The Role of the Textile Industry and Permitting Systems in Advancing the Environmental Dimensions of the SDGs in the MENA Region

Abstract

The textile industry plays a key role in driving development and human
welfare, but it is also a sector struggling to address its contribution to the
triple planetary crisis – climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. In the
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the environmental
implications are compounded by the region’s water scarcity, land degradation
and energy dependence. This article emphasises the urgent need to transition
towards a sustainable and circular textile value chain to accelerate the
achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In this respect, permitting processes play a key role. However, the role of
permitting systems in driving us towards a sustainable economy for textiles
has not been exhaustively explored, if at all. Drawing upon research
conducted by the UNEP Law Division in collaboration with Queensland
University of Technology, as well as a broader literature review, this article
examines the role of the textile industry in the MENA region and the
importance of developing, or strengthening existing, legislation relating to
permitting procedures, with a specific focus on Morocco, Türkiye, Jordan,
and Egypt. The article underscores the pivotal role of environmental
permitting processes in addressing the environmental footprint of the textile
sector, mainly related to the production phase of the industry. While many
countries already have permit processes in place, there is a need for
policymakers to review and strengthen these frameworks to ensure
comprehensive integration and address existing gaps. By doing so, countries
can more effectively regulate and minimise the environmental impact of
textile activities, thereby advancing the environmental dimensions of the
SDGs.