RABAT, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Environment ministers of Islamic countries gathered in the Moroccan capital Rabat urged on Thursday smooth transition to green economy.
The call was made in Rabat Declaration on Environment Protection and Achieving Sustainable Development Goals, issued at the closure of the seventh session of the Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers at the headquarters of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) in the Moroccan capital Rabat.
The declaration stressed the necessity to adopt green economy as a mechanism of sustainable development, particularly in the context of poverty alleviation and institutional upgrading of member states' economies, bearing in mind that poverty reduction and improved income distribution are among the most important economic goals advanced by Islam.
It called for a dynamic interaction between socio-economic processes and environmental priorities within the framework of the Islamic concept of sustainable development which guarantees the rights of present and future generations.
A particular emphasis was also placed on developing strategies and policies to guarantee energy sustainability as a key driver for accomplishing economic development, improving living conditions and basic services, and achieving human development through education and training.
The declaration affirmed the importance of the "green jobs" opportunities that can contribute to reducing youth unemployment. There is need to develop policies to support small and medium enterprises, and to help them cope with the demands of green economy, especially in rural areas, through preserving natural resources and optimizing their utilization.
The participants renewed their commitment to improving the water situation and taking more technical and legal practical measures against water pollution and waste.
Food security is another real concern in the majority of the member states, worsened by rapid degradation of soils, fresh water, forests and biodiversity, and growing pressure of climate change.
The conference emphasized the need to raise awareness of the importance of reducing poverty and reining rapid population growth to achieve sustainable development goals through education, training and development of skills.
During this session, members of Islamic Executive Bureau for Environment were elected.
ISESCO Director General Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri said that the 7th Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers "was a great success as it adopted a set of resolutions and recommendations that would enhance joint Islamic environmental action and provide new instruments for Islamic cooperation in this vital area."
