IFLA’s participation at the Heritage Middle East Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi was the opportunity to share an overview of how libraries are contributing to environmental sustainability goals today, and inspire others to follow good practice across the MENA region. 

Photo of a panel of speakers at the IFLA panel at the Heritage Middle East conference
Participants in the panel on libraries’ response to the climate crisis. Seated l-r: Ertugrul Cimen, Saif Al Jabri, Dr Emad Abu Eid, Eman Abushulaibi and Eiman Al-Shamari

IFLA was represented by Eiman Al Shamari, the Manager of IFLA’s Regional Office for the Middle East and North Africa, at Qatar National Library. The event took place at the ADNEC Centre in Abu Dhabi from 10–12 December 2024

Joining a panel alongside the Chair and Vice-Chair of the MENA Regional Division Committee, Saif Al-Jabri and Eman Al-Bushulaibi, as well as the Chair of the Europe Regional Division Committee, Ertugrul Cimen, Eiman spoke about the relationships between National Libraries (NLs) and Public Libraries (PLs) with environmental factors.

In her intervention, Eiman started by referring to examples in both types of library of adopting more sustainable building and energy management practices, and the impacts that this can have on energy consumption. She then focused on waste reduction and legal deposit, and libraries’ effort to update approaches to wider consumption, including through recycling programmes.

Next, she related these efforts to the wider climate change mitigration and adaptation agenda, setting out libraries’ contributions to wider policy goals, linked to the COP and 2030 Agendas, which call on us all to reduce our carbon footprints.

Finally, she explored how libraries can drive behaviour change in communities, through public programmes and exhibitions, educational invitiatives and environmental literacy drives.

The Panel discussion was well-received and sparked important conversations about the role libraries can play in supporting environmental sustainability and advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

We are grateful to all involved in the discussion for their preparation and contriubtions, which not only lead to a dynamic and valuable conversation, but also will have driven greater awareness and action on these ideas across the region.

Find out more about IFLA’s work around how libraries engage in climate empowerment.