Beirut, 7 July 2023
Under the patronage of the Minister of Environment, H.E. Dr Nasser Yassin, and in the presence of the German Ambassador to Lebanon, H.E. Andreas Kindl, and the UN Deputy Special Coordinator, Imran Riza, UN-Habitat officially launched the Reducing Marine Litter in the Mediterranean through Waste Wise Cities Lebanon (REMAL) project.
Funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety with a budget of over EUR 4.5 million, the REMAL project aims to reduce marine litter and improve municipal solid waste management along Lebanon’s coast. Implemented in partnership with the Wuppertal Institute and Technische Universität Berlin, the project supports the Lebanese government in enforcing the national Integrated Solid Waste Management Law (Law 80/2018).
During the launch event, H.E. Dr Yassin highlighted the importance of protecting Lebanon’s environment and marine life, emphasising REMAL’s contribution to cleaner coastal areas and healthier communities. Ambassador Kindl stressed the need for lasting commitment to transform good intentions into real, sustainable impact. Mr Riza underlined the project’s role in safeguarding Lebanon’s fragile natural ecosystem and advancing the country’s sustainable development.
Over the next three years, REMAL will support 13 coastal Unions of Municipalities through several key actions:
The project also seeks to strengthen the capacities of national institutions and empower local communities to take ownership of waste solutions. As noted by Taina Christiansen, Head of UN-Habitat Lebanon, “By working together with authorities and communities, we can clean up our coastlines and promote a greener, more sustainable future for Lebanon.”
Since 2006, UN-Habitat Lebanon has partnered with national and local actors to improve urban resilience and sustainability. The REMAL project marks another important step in these ongoing efforts.
