Youth Environmental Activism in the MENA Region

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has been going through numerous events, not limited to revolutions, conflict, and political instabilities, that have contributed to shaping the reality of many generations. Throughout history, the region has faced a myriad of challenges that hindered its socio-economic development and stability. This has, with time, resulted in increased economic inequalities, poverty, and youth unemployment. Youth between the ages of 15 and 29 account for 30 percent of the population in the region. In addition, the MENA region is one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. 

One of the most prominent issues is drought, including a scarcity of rainfall and the depletion of groundwater reserves. For example, Tunisia has experienced successive severe droughts which have significantly affected its agricultural sector, a crucial sector for the country’s economy and society. Countries in the Gulf, such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE, also face water shortages as all Gulf Cooperation Council countries have used more than 95% of all available freshwater. The increasing environmental challenges have motivated many young activists to raise awareness on these issues in their countries, reflecting the needs and demands of their communities. 

This has led to the emergence of environmental and climate activism in many countries in the region despite the fragile political and economic situations. Youth have been at the forefront of this movement, leveraging their diverse skills and potential to make changes in their communities. In Tunisia, youth environmental activists contributed to the country’s 2021 Nationally Determined Contributions, in coordination with the Ministry of Local Affairs and Environment, with support from UNDP. Additionally, Youth For Climate Tunisia, a youth-led movement focused on climate justice, has been effectively using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to raise awareness around issues tailored to local audiences. Elsewhere, the Arab Youth Climate Movement, originating in Egypt, has expanded its presence to Libya, Morocco, Qatar, and Lebanon. Nonetheless, the level of activism differs from one country to another due to several challenges. Many movement members work on environmental awareness, educational campaigns, and reforestation initiatives but they often struggle with limited resources and support. 

Challenges for Youth-led Activism

A protest at COP28 in Dubai. Credit: Flickr/Mídia NINJA

Unfortunately, many youth-led environmental organizations work at the local level with limited support from public entities. Some organizations focus on working with municipalities and environmental offices while others receive support from businesses and/or international organizations in the form of grants, capacity building, and technical trainings and workshops. However, at the governmental level, there is a clear lack of communication and political will to support youth environmental activists, diminishing the full potential of many initiatives and projects. 

In countries suffering from political instability and conflict, environmental issues are not actively included in political agendas. Activists in Libya have been working for years on raising environmental awareness, yet the overshadowing by governmental entities has left little room for progress. For instance, in these geographical contexts, the focus is usually on immediate needs like conflict, security, and providing food and water. Resource allocation hinders progress as existing financial resources are used to cover social and economic needs, leaving little for environmental resource management and other initiatives. Additionally, weak political structures and lack of institutional capacity make it difficult to enforce environmental regulations. 

In Egypt, where restrictions and limited resources shape what civil society advocates can achieve, the country’s human rights record and security engagement with civil society received a huge amount of media attention when Egypt hosted the UNFCCC’s twenty-seventh Conference of the Parties (COP27) in 2022. Hosting this significant international event brought attention to Egypt’s internal policies, especially in relation to freedom of expression and assembly.  Human rights defenders and activists used X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the suppression of political dissent, arbitrary detentions, and the persecution of activists and journalists that had created a climate of fear, which kept many civil society organizations in Egypt from engaging visibly during the conference. 

Opportunities and Ways Forward

Nonetheless, opportunities remain available regardless of the complex challenges. Across the region, social media platforms have transformed how environmental activists communicate and provide space for those wishing to engage on related issues. Many activists have leveraged these tools to reach a wider audience, enhance their communication strategies, share success stories, connect more with local audiences, and mobilize support for campaigns and events. Most importantly, social media has helped youth activists connect with their societies and use familiar language. 

Social media has also become a crucial tool and essential space for organizing events and connecting with global movements. Online presence has become increasingly important to shed light on the realities of climate change. In conflict-affected countries, virtual meetings, webinars, and workshops enable activists to coordinate efforts without the need for physical proximity, ensuring the continuity of their activities and impact. For example, NGOs like Tunisie Recyclage and Lebanon Eco Movement mobilize their thousands of social media followers to share important updates on climate-related workshops and events. In June 2024, Tunisie Recyclage organized a workshop in partnership with AmidEast Tunisia at a recycling center in the capital; students from both the US and Tunisia participated.

Despite the challenging environment in the MENA region, youth have proven to be enablers of positive change, coordinating their efforts to tackle environmental issues in their communities. Youth climate activists in the region are actively transforming and shifting the scene when provided with the support needed to move forward. Therefore, governments must recognize the potential and abilities of youth in tackling environmental challenges and climate injustice by providing support and bridging various communication channels to better include youth-led environmental organizations as key contributors in decision-making processes. 

Providing technical and logistical support – in addition to financial support – to youth-led environmental organizations would ensure effective implementation of projects while also considering the long-term sustainability of these projects and organizations. In return, this would encourage youth to join environmental organizations and develop projects that better the welfare of their communities. Nonetheless, this would require building trust between government officials and youth leaders in the region as many organizations turn to funding and capacity building opportunities from international organizations and donors. 

Additionally, governments must actively integrate environmental factors in their political agendas and national development plans, considering economic and social security. There is also a need for capacity building in relation to training programs and workshops to build the skills and knowledge of government officials, local leaders, and youth activists in environmental management. 

Environmental activism in the region must find space in the political landscape not only internationally but also locally in order to channel existing and potential capacities.

Although there is huge potential for youth-led climate action, achieving impactful and meaningful progress requires concerted efforts from governments and communities to create an enabling environment for climate action.

Malak Altaeb is an independent consultant, blogger, and researcher originally from Libya and currently based in Paris, France. She has a master’s degree in Environmental Policy from Sciences Po University in Paris and a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Tripoli, Libya. Currently, she is an ecological security fellow at the Center for Climate and Security, Strategic Risks Institute, as well as a Non-Resident scholar in the water and climate program at the Middle East Institute in Washington, DC. Malak was previously a nonresident fellow with the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, where she focused on food security in North Africa. She also worked as a consultant for the American University of Cairo.

Malak has been actively involved in environmental policy since completing her master’s degree in 2020. She has specifically focused on energy-water-food nexus policy analysis in Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt. In 2023, Malak contributed to the Cairo Review Journal‘s Spring issue, “COP27: A Climate Tipping Point?”. Additionally, her case study on water scarcity in Libya’s Nafousa mountains and its impact on the Amazigh community was published as part of the Minority Rights Group International’s 2023 flagship report on Minority and Indigenous Trends on Water. Malak’s policy paper on Local Agribusiness Development in Tripoli, Libya, was published in the North African Policy Initiative. Her work has been featured in various publications such as the Arab Reform Initiative, Italian Institute for International Political Studies, The Policy Corner, Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy, and the Centre for European Reform.