Advancing Clean Technology Entrepreneurship in the Middle East and North African (mena) Region: Law, Education and Policy Imperatives

Abstract

Two of the key priorities of the Arab world in the coming years are to develop and deploy clean technologies (cleantech) needed to combat the adverse effects of climate change in the region; and to diversify domestic economies to become low carbon economies with greater prospects for green jobs. However, despite broad political discussions of these policy goals, several countries in the Middle East and North African (mena) region continue to lag in terms of the level and adequacy of entrepreneurial cleantech start-up activities. For mena countries to bridge current gaps in entrepreneurial cleantech capital, entrepreneurship education and training is critical. This article investigates the ethical and contextual basis of cleantech entrepreneurship in the mena region. Focusing on clean technology businesses, given their national and global economic and environmental role in future low-carbon societies and economies, the article then investigates the principal causes of the limited development of cleantech entrepreneurship in the mena region. The Qatari example offers original insights on clean technology joint ventures, startups, and projects. The results indicate the need for mena countries to mainstream and integrate entrepreneurial education and training into national action plans and policies on low carbon development, in order to promote local capacity and awareness on cleantech entrepreneurship.