Cali, October 31, 2024 – On the sidelines of the COP16 biodiversity conference, the Foreign Minister of the State of Palestine, Riad Malki, and the Colombian Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Susana Muhamad, signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a partnership on environmental cooperation and capacity building in response to the environmental challenges arising from the conflict.
During the ceremony, Foreign Minister Malki highlighted the importance of the agreement for Palestine, stating: “This agreement with Colombia is a major step in our struggle to protect the environment in Palestine, which has been severely affected. Colombia's experience and knowledge will be essential to face the daily challenges we face in Palestine, particularly in the socio-environmental field”.
Colombian Minister of Environment Susana Muhamad and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen environmental cooperation between the two countries and address the ecological impacts caused by the conflict in Palestine.
For his part, Minister Susana Muhamad highlighted Colombia's commitment to international solidarity and environmental cooperation in conflict contexts.
"This memorandum represents not only an effort to share technical expertise, but also to document the effects of war on the environment and human rights in Palestine. This collaboration will include the transfer of capacities from Colombia's National Environmental System to the Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority, allowing its technicians to strengthen their work on the ground and expand the documentation of violations of the right to a healthy environment," said Muhamad.
This instrument reaffirms Colombia's message of support for Palestine, promoting environmental cooperation in the context of the conflict.
Technical collaboration between Colombia and Palestine
The memorandum of understanding covers key areas of collaboration, such as sharing experiences in environmental restoration policies, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and monitoring the socio-environmental effects of conflicts. This agreement also facilitates the creation of joint projects to strengthen the work of documenting the environmental damage associated with armed conflicts, an effort that, in the words of Minister Muhamad, “is crucial to advance historical and environmental restoration in Palestine and other affected territories”.
The commitment, which will be developed under the principle of equality and mutual benefits, reflects the common interest of Colombia and Palestine to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda and to promote a comprehensive peace that encompasses both human well-being and the protection of ecosystems.