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

November-December 2016
Editorial
Forum
NAJIB SAAB
Development in a changing Arab climate
NAJIB SAAB
Even if all conflicts and wars were to stop immediately, the Arab region cannot meet the target of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030
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MATHIS WACKERNAGEL
How Switzerland made history with green economy vote
MATHIS WACKERNAGEL
This weekend, Switzerland made world history, even though not as much as we would have liked
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Mey Sayegh
Inspiring stories from the MENA region: Women & Water Integrity
Mey Sayegh
Refraining from paying water bills pushed Fardous Al Shabbar, the chairperson of the Jordanian Women's Union in Irbid province
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Ashok Khosla
Tolba, a great world leader, transformer and mentor
Ashok Khosla
Although we had met several times in places like Stockholm, Geneva and Paris, I first properly got to know Mostafa K. Tolba in Nairobi in 1976, when h
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Meet the
 Editor-in-Chief Najib Saab 		 
 
Selected articles News
AFED Secretariat Annual Work Report 2016 10/11/2016
Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) is closing its most challenging year, in a region overwhelmed by security and economic turmoil. Although we continue to believe that, after all sorts of conflicts and wars, people will still need to preserve and develop their natural capital that they need for survival, AFED is being stripped of minimum resources to execute its mission ...more
 
Waste trade: exporting countries responsible to return refused waste. Interview with Rolph Payet. 2/3/2016
As part of its cover story about Waste trade, in the March-April 2016 issue, Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia magazine conducted this interview with Rolph Payet, executive secretary of the Basel Convention on the control of transboundary movements of hazardous wastes and their disposal. ...more
 
Strong climate deal good for Arab countries 4/12/2015
Climate change, once considered an issue for the future, has now moved firmly into the present. Few days before a new climate change deal is due to be agreed in Paris, the question is no longer whether there will be an agreement but what shape and how strong it will be. ...more
 
Sustainable consumption: AFED’s 2015 report and public opinion survey 19/11/2015
In 2009, an Arab Regional Strategy for Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) was adopted by the League of Arab States. This was one of the first such regional strategies to be developed before the RIO+20 summit, which had adopted the 10 Year Framework of Programs (10YFP) on SCP. Consequently, the Arab Region moved forward and became the first region to develop and adopt a Roadmap for Implementation of the 10YFP on SCP at the regional level in June 2013. However, as is the case in most Arab regional strategies, both the roadmap and the SCP regional strategy are far from being implemented at the national levels. Development and implementation of SCP strategies in most Arab countries are still lagging. ...more
 
ACWA Power Develops 200 MW Solar PV Plant in Dubai: 5.84 Cents per kWh Sets New Global Pricing Benchmark 19/11/2015
In March 2015, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with a consortium of ACWA Power and TSK for a 200 MW net solar photo-voltaic (PV), under Phase II of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the Middle East’s largest renewable energy park. The bid tariff set a new global pricing benchmark for renewable energy generated from utility scale PV panels at USD 5.84 cents/kWh without subsidies. The second phase is based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model and is intended to be operational by April 2017. The project, which occupies 4.5 Km2, will help to achieve a reduction of 400,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. ...more
 
Impact of phasing out water subsidies in Tunisia and Morocco on consumption: a general equilibrium approach 19/11/2015
Morocco and Tunisia are considered among the countries where the scarcity of water resources may cause a serious constraint to the development of their economies. The agricultural sector is the most important consumer of water with more than 80% of the total. Moreover, both countries have shown an increase in the share of GDP accounted for by the nonfarm sectors, which imply an increase in residential water demand as well as manufacturing and service sectors. Consequently, if production growth in the non-farm sectors requires a proportional increase of water demand factor , then water can be a major constraint to economic growth in both countries. ...more
 
GENETICALLY ENGINEERED CLIMATE-RESILIENT SEEDS AS A POSSIBLE RESPONSE TO CLIMATE CHANGE-INDUCED FOOD SHORTAGES 4/9/2015
Climate change is predicted to have dramatic impacts on agricultural production globally. Although food production in some regions of the world may benefit from increasing average temperatures, most of the world will face severe challenges in adapting agricultural systems to the predicted climatic changes. ...more
 
Food Security and Climate Change: the UAE Experience 15/5/2015
The Arab world faces critical challenges in ensuring its food security. Our region is already the world’s largest net importer of essentials such as cereals and sugar, low water supplies in the region mean that expanding agricultural production is difficult, and population growth means that more people must be fed each year. In many ways, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) presents an exemplary case of this challenge. ...more
 
