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

314 - May 2024
Editorial
Forum
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"
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Meet the
 Editor-in-Chief Najib Saab 		 
 
Selected articles News
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
 
Which Countries Should Pay for International Climate Finance? 18/9/2024
The world needs trillions of dollars annually to combat climate change, but questions remain as to where that funding will come from. Most at stake are poorer countries that are the least protected — and hardest hit — from the increasing ravages of heat waves, storm surges and other extreme weather events exacerbated each year by climate change. Many of these countries lack the resources to undertake a rapid and just transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy without external help. ...more
 
Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power signs MoU to develop renewables capacity in Malaysia 30/5/2025
Saudi Arabia's ACWA Power (2082.SE) said on Thursday it had signed a preliminary agreement to develop up to 12.5 gigawatts of renewable energy generating capacity in Malaysia with an initial investment of up to $10 billion. ...more
 
Nato rearmament could increase emissions by 200m tonnes a year, study finds 30/5/2025
Exclusive: researchers say defence spending boosts across world will worsen climate crisis which in turn will cause more conflict. ...more
 
World faces new danger of ‘economic denial’ in climate fight, Cop30 head says 30/5/2025
The world is facing a new form of climate denial – not the dismissal of climate science, but a concerted attack on the idea that the economy can be reorganised to fight the crisis, the president of global climate talks has warned. ...more
 
China offers Pacific Islands increased support in addressing climate change 30/5/2025
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pledged increased support from the world's second-largest economy to Pacific Island countries in addressing climate change, during a summit China's Xiamen on Wednesday, according to a ministry readout. ...more
 
Spain aims to ban flushing of wet wipes, with manufacturers paying for cleanup 30/5/2025
Government’s draft legislation also includes ban on releasing disposable party balloons into the environment. ...more
 
EU almost on track to reach 2030 climate goal 29/5/2025
The European Union is nearly on track to reach its main climate target for this decade, with countries' existing CO2-cutting plans set to bring the bloc within one percentage point of the goal, the European Commission said on Wednesday. ...more
 
Global temperatures could break heat record in next five years 29/5/2025
There is an 80% chance that global temperatures will break at least one annual heat record in the next five years, raising the risk of extreme droughts, floods and forest fires, a new report by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)has shown. ...more
 
Arctic warming seen at three times global average in years ahead, UN weather agency says 29/5/2025
The world is expected to experience more record temperatures over the next five years, with Arctic warming predicted at more than three times the global average, a new report by the U.N. weather agency said on Wednesday. ...more
 
Dieselgate pollution killed 16,000 people in UK, study estimates 29/5/2025
The excess pollution emitted as a result of the Dieselgate scandal has killed about 16,000 people in the UK and caused 30,000 cases of asthma in children, according to a new analysis. A further 6,000 premature deaths will occur in coming years without action, the researchers said. ...more
 
German court throws out Peruvian farmer's climate case against RWE 29/5/2025
A German court on Wednesday threw out a Peruvian farmer's lawsuit seeking damages from German utility RWE (RWEG.DE)for allegedly putting his home at risk through climate change, as a damage-risk estimate was too small to take the case further. ...more
 
EU countries agree to exempt most firms from carbon border tariff 28/5/2025
European Union countries backed plans on Tuesday to scale back the bloc's carbon border levy to cover just 10% of the companies currently covered by the scheme, on the grounds that these firms account for nearly all of the emissions involved. ...more
 
Planet’s darkening oceans pose threat to marine life, scientists say 28/5/2025
Band of water where marine life can survive has reduced in more than a fifth of global ocean between 2003 and 2022. ...more
 
Safe and easy ways to recycle electricals – and even get money for your old gadgets 28/5/2025
From collection bins at your local supermarket to trading in or reselling, there are options for unwanted tech. ...more
 
Several languages on verge of extinction due to climate change 28/5/2025
Climate change has not only impacted the lives of human beings but has also contributed to the decline and extinction of several of their indigenous languages. ...more
 
The surprising climate power of penguin poo 28/5/2025
Antarctica's icy wilderness is warming rapidly under the weight of human-driven climate change, yet a new study points to an unlikely ally in the fight to keep the continent cool: penguin poo. ...more
 
Less than 5% of Gaza's cropland is useable, UN assessment shows 27/5/2025
Less than 5% of Gaza's cropland can be cultivated due to damage and access restrictions, "exacerbating the risk of famine in the area", according to a U.N. assessment published on Monday. ...more
 
FAO unveils $40M climate project for Iraq 27/5/2025
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) will launch a $40 million project to support Iraq in addressing climate change, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu announced during a visit to Baghdad. ...more
 
Eleven countries demand EU weakens deforestation law further, document shows 27/5/2025
The European Union is facing further pressure from member countries to delay and weaken its upcoming law to restrict deforestation, with 11 governments demanding changes, a document seen by Reuters showed. ...more
 
Revealed: The true cost of climate crisis for world’s poorest countries 27/5/2025
Exclusive: Small-island states and conflict-vulnerable countries in Africa are suffering intensely as floods, droughts and hurricanes wreak havoc on communities and livelihoods. ...more
 
For the First Time, China Invests More in Wind and Solar Than Coal Overseas 27/5/2025
China’s Belt and Road Initiative, long derided for its heavy carbon footprint, was dominated by wind and solar power projects for the first time from 2022 to 2023, according to a new analysis. But coal plants financed in earlier years are still coming online. ...more
 
UAE breaks May heat record with scorching 51.6C 26/5/2025
The United Arab Emirates registered a sizzling 51.5 degrees Celsius on Saturday, breaking its May temperature record for the second day in a row. The desert nation lies in one of the world's hottest regions and is at risk of severe heat waves due to climate change.  ...more
 
EU close to reaching climate goals despite green backlash 26/5/2025
Bloc is within one percentage point of meeting greenhouse gas emissions reduction target by 2030 ...more
 
US EPA drafting plan to erase greenhouse gas limits on coal and gas-fired power plants 26/5/2025
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed on Saturday that it was drafting a plan to eliminate all limits on greenhouse gases from coal and gas-fired power plants in the United States and would be published after interagency review. ...more
 
Scientists seek to save Florida’s dying reefs with hardy nursery-grown coral 26/5/2025
Reefs off the Keys have lost 90% of healthy coral cover in 40 years, but replanting effort aims to make reef more resilient. ...more
 
Aramco achieves world-first by commissioning breakthrough renewable energy storage system for gas operations 26/5/2025
Aramco, one of the world’s leading integrated energy and chemicals companies, has achieved a world-first by successfully commissioning a megawatt (MW)-scale renewable energy storage system to power gas production activities. It is the first deployment globally of an Iron-Vanadium (Fe/V) flow battery as a backup solar power source for gas well operations. ...more
 
 
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