MedWaves had the pleasure of spending some time with a very inspiring person: Ola Alhaj. She is a devoted and exceptionally active sustainability consultant, committed to representing the voice of youth in a variety of capacities including serving as Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) focal point of the Chemicals & Waste Youth Platform, and Founder of RECO which is the first youth-led environmental project in Syria addressing plastic pollution and chemical waste. Ola is a formally trained chemist, an invaluable background that supports her understanding of current conditions. She describes herself as working at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and capacity-building to drive meaningful change.

We spoke about the value of empowering local and regional actions to help achieve global goals. In the lead to the upcoming 2025 BRS COPs in Geneva April 28 – May 9, Ola Alhaj highlights how important it is to recognise cross cutting challenges across the multiple environmental crises and the importance of youth voices not just being heard but actively influencing decision making at all levels. 

MedWaves: Ola, thank you for taking time to speak with us. Here at MedWaves we often say ~We Are The Wave ~ and that people are the heart of transition. You have clearly embodied this as a chemist who has been involved with environmental issues. Could you please share with us how you became inspired to focus on creating the first youth-led environmental project in Syria?

Ola Alhaj: When I started my initiative, the saying that we used was similar to MedWaves’ “We Are the Wave”. We say “Be The Change You Want You See In The World”. So, I totally agree with this sentence. I’ve always been passionate about environmental issues because I grew up on a small island in Syria, one of the rarest islands in Syria inhabited by people. I noticed many changes on the island. And the journey of activism itself was deeply personal because I saw the changes myself.

Growing up in Syria, I witnessed firsthand how conflict affected environmental degradation, whether through pollution, waste, mismanagement or lack of access to clean water and many other issues. However, it was the moment I realised that there are almost no youth in Syria working on environmental activism on a global stage and on a national stage that I decided to be that one!

I faced many challenges because of lack of access to financial support or even knowledge resources. In Syria, we are restricted even on the Internet. I wanted to bridge the gap between youth and climate action globally. So, I founded my project RECO, Syria’s first youth led environmental initiative and soon to be organisation. It’s the first to bridge the gap between the local and the global and at the same time, it’s the first to focus on pollution and waste management. My background in chemistry also helped me to understand this young-specific side of pollution. But it was the absence of youth voices that fueled my drive to create change.

MedWaves: That is incredible! It is beautiful to see how it is possible for someone to observe the realities around them and believe in themselves enough to know that you can do something about it. Could you share more about RECO?

Ola Alhaj: RECO is an environmental and social project that started two years ago and is currently working on several strategic steps and actions. We started by spreading awareness about the environmental issues around us. We started to do an initiative on (the) ground to recycle and a project on advocacy to push for change in a policy on a national level. Now we are currently working on expanding our capacity building programs, offering workshops on environmental governance negotiation skills and policy briefing for young activists not only in Syria, but among the almost eight countries in the MENA region that are also conflict affected countries.

We are finding similarities: we share the pain of conflict, and we share the environmental issues in the region. We are trying to do something collectively to make sure that the power of our world becomes much greater. Additionally, we are working on enhancing green transition capacity through community engagement and advocacy. So, through this point we are trying to support the entrepreneurship community in Syria, and we try to direct it more into the green economy and by transitioning to the green economy, it is possible to rebuild Syria. So, it’s not just about a concept. Sustainability is not a concept. It’s a way of rebuilding Syria in a better vision in a better way. Even though it’s so hard to do this in Syria, with the new revolution I think we, we have, we might have a chance, a big chance.

MedWaves: Thank you, Ola. It is wonderful what you’re doing. I wonder if you could talk a little bit more about the value or the importance of working on a local and regional level to address the global goals? I understand that you’re working not just in Syria and you’re connecting with communities in several different countries in the MENA area region. So, can you share about engaging, activating, and empowering local regional activity in order to address a global agenda?

Ola Alhaj: In the region, we share the pain of conflict, and we share the pain of many, many issues and at the same time, we might share the solutions. So, my goal is to find common solutions and advocate for them on a national and regional and international stage. The MENA region faces multiple interconnected environmental challenges including water scarcity and pollution. We have the need for a just transition that accounts for the social and economic challenges. So for example, I’ve always been part of international conferences, but I can’t relate to any of the solutions that the international leaders are providing. So, we can’t just accept solutions. We cannot translate solutions that work in the west. We have to be the leaders for solutions that fit us

MedWaves: I think you have articulated that very well, that there is not one solution that fits all. Although there may be common challenges and opportunities to share solutions, these must be filtered for the specific context. In terms of the Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform, could you share the history of that platform and some of the methods that you’re using to cultivate this collective.

Ola Alhaj: Actually this is a really interesting part because as the MENA focal point for the Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform, I was there from the beginning. I really believe in what we are doing. The Chemicals and Waste Youth Platform was formed to address the critical gap in youth representation within the global policy discussions on chemicals and waste management. Hazardous chemicals, waste and pollution disproportionately affect vulnerable communities. Yet young people, especially from the global south that we are part of are often excluded from sharing solutions. This platform brings together youth, young experts, activists and organisations to collaborate on policy recommendation, advocacy, strategy and capacity building initiatives. We engage through global consultation, policy briefs and participating in international negotiations like Basel, Rotterdam, Stockholm BRS Conventions, Minamata Convention on Mercury and the Global Framework on Chemicals. Our focus is to ensure youth voices are not just heard but actively influence decision making at all levels.

