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

314 - May 2024
Editorial
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WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE
Climate Action Can Be One of the World’s Biggest Job Creators
WORLD RESOURCES INSTITUTE
We are in the midst of a great economic shift — one that will shape livelihoods and growth for decades to come
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Inger Andersen
Why the UN Environment Assembly is essential to a safer, more resilient planet
Inger Andersen
As geopolitical challenges and tensions escalate globally, one thing is clear: fragmented politics will not fix a fractured planet
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Najib Saab
Coalition of 'climate willing' partners needed
Najib Saab
Climate action is facing unprecedented challenges, due to the rise of populist movements led by the United States administration
more...
 
 
 
Meet the
 Editor-in-Chief Najib Saab 		 
 
Selected articles News
EU rules could make fossil-free aviation fuels unnecessarily expensive and energy-intensive 14/5/2026
The effects of the Iran war on the oil market have brought renewed attention to the EU’s plans for domestic production of fossil-free aviation fuels. But EU rules for synthetic aviation fuels risk steering development towards production pathways that are both more expensive and more energy-intensive than necessary – making it harder to meet climate targets. This is shown in a recent study from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, that has analysed different methods for producing synthetic methanol. ...more
 
The food commodities driving deforestation globally 27/3/2026
Maize, rice and cassava drive more deforestation than major export-oriented crops like cocoa, coffee, and rubber. This has been shown by researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, in the most comprehensive global survey of how different commodities are causing deforestation. The study confirms the major impact of meat production, but reveals several overlooked drivers of deforestation. ...more
 
Local water supply crucial to success of hydrogen initiative in Europe 26/2/2026
Green hydrogen is considered to be an important part of the global climate transition, especially as a fuel and energy carrier for heavy transport and industry. However, large-scale green hydrogen production requires sustainable ways of managing water resources to avoid giving rise to water shortages and conflicts with agriculture over access. This has been shown in a unique study from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, that connects local water supply with a range of scenarios for future hydrogen needs in Europe. ...more
 
Solar hydrogen can now be produced efficiently without the scarce metal platinum 9/1/2026
A research team led by Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have presented a new way to produce hydrogen gas without the scarce and expensive metal platinum. Using sunlight, water and tiny particles of electrically conductive plastic, the researchers show how the hydrogen can be produced efficiently, sustainably and at low cost. ...more
 
The Paris Agreement at 10: A Celebration and a Call to Action 13/12/2025
Ten years ago, we witnessed something akin to a miracle. ...more
 
Climate Action Has a Messaging Problem 14/9/2025
In the summer of 2024, Dutch citizens ranked climate change as the most serious problem facing the world. Just a few months later, they elected a national government that ran on a platform of pulling back its climate policies. ...more
 
Europe’s Soaring Heat and the Great Air Conditioning Dilemma 21/8/2025
Much of Europe sweltered in August 2025 as a heat dome spread across the continent, pushing peak afternoon temperatures to over 40 degrees C (104 degrees F) in France and Spain. Meanwhile, parts of Greece, Turkey and Albania battled historic and devastating wildfires as high temperatures scorch the land. ...more
 
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
 
Dismay as Trump officials to dismantle key ocean monitoring system 4/6/2026
Ocean Observatories Initiative, $368m network that has provided crucial climate data, latest victim of Trump cuts. ...more
 
Spain registers record high sea temperatures for May 4/6/2026
Spain registered record sea temperatures for the month of May along much of its coastline, the country's port ‌authority said on Tuesday, as the UN forecast a moderate or possibly strong El Nino, which could drive up global temperatures in coming months. ...more
 
Puffins, dolphins and bumblebees in running to feature on new UK banknotes 4/6/2026
Bank of England says updated imagery will celebrate native wildlife while bolstering anti-counterfeit features. ...more
 
A flamboyance of flamingos flocks to Venice Lagoon thanks to EU wetlands restoration project 4/6/2026
24,000 pink flamingos were spotted in the famous lagoon in 2025 - 6,000 more than in 2024. ...more
 
