NAHLA HWALLA Nutrient Security: An Essential Element of Food Security  17/4/2015

Although food security encompasses availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability, nutrition security is often neglected. Nutrition security is an essential element of food security, and because sound nutrition requires more than just enough energy for every man, woman, and child, human needs can only be satisfied through a diversity of macro- and micronutrients to ensure good health and prevent disease....more

NAJIB SAAB Benefit from the sun. It’s here to stay  30/3/2015

In his inaugural speech at the last World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, Sultan Al-Jaber, a minister of state in the United Arab Emirates and chairman of Masdar, the architecture and ecology, or “arcology,” project, said: “Renewable energy is a critical component for building a sustainable future and has today changed from an expensive alternative to a competitive technology of choice.” On the day of his speech the price of oil dropped to $40 per barrel, after declining from $120/barrel a few months earlier, and a record of $143/barrel in August 2008. When a minister in a key oil-producing state takes such a stance at such a particularly crucial time, it must express a radical shift in energy markets. Renewable energies have become an indispensable component of the energy mix, irrespective of fluctuations in oil prices. ...more

NAJIB SAAB Green Economy for a Real Arab Spring  18/2/2015

Four years ago, I addressed the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) in Montenegro, to present an Arab perspective on regional priorities. This was at the onset of the uprisings that started in early December 2010. At that time, we hoped for what was referred to as the “Arab Spring” to usher in a new direction for economic and environmental sustainability....more

Ashok Khosla To prevent harm or to do good?  20/1/2015

Environmental activism has traditionally been concerned with “preventing harm”, particularly the harm that is associated with the side effects of social and economic activities....more

NAJIB SAAB Thirsty Energy or Hungry Water?  5/12/2014

The World Bank chose “Thirsty Energy” as title for its report on the energy-water nexus. If we were to produce such a report for the Arab region, the title could better be “Hungry Water”- as production of water eats the bulk of Arab energy....more

NAJIB SAAB Changing Eating Habits Helps Food Security  25/11/2014

Arabs import half of what they need in terms of basic foodstuffs. Agricultural production in the Arab countries faces tremendous challenges – mainly drought, limited arable land, scarce water resources and accelerated population growth, all amid the adverse impact of climate change....more

Ashok Khosla Gender and Sustainable Development  21/11/2014

Men and women have different needs, aspirations and access to resources. They play different roles, and often face different opportunities and constraints in their lives and livelihoods. Yet, at least in a modern democracy, it is unacceptable that social or cultural circumstances should prevent a person of either sex from attaining his or her full potential and leading a happy and fulfilling life. The purpose of highlighting the dimension of gender is simply to identify those areas where either men or women (usually the latter) are disadvantaged by ...more

Ahmad Al-Khowaiter Energy efficiency and future challenges  3/10/2014

Energy management, in my mind, is one of the greatest challenges we face … as well as one of the greatest opportunities. is the basis of economic sustainability, and can be a key source of competitive advantage....more