LEBANON – Minister of Environment Tamara Al-Zein announced that "the cost of environmental damage resulting from the war in Lebanon has exceeded $440 million, with more than 8,700 hectares of green areas lost," pointing out that "a specialized report on environmental damage is being prepared in cooperation with the National Council for Scientific Research”.

In an interview with Independent Arabia, Al-Zein emphasized that "the ministry's priority is structural reform," revealing that "an updated administrative structure will be submitted to Parliament in the coming days, aiming to reduce bureaucracy and expand the ministry’s work to cover environmental and climate issues”.

Regarding quarries and crushers, she explained that "the ministry has corrected the files to include around 1,500 properties, and collection orders have been sent to the Ministry of Finance after the Cabinet approved the mechanism, in preparation for recovering the environmental damage costs, alongside work on drafting a comprehensive law to regulate the sector”.

On the issue of climate change, she noted that "Lebanon is one of the affected, not the influencing countries," pointing out that "implementing national plans requires investments estimated at around $11 billion through international financing and partnerships with the private sector”.

Regarding waste management, she stated that "the crisis stems from governance and funding gaps," confirming "work is underway to appoint the National Authority for Solid Waste Management and update the integrated waste management strategy”.

On forest fires, she stressed "the necessity of adopting early warning systems funded with approximately $20 million, alongside strengthening prevention and awareness measures”.