MedWaves: Thank you. How have you been able to create innovative strategies to really support and prepare for these various negotiations in light of the fact that there hasn’t necessarily been a seat at the table, so to speak?

Ola Alhaj: This is one of the issues that I’m deeply committed to addressing, making sure that the youth from those underrepresented countries are positioned in the right way. So one of the strategies I am working on over the several weeks leading up to the BRS COPs is a MENA youth consultation process for Chemicals and Waste Platform in partnership with my organisation, RECO and other MENA youth networks that feeds directly into official negotiations. By the end of April, we will have a youth policy brief for the BRS COPs.

Additionally, at RECO, we are working on advocacy campaigns with other youth groups and civil society organisations to highlight the specific challenges of conflict affected regions and dealing with plastic pollution. This is what we’ve done over the plastic treaty negotiations INC 5.1 and now 5.2. We will try our best to make the youth representation, particularly from the MENA region and other underrepresented regions, not missing from the space.

I have a plan as well for this year for the Chemicals and Waste platform as the MENA regional working group to provide the necessary resources, knowledge and institutional backing for youth to participate effectively and influence discussions in a way that will bring them closer and bring their demands to the global stage.

MedWaves:  ~When We Act Together, We Grow Together~ Could you highlight what you think are some of the essential issues that you’re advocating for the upcoming BRS COPs? Can you share what is evolving in your discussions as the main components of the youth declaration and what specifically young people want to have addressed during the 2025 BRS COPs?

Ola Alhaj: One key issue that I’m advocating for is to ensure that chemicals and waste policies align with climate justice principles. Because I work in two sectors, I am always trying to find the link between chemicals and wastes and climate change. I believe personally this is one of the ways to make it visible to other youth. Not just me, not just someone working in chemistry, but for all the people. I’m trying to find alignment between waste and policies and climate justice principles, particularly for communities already facing environmental and social hardship due to the conflict, for example. Additionally, we are pushing for stronger commitment on phasing out harmful substances that disproportionately impact vulnerable populations.

The goal is not just to be present in the discussion but actively shape policy outcomes. We have a plan to have consultation policy briefs that will strengthen our position during these COPs and to make sure that the leaders and the decision making have stronger commitment to align the youth efforts in the policy changes that they will be presenting.

In the lead-up to BRS COPs 2025, the constituency is collectively working on a concept note for a proposed “Children and Youth Action Plan.” This initiative aims to ensure meaningful participation of young people and better integration of children and youth’s environmental health across all aspects of the Conventions, including within the Regional and Coordinating Centres and the Basel Convention Partnership Programme. The proposal draws from key precedents like the BRS Gender Action Plan, the COP-13 decision on gender mainstreaming under the Basel Convention, and the growing momentum around youth engagement in other Multilateral Environmental Agreements. It’s time the BRS texts and decisions reflect this shift by explicitly acknowledging the vital role, rights, and health of children and youth in driving the objectives of the Conventions forward.

Additionally, we are pushing for stronger commitments on phasing out harmful substances that disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. To ensure youth voices are recognized, we are organising side events, preparing technical interventions, and fostering partnerships with government delegations that support youth-inclusive policies. Again, the goal is not just to be present in the discussions but to actively shape policy outcomes.

MedWaves: Thank you. It makes me think about how the theme for the BRS COPs is “Make Visible the Invisible”. A lot of times, this refers to the fact that we can’t see chemicals and waste and we need to understand their impacts on the environment and health in order to address them. So we make visible what’s invisible. But what you have raised is actually another aspect, making visible the connection between chemicals and waste pollution with climate justice. This is just one example of the way a young voice can bring to the table a perspective that’s so very helpful. One last question for you: ~Grow from What We Know~ What can we do in your perspective to rebuild trust among stakeholders so that we can collaboratively work together effectively?

Ola Alhaj: In one word, transparency. Rebuilding trust among stakeholders, whether governments, civil societies or youth groups requires transparency, inclusivity and accountability. In many environmental negotiations, there is a gap between commitment and actual implementation. And this is what we saw in, for example, Climate COPs. This breeds skepticism. So, trust can be rebuilt by ensuring the decision-making processes are genuinely inclusive, where all voices, especially from marginalised groups and conflict affected communities, are considered in shaping solutions.

MedWaves: Ola, thank you so much for taking time to meet today to share your perspective and expertise. Your unwavering commitment to establishing a place for the ideas and wisdom of youth to be heard and appreciated is so admirable, and it requires ongoing perseverance to instill impact and respect. This clearly is a movement that will create change within communities and in policy making forums. Your work is remarkable, Ola. Thank you, again.

MedWaves will be attending the 2025 BRS COPs from 28 April to 9 May 2025. Stay tuned to our participation and coverage! Want to receive our news and updates directly to your inbox? sign up for our Newsletter!