Environment and Climate in the Middle East

news, conferences, policy discussions and academic publications on environmental issues and climate change in the Eastern Mediterranean

Environment and Climate in the Middle East

Archives for April, 2015

UNICEF launches water distribution network project in Zaatari – Jordan Times

Apr 23, 2015 AMMAN — UNICEF said on Thursday it launched the construction project of a water distribution network in the Zaatari Refugee Camp. “In addition to the mobile wastewater treatment units launched last month, the operation of a water distribution network and a third borehole will drastically reduce operational costs, further promote the equitable […]

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Mediterranean Food Security – International Center for Advanced Agronomic Studies

Watch Letter 3 http://www.ciheam.org/index.php/en/publications/watch-letters/watch-letter-32 The issue 32 has been released on April 2015 and entitled “Feeding Expo Milano 2015 with Mediterranean Perspectives”. The Document compiles a series of 18 articles dealing with innovative indicators and initiatives for Food Security in the Mediterranean countries. Particular attention has been paid to good practices, adaptation to climate change, […]

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Lebanon demands Israel pay for 2006 oil slick – Daily Star

April 20, 2105 BEIRUT: Israel must compensate Lebanon for the environmental destruction caused after it bombed a power plant during its 2006 invasion and sent more than 10,000 tons of oil into the sea, Foreign Minister Gebran Bassil said Monday. Speaking at a joint news conference alongside Environment Minister Mohammad Machnouk and the U.N. resident […]

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Where Lebanon exports its gas is vital – Daily Star

Bassam Fattouh| The Daily Star One of the key decisions that Lebanon must make if natural gas is extracted off the country’s coast is determining how much will be earmarked for export. Securing export markets is central to a strategy of maximizing gains from offshore gas and providing the right incentives for international companies to […]

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Industrial Pollution, Cancer, Haifa – Jerusalem Post / Haaretz

Court delays cancellation of Oil Refineries business licenses in Haifa By SHARON UDASIN 04/20/2015 The Haifa Municipal Court ordered a delay in the cancellation of Israel Oil Refineries Ltd. (ORL) business licenses on Monday, a day after the city’s mayor issued termination orders to the company and its subsidiaries. Honoring ORL’s request, the court granted […]

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Egypt’s government looks for new ways to keep on the lights – Daily Star

Alfred Jasins Brendan Meighan| The Daily Star After years of doing little to rectify Egypt’s energy and electricity troubles, the government has finally moved to pursue sustainability. Energy demand, fueled by government subsidies, has for years outpaced domestic production. This has led to a large subsidy bill, electricity production that falls far short of demand, […]

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Geologists: Road along Dead Sea coast must be diverted toward nature reserve – Haaretz

Highway currently runs through one of the most active sinkhole areas. Environmentalists: New route will harm animals, nature. By Nir Hasson | Apr. 17, 2015 The Geological Survey of Israel, as well as most senior Israeli geologists, say the best solution for Road 90 along the coast of the Dead Sea in the Ein Gedi […]

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To avoid a regional crisis, give Gaza more clean water – Haaretz

The lack of drinking water beneath the coastal enclave poses a threat to regional stability. What happens if thousands of Gazans rush the Israeli and Egyptian fences, pleading for water to survive? By Gidon Bromberg and Earl Blumenauer | Apr. 12, 2015 The prospect for real and substantial progress in the peace process seems currently […]

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Haifa has highest cancer risk in country, Health Ministry says – Jerusalem Post

By AMIT TOMER 04/14/2015 Letter from head of public health disease prevention says that 16% of cancer cases in northern port city come as a result of air pollution in the area. The Health Ministry revealed concerning numbers about the connection between the air pollution in Haifa and instances of cancer in the area on […]

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The death of the Dead Sea: Once a wonder, today a sinkhole – Haaretz

Ein Gedi is full of hikers; but around it, an ecological disaster that’s been unfolding for decades is reaching a new low. By Nir Hasson | Apr. 9, 2015 Nine years ago on Passover I was sent to prepare an article about the shores of the Dead Sea. Already then the situation was gloomy, the […]

