Dr. Wajdan Al-Aqab, Secretary-General of the General Secretariat for Environment and Sustainable Development at the General Union of Arab Producers and President of the Kuwaiti Society for Environmental Protection, announced that the Permanent Committee for Arab Media in the Media and Communication Sector of the General Secretariat of the Council of Arab Information Ministers at the League of Arab States has approved her proposal to organize the Arab Forum for Environmental Media during the last quarter of this year, in line with Kuwait's designation as the Arab Media Capital for this year. Dr. Al-Aqab noted that the Arab Forum for Environmental Media will be held under the auspices of regional environmental and media organizations and institutions, and aims to develop media content that addresses environmental issues in an effective and sustainable manner. She added that the forum aims to improve media competencies in environmental coverage, enhance cooperation between media outlets and environmental bodies, and present innovative environmental solutions based on scientific knowledge and modern technology. She explained that the fundamental pillars of environmental media revolve around environmental education through the provision of media content that explains environmental risks and their impacts on societies, while proposing solutions based on scientific principles. This also includes interactive media and the use of modern technologies such as social media and smart applications to reach a wider audience and engage them in environmental discussions. In addition to balanced coverage through a commitment to providing balanced journalistic and media reports that take into account the diversity of opinions and interests, while highlighting the actions taken by governments and institutions to reduce environmental damage. In addition to media and community engagement, the forum encourages the public to actively participate in environmental solutions through media campaigns and community awareness programs. The Arab Forum for Environmental Media outlined seven objectives: enhancing the role of media in environmental issues, building the capacities of environmental journalists, unifying the Arab environmental media discourse, highlighting Arab environmental issues in international media, supporting investigative journalism in the environmental field, stimulating partnerships between media and environmental institutions, and disseminating community awareness and environmental participation. These objectives align with the unified Arab plan for addressing environmental issues through media. The forum's components include an accompanying exhibition, environmental media sessions, and a platform for environmental youth. It also aims to produce proposals and executive recommendations to strengthen environmental education in school curricula, launch an Arab environmental media network, collaborate with international organizations in this regard, and encourage environmental funding for media. Dr. Wajdan Al-Aqab concluded by noting the participation of academics specializing in environmental media, professional journalists covering environmental issues, representatives of Arab environmental organizations, and specialists in forum program design. The conferences, in scientific sessions including panel discussions, training sessions, applied workshops and interactive sessions, will present the messages of the organizations, discuss Arab success stories, highlight environmental influencers, opportunities for building regional networks and showcasing successful Arab institutional initiatives.“.
