Jeddah Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment

The Jeddah Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment is a convention binding the governments of the member-states to leverage their resources, powers, and political influence in favor of addressing and preserving the coastal and marine environments of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The convention was ratified by seven countries: the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Sudan, the Republic of Djibouti, the Republic of Yemen, and the Federal Republic of Somalia.

The Jeddah Regional Convention for the Conservation of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Environment is commonly known as the "Jeddah Convention." It was ratified in 1982 and seeks to support the Program for the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, initiated by the Arab League Educational, Cultural, and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 1974. Jeddah Convention is aligned with the laws mentioned under its documents. It is overseen by an organization chaired by a ministerial council competent in devising the convention's policies and work orientations. The council is also tasked with elaborating the organization's budget and its technical policy. The organization is chaired by the Ministers of Environments of member-states. It meets biennially, where its meetings are attended by the member-states. The Saudi city of Jeddah has been the headquarters of the organization since 1996, while Egypt has housed the headquarters of the Emergency Mutual Aid Centre in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Region (EMARSGA) in Hurghada since 2006.

The Emergency Mutual Aid Centre in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Region (EMARSGA) is one of the outcomes of the regional cooperation between the countries located in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Region. Its framework seeks to intervene in emergency situations and combat sea pollution resulting from oil spills and the discharge of other harmful substances, with mutual assistance from the seven above-mentioned countries. The agreement for the establishment of the EMARSGA was initiated in 1989. The center was inaugurated and began operations in 2006.

The 1982 Jeddah Convention states the threats existing in the region and the required actions for addressing them. These threats include the overexploitation of marine resources, sea pollution, and illegal fishing. These risks share a common nature, thus requiring joint regional cooperation action. The convention does not determine specific standards and procedures for every issue or situation. In this respect, involved countries can devise a course of action to be agreed upon by member-states.

Sea pollution as a result of oil product discharges is a pressing issue for the region. Hence, the Protocol Concerning Regional Cooperation in Combating Pollution by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Cases of Emergency was ratified and issued by the seven member-states. The 1982 Jeddah Convention Organization has launched several programs seeking to enhance quality of life. These programs include those related to monitoring the regional environment, deploying efforts in favor of adapting to the effects of climate change, training, and capacity building, enhancing biodiversity and natural reserves networks, raising awareness and expanding knowledge to achieve sustainable development, protecting wildlife against sea pollution, and mitigating the impact of waste dumped at sea.

In 2015, the Regional Organization for the Conservation of the Environment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (PERSGA) inaugurated a station for automated continuous monitoring and early warning in Aqaba, Jordan. The station is part of a regional network of similar coastal stations located along the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The station provides uninterrupted and regular environmental data retrieved from the northern end of the Red Sea.