The UNDP-CEDRO Program’s Solar Power Initiatives 5/3/2015
The CEDRO project, a UNDP executed program, has been established since 2007, originally through a generous grant from the Government of Spain, through the Lebanon Recovery Fund, of approximately $10 million. At that time, renewable energy at large, and solar power in specific (with the exception of residential solar hot water systems), have not yet begun to be well propagated and/established. ...more
 
Conflict, refugees and food insecurity in the Arab region 5/3/2015
Conflict has a direct and indirect effect on food security, undermining it through various channels. Its direct effects are numerous – the destruction of infrastructure and machinery; death of livestock; razing of farm land,; and blocked access to markets for producers, distributors, and consumers. Indirectly, conflict discourages productive investment in agriculture, thereby reducing the availability of food. It strips government of tax revenues that prevent the establishment of social safety nets which promote food security. ...more
 
Virtual Water Trade as a Policy Instrument Contributing to the Achievement of Food Security in the GCC Countries 5/3/2015
The concept of ‘virtual water’ has been introduced by Tony Allan in the early nineties (Allan, 1993; 1994). However, it took nearly a decade to get global recognition for the importance of the concept of achieving regional and global water security. The "virtual water" content of a product, as often defined, is the volume of water used to produce the product, measured at the place where the product was actually produced (i.e., a production site specific definition). ...more
 
Review of the likely impact of climate change on agriculture in selected Arab countries 5/3/2015
Climate change is expected to impact agriculture in the region in one way or another. Below is a short review of the anticipated impact of climate change on agricultural in selected Arab countries. ...more
 
How should we tackle natural conservation of Lebanon?: Japanese Ambassador `s observation 5/3/2015
The East Mediterranean, a cradle of the civilizations, is blessed with a diverse and plentiful nature. But this nature is endangered. Nowadays we can observe that the growth range of the Lebanese Cedars has diminished quite drastically. ...more
 
Developing Fish Resources in the Arab World 7/1/2015
The Arab World is rich with large fish resources providing health and cheap proteins to Arabs, compared to animal proteins from other resources. Since the Arab World suffers a shortage in grazing and animal feed resources, which limits the capability to expand meat production, it is very important to sustain the contribution of fish resources in providing animal proteins to the Arab food basket; actually, this sector must be developed to sustainably increase its contribution to the Arab food security system. ...more
 
Under Trump shadow, climate talks set 2018 deadline to agree rules 21/11/2016
Nearly 200 nations agreed around midnight on Friday to work out the rules for a landmark 2015 global deal to tackle climate change within two years in a new sign of international support for a pact opposed by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. ...more
 
U.S. weather satellite's launch promises 'quantum leap' in forecasts (VIDEO) 21/11/2016
A U.S. weather satellite that will "revolutionize" forecasting blasted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral on Saturday, promising to deliver continuous high-definition views of hurricanes and other storms over the Western Hemisphere. ...more
 
African rats to turn sensitive noses against poaching 21/11/2016
Africa's giant rats have been trained to sniff out landmines and detect tuberculosis in humans, and soon they could turn their superior noses to protecting other animals by finding illegal wildlife trophies being smuggled out of African ports. ...more
 
Sea ice levels in both the Arctic and the Antarctic have hit record lows, NASA climate scientists report. 21/11/2016
The northern record, while bleak, isn’t all that surprising – Arctic sea ice has been on a consistent decline for years. But until recently, Antarctic sea ice was actually expanding. ...more
 
Sadiq Khan demands VW compensate Londoners and TfL 21/11/2016
The mayor of London has written to Volkswagen imploring the car manufacturer to “fully compensate” the capital’s residents affected by the emissions scandal. ...more
 
Trump fears push nations at Morocco talks to declare climate deal an 'urgent duty' 18/11/2016
Fears that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will pull out of the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming pushed almost 200 nations at climate talks in Morocco on Thursday to declare the deal an "urgent duty". ...more
 
Emirates Energy Award: invitation to participants 18/11/2016
The Emirates Energy Award 2017 was launched by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, to recognize best implemented practices in energy efficiency, renewable energy, research and development, education and capacity building, in addition to outstanding individual contributions to the energy sector. ...more
 
Britain ratifies Paris climate agreement 18/11/2016
Britain said on Thursday it had ratified the Paris Agreement, the global deal to combat climate change. ...more
 
Planet heads for hottest year after third-warmest October: U.S. agency 18/11/2016
The earth is on track for its warmest year on record after October temperatures equaled the third-warmest for the month ever, a U.S. government agency said on Thursday. ...more
 
EU urges fine for Spain over waste water treatment 18/11/2016
Spain should be fined at least 46.5 million euros ($49.41 million) for failing to treat waste water properly in 17 towns and cities, the European Commission said on Thursday, adding it was taking the country back to court over the infringements. ...more
 
