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Environment and development AL-BIA WAL-TANMIA Leading Arabic Environment Magazine

314 - May 2024
Editorial
Forum
Antonio Guterres
A RESCUE PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Antonio Guterres
This month, leaders will gather in Sevilla, Spain, on a rescue mission: to help fix how the world invests in sustainable development
more...

Tom Pickerell
UN Ocean Conference Ends with Momentum — and Missed Chances
Tom Pickerell
There's real momentum coming out of Nice — but also a lot of unfinished business
more...

Najib Saab
Trump's Lost War on Humanity and the Environment
Najib Saab
The hostile economic war, launched by US President Donald Trump against the entire world under the slogan "America First"
more...
 
 
 
Meet the
 Editor-in-Chief Najib Saab 		 
 
Selected articles News
Planned hydrogen refuelling stations may lead to millions of euros in yearly losses 10/7/2025
As hydrogen infrastructure is rolled out in the EU, refuelling stations must be distributed according to the same principle in all countries. But now a study from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, points to shortcomings in EU regulations. Using an advanced model, the researchers show that the distribution of refuelling stations may both be incorrectly dimensioned and lead to losses of tens of millions of euros a year in some countries. ...more
 
Ships trigger high and unexpected emissions of the greenhouse gas methane 3/7/2025
Ship traffic in shallow areas, such as ports, can trigger large methane emissions by just moving through the water. The researchers in a study, led by Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, observed twenty times higher methane emissions in the shipping lane compared to nearby undisturbed areas. Despite the fact that methane is a greenhouse gas that is 27 times as powerful as carbon dioxide, these emissions are often overlooked with today's measurement methods. ...more
 
Agricultural waste can become the clothes of the future 17/6/2025
Cellulose-based textile materials can make the clothing sector more sustainable. Currently, cellulose-based textiles are mainly made from wood, but a study headed by researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden points to the possibility of using agricultural waste from wheat and oat. The method is easier and requires fewer chemicals than manufacturing forest-based cellulose, and can enhance the value of waste products from agriculture. ...more
 
Transforming waste into a public asset: Michigan State University leads next-generation anaerobic digestion innovation 10/6/2025
MSU is spearheading next-generation anaerobic digestion technologies that convert agricultural and food waste into renewable energy, recover nutrients and water, and support environmental sustainability across Michigan and the Great Lakes region. ...more
 
Massive Growth Ahead: Low Carbon Building Market Eyes $1.3 Trillion by 2033 14/5/2025
According to a new report published by Allied Market Research, the low carbon building market size was valued at $0.6 trillion in 2023, and is estimated to reach $1.3 trillion by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 9.1% from 2024 to 2033. ...more
 
A Step Toward Harnessing Clean Energy From Falling Rainwater 23/4/2025
When two materials come into contact, charged entities on their surfaces get a little nudge. This is how rubbing a balloon on the skin creates static electricity. Likewise, water flowing over some surfaces can gain or lose charge. Now, researchers reporting in ACS Central Science have harnessed the phenomenon to generate electricity from rain-like droplets moving through a tube. They demonstrate a new kind of flow that makes enough power to light 12 LEDs ...more
 
Difficult and costly energy transition unless the EU invests in biomass 22/4/2025
Biomass is currently the EU’s largest renewable energy source, but climate strategies often focus on other energy sources. A comprehensive analysis, led by Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, now shows that biomass is crucial for Europe's ability to reach its climate targets, as it can be used to produce fossil-free fuels and chemicals and also enables carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere. If biomass were excluded from the European energy system, it would cost an extra 169 billion Euros per year – about the same as the cost of excluding wind power. ...more
 
Renting clothes for sustainable fashion – niche markets work best 27/3/2025
Renting clothes can reduce the fashion industry's enormous environmental impact, but so far, the business models have not worked very well. The best chance of success is for a rental company to provide clothing within a niche market, such as specific sportswear, and to work closely with the suppliers and clothing manufacturers. This is shown by a study led by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, which highlights the measures that can make clothing rental a success. ...more
 
Ice stupas of the Ladakh desert: an ingenious solution to water scarcity – a picture essay 28/1/2025
Farmers in the northern Indian region used to rely on snow and glacier meltwater, but the climate crisis is disrupting the water cycle – which means new ways of storing water are needed ...more
 
Toxic waste from world's deadliest gas leak fuels protests in India 23/1/2025
Vegetable vendor Shivnarayan Dasana had never seen so many policemen descend on his village in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. ...more
 