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A painful time at the Dead Sea – Haaretz editorial

The sinkholes that emerge as the Dead Sea recedes require safe new roads and access to the beach. Haaretz Editorial | Apr. 12, 2015 Israeli visitors to the Dead Sea over the Passover holiday experienced a painful encounter with the consequences of its receding waters. As reported by Nir Hasson, masses of visitors were unable […]

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Dead sea turtle washes up on north Lebanon shore – Daily Star

BEIRUT: An environmental scout group Friday found a sea turtle washed up on the shore of Mina in Tripoli, north Lebanon, after it became trapped inside a fishing net and drowned. State-run National News Agency said the Caretta Caretta was over one meter long and 80 cm wide and aged approximately 25 years. Head of […]

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Dispelling the curse of the Nile – Al Jazeera

Unless effective action is taken, a water war between Nile basin countries remains a distinct future possibility. 11 Apr 2015 Khaled Diab Khaled Diab is an award-winning Egyptian-Belgian journalist, writer and blogger. He is the author of Intimate Enemies: Living with Israelis and Palestinians in the Holy Land. He blogs at www.chronikler.com @diabolicalidea War has […]

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‘Tafileh wind farm to begin initial operations by end of April’ – Jordan Times

AMMAN — A 117-megawatt wind farm in Tafileh, 180km southwest of the capital, will begin its initial operations by the end of this month, producing electricity from five turbines, Energy Minister Ibrahim Saif said Monday. The Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted Saif as saying that the project is scheduled to start operating commercially by the […]

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Signs of life – and ecological disaster – at Evrona nature reserve, four months after spill – Haaretz

Black storks can now be seen in the southern Israeli nature spot – but it’s not because they’re covered in crude oil. By Zafrir Rinat | Apr. 7, 2015 A special flight recently landed at southern Israel’s Evrona nature reserve, which was severely damaged by a major oil spill four months ago. The visitors were […]

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How much do Israelis recycle their waste? Nobody really knows – Haaretz

The government encourages recycling, but 
does not comply with reporting requirements. By Zafrir Rinat | Apr. 8, 2015 The Environmental Protection Ministry is not in compliance with laws requiring it to publish data on the extent of waste recycling in Israel, which prevents the public from monitoring and criticizing the progress or lack thereof of […]

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1.7 million people in Jordan are water vulnerable — report [The Jordan Times]

by Hana Namrouqa | Mar 21, 2015 | source: The Jordan Times AMMAN — More than 40 million people in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey are water vulnerable, 3 per cent or 1.7 million of whom are in the Kingdom, according to a report on violence and water shortage. “The Hydro-Insecure: Crisis of Survival […]

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Refugees exacerbate water crisis in Middle East [GulfNews]

Influx of people displaced by conflicts across borders has led to an increase in the number of water-insecure areas. by JUMANA KHAMIS || MARCH 22, 2015 || Source: Gulf News Amman: The number of Syrian refugees arriving in Jordan is 1.5 million. This is equivalent to the volume of people arriving from Canada to the […]

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Fresh hope that 2,000-year old seed could restore extinct biblical Judean palm [Haaretz]

Methuselah the 10-foot tall date palm tree is a boy, researchers say, and think a female may be found. By Shira Rubin  and Ruth Schuster     | Mar. 31, 2015 | source: Haaretz Methuselah, the Judean date palm grown from a 2,000-year old seed, has turned out to be male, and there’s fresh hope he […]

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Environmental Peacemaking April 2015 – EcoPeace

April 2015 “Green Economy Initiatives” holds seminar on EcoTourism Business Development EcoPeace’s “Green Economy Initiatives” (GEI) project held a 2-day cross border meeting this month with Israeli Professor Dr. Uri Mayer Chissik – who leads an education program on food heritage and community involvement – and staff from our Sharhabil Bin Hassneh EcoPark (SHE) in […]

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