Saudi Arabia Marks First Birth of One of World’s Rarest Animals in over 100 Years 3/6/2026
Wildlife conservation efforts have successfully recorded the birth of the first onager (Equus hemionus) on Saudi soil in more than 100 years at Prince Mohammed bin Salman Royal Reserve, marking the return of a species that had disappeared from the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula for over a century. ...more
 
UN urges the world to ready for extreme heat risk from El Nino 3/6/2026
The United Nations weather agency forecast on Tuesday a moderate or possibly a strong El Nino that could drive up global temperatures and increase ‌the risk of extreme weather over the coming months. ...more
 
Britain sets 87% emissions reduction target for 2038-2042 period 3/6/2026
Britain on Tuesday set out a ‌target to reduce emissions by around 87% in the period 2038 to 2042, down from baseline levels set in 1990. ...more
 
Ethiopia goes electric following gas car ban 3/6/2026
Addis Ababa, one of Africa's fastest-growing cities, introduced the climate-friendly buses last year in keeping with Ethiopia's ban on the import of gasoline and diesel cars. ...more
 
Iraq prioritizes green belts in national strategy to fight desertification 2/6/2026
The Iraqi Ministry of Environment announced on Sunday, May 31, 2026, that the development of green belts across the nation serves as a core pillar in its strategic master plan to combat desertification. ...more
 
Wildfires devastating richer areas but fewer hectares burned globally – study 2/6/2026
“Devastating” wildfires ripped across the wealthier parts of the world in 2025, a study has found, even as globally, the area ravaged by flames fell. ...more
 
Germany is a leader in renewables, so why does it have one of the highest EU electricity prices? 2/6/2026
Germany generated more electricity from solar and wind in 2025 than any other EU country – but its prices remain tied to volatile fossil fuels. ...more
 
Clean energy saved EU €51 billion in 2025 by cutting fossil fuel imports - as solar leads the way 1/6/2026
Investing in renewables has also ensured greater energy security at a moment when the war on Iran is destabilising supplies and forcing up costs. ...more
 
When rockets go wrong – protecting the environment from catastrophe 1/6/2026
Space launches are increasing and the rockets are getting bigger. But there can be some major environmental costs when things don't go to plan. ...more
 
How Norwegian researchers are using satellite images to track tourism’s environmental impact 1/6/2026
Norway’s northern Lofoten Islands are attracting an increasing number of tourists, raising concerns about the environmental impact. To help document these effects, Norwegian researchers have launched a new project that utilises satellite images. ...more
 
A warmer world creates bigger and more damaging hailstones, study says 1/6/2026
A warmer world will likely make bigger and more damaging hail, a new study said. ...more
 
Global temperatures to reach near-record highs in next five years, report finds 29/5/2026
Average global temperatures are forecast to reach near-record levels in the next five years, ‌with Arctic temperatures expected to warm faster than other regions, a report by the U.N. weather agency and the UK’s Met Office said on Thursday. ...more
 
Six countries resist EU plan to reduce free carbon permits 29/5/2026
An EU plan to gradually reduce the number of free CO2 permits given ‌to industries has hit resistance from six governments that have demanded looser rules to help firms cope with the energy price impact of the Iran war, a document seen by Reuters showed. ...more
 
China's new carbon metrics 'erased half' of emissions growth reported from 2020 to 2025, report says 29/5/2026
China's latest carbon data suggests it has changed the way it calculates carbon emissions, reducing by half the emissions growth the country previously reported from 2020 to 2025, climate researchers argue in a new report. ...more
 
Deforestation in Brazilian Amazon falls to lowest level since 2019 29/5/2026
A report published Wednesday said that deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon fell last year to its lowest level since 2019, in what will be seen as good news for leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Lula, who is seeking a fourth term in October, has made the fight against deforestation a central tenet of his administration. ...more
 
 
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