Natural disasters in the past 12 months have been the most costly and impactful stretch of extreme weather in America in 90 years 18/1/2025
Experts at AccuWeather say extreme weather events and disasters in the past 12 months have had the costliest and most widespread impacts that Americans have faced in nearly a century.    ...more
 
Arab-Israeli Environmental Cooperation: A Controversial Path to Peace Amid Ecocide 28/11/2024
On August 30, 2024, amid the Israeli aggression on Lebanon, Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati announced that Lebanon joined the Saudi-led Middle East Green Initiative (MGI), describing the step as crucial, especially for southern border towns and villages that are suffering significant environmental and agricultural damage. ...more
 
CO2 & Waste-Derived Bioplastics: Pioneering Sustainable Manufacturing 22/11/2024
As the world grapples with the environmental impact of traditional plastics, bioplastics derived from carbon dioxide (CO2) and waste materials present a promising solution. This emerging sustainable market seeks to address two critical global challenges: reducing greenhouse gas emissions and managing waste. By converting CO2 and waste into useful bioplastics, scientists and companies are pioneering technologies that could revolutionize the way we produce and consume plastics. ...more
 
The blue-green sustainable proteins of seaweed may soon be on your plate 15/11/2024
The protein in sea lettuce, a type of seaweed, is a promising complement to both meat and other current alternative protein sources. Seaweed also contains many other important nutrients, and is grown without needing to be watered, fertilised or sprayed with insecticides. However, the proteins are often tightly bound, and their full potential has not yet been realised on our plates.  But now researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, in Sweden, have found a new way to extract these proteins three times more efficiently than before – and this progress paves the way for seaweed burgers and protein smoothies from the sea. ...more
 
Industry royally champions sustainable floriculture project led by Coventry University 9/10/2024
Coventry University is leading a project to reduce plastic, packaging and waste in the British cut-flower industry. ...more
 
Major boost in carbon capture and storage essential to reach 2°C climate target 27/9/2024
Large expansion of carbon capture and storage is necessary to fulfill the Paris Climate Agreement. Yet a new study led by Chalmers University of Technology, in Sweden and University of Bergen, in Norway, shows that without major efforts, the technology will not expand fast enough to meet the 2°C target and even with major efforts it is unlikely to expand fast enough for the 1.5°C target. ...more
 
Europe’s deadly floods are glimpse of future climate 25/9/2024
Central Europe's devastating floods were made much worse by climate change and offer a stark glimpse of the future for the world's fastest-warming continent, scientists say. ...more
 
Extreme weather could cause 5% drop in euro zone GDP, bank watchdogs find 11/7/2025
Extreme weather events such as heatwaves, flooding and wildfires could wipe as much off euro zone GDP in the next five years as the global financial crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic, a senior European Central Bank official said on Wednesday. ...more
 
Global Plastics Talks Set to Resume Next Month Must Prioritize Environment and Health, Experts Say 11/7/2025
Plastics and their toxic chemicals endanger people, wildlife and the environment throughout their life cycle, they warn, calling for production caps in the U.N. treaty. ...more
 
Renewables Boom Highlights Growing Regional Divide   11/7/2025
Over 70% of renewable energy capacity growth occurred in Asia, while other regions particularly Africa lagged behind, according to new IRENA data. ...more
 
Lead ammunition to be banned for hunting and shooting in England, Scotland and Wales 11/7/2025
Shotgun pellets and bullets that contain lead are to be banned for almost all uses, ministers have said, in a long-awaited announcement welcomed by wildlife groups. ...more
 
Two-thirds of people don’t know the ocean is Earth’s largest natural carbon store – a key tool in tackling climate change 11/7/2025
* How much do we really understand about the environment? A new global survey suggests many people still lack basic knowledge about natural solutions to climate change, especially the role of the ocean. ...more
 
UAE driving school launches first climate-friendly lessons 10/7/2025
Emirates Driving Company (EDC) has launched the UAE’s first carbon-neutral driving training programme, ‘Green Drive’, marking a major step toward more sustainable and smarter mobility. ...more
 
European heatwave caused 2,300 deaths, scientists estimate 10/7/2025
Around 2,300 people died of heat-related causes across 12 European cities during the severe heatwave that ended last week, according to a rapid scientific analysis published on Wednesday. ...more
 
EU lawmakers reject attempt to curb far right's sway on climate talks 10/7/2025
The European Parliament on Wednesday rejected a proposal to fast-track talks on the EU's new climate target, scuttling a move by liberal, socialist and green lawmakers to try to limit the influence of climate sceptic lawmakers on the goal. ...more
 