Morocco lights the way for Africa on renewable energy 18/11/2016
As the host of this year’s COP22 climate change conference in Marrakech, Morocco has been keen to demonstrate its green credentials and make this COP the “African COP”. ...more
 
Business calls for Trump, world leaders to support Paris climate pact 17/11/2016
More than 360 businesses and investors called on U.S. President-elect Donald Trump and world leaders on Wednesday to continue to support agreed curbs on global warming and to speed up efforts to move to a low-carbon economy. ...more
 
Mediterranean countries' food footprints: GFN study 17/11/2016
The Global Footprint Network published a study on the food footprint and sourcing profiles of Mediterranean countries. This is a continuation of GFN previous work on the footprint of Mediterranean diets, with interesting findings. ...more
 
Radical energy shift needed to meet 1.5C global warming target: IEA 17/11/2016
A radical shift in the energy sector, cutting emissions to zero by around 2040, is needed to limit the global rise in temperature at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Wednesday. ...more
 
Germany to hold 2017 climate talks with Fiji as host: source 17/11/2016
Next year's international conference on climate change will likely be held in Germany with the small island nation of Fiji as the official host, a delegation source told Reuters on Wednesday. ...more
 
Syria's food production edging nearer to collapse, UN warns 16/11/2016
Food production in Syria is edging nearer to collapse with wheat production having halved since the start of the war and the area of fields planted now at an all-time low, according to the UN. ...more
 
France's Hollande urges Trump to respect climate deal 16/11/2016
French President Francois Hollande said the United States should respect a global agreement to limit climate change after the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, saying the deal was irreversible. ...more
 
China holds officials to account for sloppy environmental efforts 16/11/2016
China has called more than 1,500 government officials to account for recent major environmental problems across three provinces, after recent inspections found insufficient implementation of pollution control efforts, the environmental ministry said. ...more
 
Database helps plant 'right tree for the right place' 16/11/2016
German researchers have compiled a 400-species database to encourage people to plant the "right tree in the right place" in urban areas. ...more
 
AFED conference puts education at heart of sustainable development 16/11/2016
The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) launched its ninth conference under the title of “Sustainable development in a changing Arab climate” at the American University of Beirut (AUB) on November 10, 2016, attended by President Fadlo Khuri, and a roomful of notables, alumni, activists, and social influencers. ...more
 
World Bank targets US$1.5 billion per year to support climate action in Arab World 16/11/2016
The World Bank Group announced yesterday a new plan to ramp up support for countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to confront the multiple threats of climate change. ...more
 
AFED conference recommends greening the economy and providing refugees with education and training: Peace and security pre-requisite for sustainable development 15/11/2016
The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) issued on Monday the recommendations of its annual conference, which concluded in the weekend. ...more
 
Sweltering 2016 to set heat record, stoked by man-made warming: WMO 15/11/2016
The world is set to notch up a new heat record in 2016 after a sizzling 2015 as global warming stokes more floods and rising sea levels, the U.N. weather agency said on Monday at climate change talks overshadowed by Donald Trump's election win. ...more
 
China says air pollution worsens in October 15/11/2016
Air quality in China's smog-hit northern regions, which include the capital Beijing, worsened in October despite overall improvements over the course of the year, the environment ministry said in a notice late on Monday. ...more
 
Tiny power plant sucks CO2 from the air and turns it into fuel 15/11/2016
Ineratec, an offshoot of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), has devised a creative solution to the excess carbon dioxide (CO2) soaking the atmosphere. ...more
 
U.S. finalizes 'quiet cars' rules to prevent injuries 15/11/2016
The U.S. government on Monday finalized long-delayed rules that will require "quiet cars" like electric vehicles and hybrids to emit alert sounds when they are moving at speeds of up to 18.6 miles per hour (30 km per hour) to help prevent injuries among pedestrians, cyclists and the blind. ...more
 
Arab Spring has cost region 6 percent of GDP: ESCWA 15/11/2016
The Arab Spring unrest of 2011 has cost the region's economies an estimated $614 billion of growth because of regime change, continuing conflict and falling oil prices, a United Nations agency said on Thursday. ...more
 
 
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Arab Environment 9: sustainable Development in a Changing Arab Climate
‎مجلة البيئة والتنمية Environment & Development‎
 
 
 
ان جميع مقالات ونصوص "البيئة والتنمية" تخضع لرخصة الحقوق الفكرية الخاصة بـ "المنشورات التقنية". يتوجب نسب المقال الى "البيئة والتنمية" . يحظر استخدام النصوص لأية غايات تجارية . يُحظر القيام بأي تعديل أو تحوير أو تغيير في النص الأصلي. لمزيد من المعلومات عن حقوق النشر يرجى الاتصال بادارة المجلة
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