them to remain in the country, renouncing emigration. Besides, Lebanon is aware of the importance of the legislative side of the environmental subject; from the ratification of the laws related to the protection of the environment, the decrees related to the assessment of the environmental impact of projects, and all projects related to the setting of standard specifications for environmental safety, to the full implementation of these laws and the penalization of the transgressors, in addition to motivating individuals and institutions to adhere to a behavior of environmental responsibility at all levels. One has to indicate the need to regulate sewage disposal, set the control and monitoring mechanisms needed, and to reinforce the laws protecting from the contamination of surface and groundwater resources. A national comprehensive plan for the management of all water resources is needed in order to stop wastage, rationalize use, and to monitor effectively the quality and quantities of water used. In context, the participation of the private sector in the water management project is a necessity. Lebanon is also looking forward in the context of waste management to initiate new legislation, to set a comprehensive plan, and to reinforce the competence of local authorities in order to implement an environmentally safe management of household solid wastes. There is urgency to fully implement the laws related to safe management and disposal of toxic wastes and hazardous chemical substances through the installation of safe waste disposal plants, and the reinforcement of the competence of individuals, institutions and expert authorities concerned with the safe and proper management of hazardous substances. Following ten years of extensive efforts invested in the reconstruction of the infrastructure, Lebanon is looking forward to set an unambiguous national strategy for


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sustainable development including specific work plans that may be presented to donor organizations in order to insure the necessary funds for their execution. A full partnership between the various ministries and the public institutions is necessary to implement the rule of law and insure a sustainable environment.


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VII. Appendix: Conventions and Protocols Ratified during the Past Decade. Overall, Lebanon has made significant advances on road to full compliance with international legislation related to the environment due to an internal will to preserve the natural resources of the country, together with a will to keep in line with international joint efforts aiming at averting the regional and worldwide hazards to the environment and to the present and the future of humanity as a whole. Laws ratifying the signature of conventions and protocols were gradually issued, and practical mechanisms of application were set. The Lebanese government is aware of the importance for each country to assume a share in the international responsibility on which the quality and sustainability of life depends. We mention hereafter, some of the agreements and protocols ratified since 1992:

A. Re Handling and Safety of Hazardous Materials: 1. Basel Convention on the Control of Transboudary Movements of

Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (1989). Ratified by virtue of law #387 of 1994.

2. Nuclear security agreement (Vienna 1995). Ratified by virtue of law #482 of 1995.

3. Civil responsibility for nuclear damage agreement (Vienna 1963). Ratified by virtue of law #565 of 1996.

4. Early notification of nuclear accident occurrence agreement (Vienna 1986). Ratified by virtue of law #566 of 1996.

5. Assistance in nuclear accident occurrence agreement (Vienna 1986). Ratified by virtue of law #575 of 1996.

6. Physical Protection for Nuclear Substances Agreement (Vienna 1979). Ratified by virtue of law #633 of 1997.

7. Stockholm Convention on Persistant Organic Pollutants for Adoption by the Conference of Plenipotentiaris. Ratified by virtue of law #432 of 2002.

B. Re Controlling Air Pollution: 1. Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (1985). Ratified

by virtue of law #253 of 1993.

2. Montreal Protocol on Substances that deplete the Ozone Layer (1987). Ratified by virtue of law #253 of 1993.

3. Amendments of Montreal Protocol concerning the Ozone Layer Depleting Substances (London 1990). Ratified by virtue of law #253 of 1993.

4. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (Rio De Janeiro 1992). Ratified by virtue of law #359 of 1994.

5. Copenhagen Amendments related to Montreal Protocol concerning the Protection of the Ozone Layer from Depleting Substances (Copenhagen 1992). Ratified by virtue of law #120 of 1999.

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LEBANON’S REPORT TO THE WORLD SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT - JOHANNESBURG 2002

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C. Re the Preservation of National Resources: 1. UNESCO agreement for the protection of natural and cultural international

heritage (Paris1972). Ratified by virtue of law of 19/1990.

2. Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution (Geneva 1982). Ratified by virtue of law # 292 of 1994.

3. The United Nations Convention for Biodiversity Conservation (Rio de Janeiro 1992). Ratified by virtue of law #360 of 1994.

4. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (Paris 1994). Ratified by virtue of law #469 of 1995.

5. Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterflow Habitat (Ramsar 1971). Ratified by virtue of law #23of 1999.

D. Re the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea from Pollution: 1. Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution

(Barcelona. 1976). Ratified by virtue of law #126 of 1977.

2. Protocol for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution from Land-based Sources (Athens 1980). Ratified by virtue of law #292 of 1994.

3. Protocol for the Prevention and Elimination of Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Dumping from Ships and Aircraft (Barcelona 1976). Ratified by virtue of law #126 of 1977.

4. Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency (Barcelona 1976). Ratified by virtue of law #126 of 1977.


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undp in lebanon · the occupied lebanese land, but maintained control in southern lebanon over the...

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