China's emissions may be falling - here's what you should know 10/7/2025
As the world races to cut carbon emissions in the fight against climate change, a potentially game-changing milestone may have been reached. ...more
 
Pope Leo interrupts vacation to appeal for action on climate change 10/7/2025
Pope Leo interrupted a two-week vacation on Wednesday to celebrate a special Mass exhorting Catholics to exercise care for creation, in the Vatican's second major appeal in a week for the world to address global climate change. ...more
 
UN passes climate change motion after Marshall Islands drops fossil fuels focus 9/7/2025
The U.N. Human Rights Council passed a motion on climate change and human rights on Tuesday after the Marshall Islands withdrew a divisive amendment that called on states to recommit to a phase-out of fossil fuels. ...more
 
Far-right lawmakers to lead EU negotiations on new climate target 9/7/2025
The far-right Patriots for Europe group will lead the European Parliament's work on the bloc's new climate target, European Union lawmakers said on Tuesday, a role that could complicate a deal on the goalto cut greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040. ...more
 
World Court to issue climate change opinion on July 23 9/7/2025
The top United Nations court will on July 23 issue a nonbinding opinion on countries' legal obligation to fight climate change, a decision expected to be cited in climate change-driven litigation around the world, the court said on Monday. ...more
 
Melting glaciers and ice caps could unleash wave of volcanic eruptions, study says 9/7/2025
Research in Chile suggests climate crisis makes eruptions more likely and explosive, and warns of Antarctica risk. ...more
 
Global 3C warming would hurt UK economy much more than previously predicted, OBR says 9/7/2025
A rise in global temperatures to almost 3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels would likely hurt Britain's economy by much more than previously assumed, the Office for Budget Responsibility projected on Tuesday. ...more
 
AFED at Mediterranean Commission Meeting 8/7/2025
The Steering Committee of the Mediterranean Commission for Sustainable Development (MCSD) met in Greece in preparation for the General Assembly of the Commission and the Conference of the Parties to the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the Mediterranean, which will be held in Cairo next December. ...more
 
BRICS demand wealthy nations fund global climate transition 8/7/2025
Leaders of the BRICS group of developing nations prepared to address the shared challenges of climate change on Monday, the final day of their summit in Rio de Janeiro, demanding that wealthy nations fund global mitigation of greenhouse emissions. ...more
 
EU looks to 'nature credits' to fill green funding gap 8/7/2025
The European Union will develop rules for "nature credits" that pay farmers and foresters to take care of ecosystems, in an attempt to make this work more economically beneficial, the European Commission said on Monday. ...more
 
EU countries seek more cuts to deforestation rules, letter shows 8/7/2025
Most European Union countries have demanded further changes to the bloc's anti-deforestation law, saying some of its producers cannot be expected to meet its terms and face a competitive disadvantage, a letter seen by Reuters showed. ...more
 
Antarctica’s waters are getting saltier - and it could transform Earth's climate 8/7/2025
Antarctica’s surrounding ocean has lost sea ice equal to the size of Greenland since 2015. That’s not just a startling statistic – it marks one of the fastest environmental shifts happening anywhere on Earth today. ...more
 
UAE launches first EPR pilot to tackle electronic, packaging waste 7/7/2025
(GULF NEWS) - A six-month pilot project to manage targeted product waste under the UAE’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) initiative has been launched in Dubai. ...more
 
Reuters Exclusive: China signals investment in Brazil-led global forest fund, sources say 7/7/2025
China has signaled to the Brazilian government that it will invest in the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, a multilateral mechanism funding conservation of endangered forests around the world, two people with knowledge of negotiations told Reuters. ...more
 
World's biggest climate fund ramps up investment plans 7/7/2025
The world's biggest multilateral climate fund said it will make its largest ever series of investments and speed up dealmaking as it looks to help poorer nations respond to global warming. ...more
 
Trump's budget bill boosts fossil fuels, hits renewable energy 7/7/2025
The budget bill the U.S. Senate passed on Tuesday and the House of Representatives is now debating for final approval would dampen development of wind and solar power, kill climate funding and boost oil, gas and coal output. ...more
 
Germany could hit third of climate goals by cutting fossil fuel subsidies, study finds 7/7/2025
Reducing fossil fuel subsidies in Germany could help it achieve around a third of its climate targets without relying on additional tools such as carbon pricing, a German research institute said on Thursday. ...more
 
 
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Arab Environment 9: Sustainable Development in a Changing Arab Climate
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