Opening Remarks by UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator at Launch of Lebanon’s Greening Education Strategy

Excellencies, Prime Minister, Ministers, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, 

Thank you for the invitation.

Today’s launch of the Greening Education Strategy marks an important national milestone. I thank the Prime Minister for his attention and endorsement, welcome the ministers present, and commend the national teams whose careful work made this moment possible. Your presence signals a shared commitment to place education and sustainability at the heart of Lebanon’s path forward.

This outcome reflects partnership in practice. Under the leadership of the Government of Lebanon, led by the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and with technical support from UNESCO, entities across the United Nations system worked with national counterparts through an inclusive and participatory process. The result is a strategy firmly anchored in national priorities and informed by international experience.

The United Nations approaches this strategy with a simple premise. Greening education strengthens environmental stewardship, widens economic opportunity, and empowers young people. By advancing climate literacy, responsible resource use and risk awareness, the strategy prepares learners, schools and communities to manage environmental challenges effectively.

By embedding environmental literacy and stewardship in classroom practice and school life, it can inspire sustainable, environmentally conscious choices in policy and investment, including in recovery planning.

Yet we meet today in demanding circumstances. The country continues to face complex challenges, including the broader imperatives of recovery. At the same time, development financing is under strain, which calls for disciplined prioritization and strong coordination so that every contribution has clear and lasting impact. These realities make the strategy’s emphasis on practical learning, institutional capacity and community engagement especially relevant.

Looking ahead, the United Nations system will support implementation under the leadership of the Government of Lebanon. We will focus on capacity strengthening, institutionalizing policies and reforms, mobilizing resources and expertise in line with national priorities, and supporting planning, monitoring and evaluation. We will also promote broad partnerships, including with international and private sector stakeholders, at the Government’s direction.

Let us translate this strategy into practical benefits for learners and communities. On behalf of the United Nations in Lebanon, I thank the Government and all partners for their trust, and I reaffirm our support throughout implementation. 

Thank you.