Global leaders gathered recently for the European Union’s “Walk for Climate” in Brussels, sending a strong signal of unity in the face of escalating climate threats. Among them, ICARDA Director General Aly Abousabaa joined policymakers, diplomats, and UN officials to amplify a shared message: climate change demands urgent, collective action.
Leading the walk was Michael Haddad, UNDP Regional Goodwill Ambassador. Paralyzed from the chest down, Haddad has taken on extraordinary physical challenges to advocate for climate action, bringing a deeply personal dimension to the event.
“Persons with disability are among the most negatively impacted by climate change and conflict, especially in the Arab States region,” said Haddad. “I am happy to support UNDP’s focus on leaving no one behind in its endeavour to expand collaboration on the issue of food security, which is more important than ever today, across our region.”
Aly Abousabaa, ICARDA’s Director General, echoed this message:
“Partnerships like these are essential. No single organization or country can face climate change alone. It is through science, collaboration, and shared commitment that we can turn today’s challenges into opportunities for resilience and food security, especially for the most vulnerable communities.”
After the walk, the delegation was received by Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of Belgium at the Royal Palace. The discussions centered on the growing pressures climate change places on vulnerable communities, particularly in the Arab States region, where water scarcity, food insecurity, and conflict are closely linked.
ICARDA highlighted its work in climate-resilient agriculture, developing stress-tolerant crops, restoring degraded lands, and advancing water-smart farming in drylands, combining cutting-edge science with local knowledge to secure food and livelihoods in some of the world’s most fragile regions.
The day continued at the UN House with a high-level Food Systems Transformation Roundtable, where ICARDA, UNDP, FAO, ESCWA, and senior EU officials held candid, solutions-focused discussions. Participants stressed that lasting solutions require integrating research, policy, private sector innovation, and regional collaboration.
ICARDA and UNDP also held bilateral meetings with EU institutions to explore deeper scientific partnerships and expand research that directly supports communities facing the brunt of climate change.
The day closed with a reception hosted by the Embassy of Lebanon, celebrating the strong ties linking ICARDA, Lebanon, the EU, and the wider Arab region. As Abousabaa reflected:
“Over the course of today, we have had the tremendous opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue around one of the most pressing challenges of our time: food security in the Middle East and North Africa. These discussions have underscored just how deeply intertwined food security is with broader development goals—peace, stability, resilience, and dignity.”
