The high-level 7th Arabia CSR Forum, the current edition of the prominent yearly Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability forum in the Arab area, officially opened today (October 19, 2016) amidst installing calls for a unified local approach to sustainability. Being held under the patronage of the League of Arab States (LAS) and in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the two-day online forum arranged by the Arabia CSR Network, a UAE-based local think tank, is a climate-neutral event which will run up until October 20, 2016.

Habiba Al Marashi, President & CEO, Arabia CSR Network, said: "The historic chance opened by the Arab region's Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) has tremendous ramifications. The region is currently facing serious economic, political, environmental and social challenges, and provided its variety, countries here have various levels of economic and political stratification. All of them have a single and uniform Arab identity, which is at the heart of our region and essential to our social and cultural futures, and our economic and political fates."

Distinguished regional and worldwide speakers have actually joined the forum to share their ideas, views and thoughts on SDG and its role in furthering Arab governments, businesses and individuals. Each session in the forum will highlight different important sustainability components pertinent to the region, specifically innovation, cooperation, social business, philanthropy, SDG policy structure, SDG execution across sectors, and youth. A few of the participating prominent speakers are Dr. Mohammed At-Twaijri, Assistant Secretary General, Economic Affairs of the League of Arab States; H.E. Saeed Al Tayer, Managing Director and Chief Executive of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority; Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Earth Institute at the Columbia University; Dr. Iyad Abumoghli, Regional Director and Representative, UNEP; Dr. Nasser Saidi, Chairman, Clean Energy Business Council to name a few.

Lots of public and private companies extended their support to ensure the forum's success, consisting of Strategic Supporter UNEP; Strategic Sponsor ENOC; Platinum Sponsor Maaden; Gold Sponsor Diamond Developers; Silver Sponsors Gulf Petrochemical Industries Corporation and Tristar; and Expert Consulting on Governance Inc. Other supporters consist of myclimate and DNV-GL, along with Media Partners like 7 days, Gulf News, Moon Media Consultant, Orient Planet and Cyber Gear.

Under the theme 'Accelerating the Arab Sustainable Development Agenda Through Innovation and Collaboration', the forum was organized to likewise underscore the UN's Global Goals developed with the backing of its member states. According to the UN, sustainable advancement will attend to a series of social needs, from education and health to social security and job opportunities, while tackling climate change and environmental protection. The Arab region has identified its own strategies according to the Global Goals and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.