This study assesses progress in the Arab region towards the green economy. It reviews the adoption and implementation of policies to support the transition and examines the achievements of different sectors. The study identifies challenges and highlights potential opportunities for countries to green their economies. Given their vital economic role, the study focuses on the transition of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to greener processes, products and services.
The study sets a series of indicators and statistical tools to help Governments and enterprises monitor progress towards green economy in the Arab region. The study shows that Governments can trigger the transformation through a number of policies, particularly by incentivizing private finance for green enterprises. Measures should reflect national circumstances, but for most countries in the Arab region, priority areas will include agriculture, water, energy, transport and construction. To overcome the significant challenges that remain, Governments must improve monitoring and institutional capacity.