Contribution Of The Extractive Industry To Sustainability In The Middle East And North African (Mena) Region

Abstract

The extractive industry has great potential for mobilizing financial support
as well as physical, technological, and human resources to advance the
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This article traces developments
in the industry with a view to identifying existing gaps in knowledge
and the proactive measures needed to ensure that the extractive industry
makes a crucial contribution to the society. More specifically, this article
explores the historical and current contributions that extractive industries
have on social development, political stability, and economic prosperity
in the Middle East and North African (MENA) region. Practical and
specific examples are used to show the progress made in the attainment
or support of the SDGs. The first finding is that the extractive industry in
the region has the potential and opportunity to contribute to the
attainment of all the 17 SDGs. The second finding is that despite the
extractive industry being diverse, the nature and scope of typical activities
highlight that various common opportunities can be leveraged on to
achieve progress on the SDGs. Thirdly, an unprecedented level of
stakeholder cooperation is needed to attain the SDGs. Finally, extractive
industries in the MENA region are lagging in furthering SDGs because
their activities contribute to environmental degradation.