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 October, 2016

The Dead Sea Swim Challenge: A bottom-up effort to save a natural wonder – EcoPeace

When the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges are so blatantly ignored on a world stage, everyday, World Environment Day is an important opportunity to remind ourselves how crucial natural resources are to our wellbeing, and how saving them is not a gimmick but an imperative. Here in the Middle East, conflict has taken a dire […]

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Fifth of Israel’s Drinking Water Facilities Have Been Shut Down in Past Due to Contamination – Haaretz

A report from the Water Authority states that other sites are in danger of closure due to spreading pollution. Zafrir Rinat Oct 02, 2016 A fifth of the drinking water drilling facilities in Israel have been shut down in less than two decades due to contamination, a report by the Water Authority reveals. Figures show […]

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Dickson Despommier: we can end hunger in Middle East with vertical farming – Green Prophet

Arwa Aburawa Lack of space in urban environments often means that farming opportunities are limited, but a technique of farming indoors and upwards may resolve this problem Over a week ago, I had the opportunity to attend an event featuring Dickson Despommier, the grandfather of vertical farming. As Green Prophet editor Karin explains in an […]

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Authorities seize 7,000 dead birds in largest recorded hunting violation – Jordan Times

Hunter, a gov’t employee, to be fined JD20-25 for every bird killed By Hana Namrouqa – Oct 05,2016 AMMAN — Authorities on Wednesday announced the seizure of 7,000 dead birds in the largest hunting violation ever recorded in the Kingdom. The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) and the Rangers caught the hunter […]

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Bird Poop Threatens to Turn Israeli Tourist Site Into ‘Green Soup’ – Haaretz

Some 40,000 cranes visit the Hula Valley every winter, but scientists warn that their droppings could be playing havoc with Lake Agmon. Zafrir Rinat Oct 02, 2016 The tens of thousands of cranes that arrive in the Hula Valley every winter have become a big hit with tourists, but scientists warn that the birds’ droppings […]

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Environment Ministry to deal with pollution violations ‘firmly’ – Jordan Times

AMMAN — The Environment Ministry will deal firmly with any violation causing pollution, especially from industrial facilities, Environment Minister Yaseen Khayyat said on Tuesday. It is unacceptable for facilities to practice their work at the expense of the environment, Khayyat said in a statement, adding that field visits will be intensified for inspectors to work […]

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Ministry hopes tribal leaders will help fight to protect forests – Jordan Times

By Hana Namrouqa – Oct 02,2016 Forests in Jordan constitute less than 1 per cent of the country’s total area of 97,000 square kilometres (Photo by Amjad Ghsoun) AMMAN — The Ministry of Agriculture will collaborate with tribal leaders in areas with dense green cover to stop violations against forests, according to a government official. […]

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Entrepreneur connects women across region to ‘upcycle’ plastic bags – Jordan Times

By Bahaa Al Deen Al Nawas – Sep 25,2016 AMMAN — Recycling waste and preserving the environment are global concerns that require innovative solutions, and with “Kees Chic”, designer Diana Rayyan is proving that the challenge can be met without compromising style. A fashion brand and social enterprise, Kees Chic held a pilot launch on […]

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Lebanese Shun Pricey, Polluted Beaches for Trips Abroad – Naharnet

Lebanese Shun Pricey, Polluted Beaches for Trips Abroad by Naharnet Lebanese like Hamza al-Sees should have no problem finding a beach to while away the summer in a country stretching along the Mediterranean. But as private developers have gobbled up seafront land and families complain of ever-more polluted waters, many Lebanese say it is cheaper […]

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Jordan – Israel Gas deal, multiple stories – Jordan Times

Gas deal with Israel does not support occupation — gov’t – Jordan Times Oct 02,2016 AMMAN — It is “extremely shallow” to suggest that Jordan supports the Israeli occupation by signing the gas deal with Noble Energy, Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani said on Sunday. In remarks to Jordan Television’s “Jordan this Evening” programme, Momani, who […]

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Damaged Israeli power lines affect electricity in Gaza Strip – Maan

GAZA (Ma’an) — Three of the Israeli power lines which provide electricity to the besieged Gaza Strip have been disconnected due to damages, the Gaza energy authority said on Monday. The energy authority said in a statement that Israeli power lines 9 and 8, as well as the line feeding the al-Shaaf area, were damaged […]

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Egyptian power lines feeding southern Gaza back in operation – Maan

GAZA CITY (Ma’an) — The Gaza Strip’s electricity company announced on Tuesday evening that the Egyptian power lines feeding the southern part of the besieged enclave were back in operation after being disconnected due to damage. An official at the electricity company said that the lines had been fixed, but would be disconnected temporarily on […]

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Maan boasts largest solar power plant in region – Jordan Times

Oct 04,2016 AMMAN — The sun has just risen over Maan, 220km south of the capital, casting a fiery glow that is reflected off the seemingly endless rows of black thin film photovoltaic (PV) solar power modules. There is nothing but the gentle whirr of the plant’s inverters to indicate that the facility is silently […]

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Iraqi Qayyara oil keeps burning six weeks after ouster of ISIS – Al Arabiya

Reuters, Baghdad Thursday, 6 October 2016 Several wells in Iraq’s Qayyara oilfield continue to burn six weeks after the US-backed Iraqi forces ousted ISIS militants from the town as part of their push on the ISIS stronghold of Mosul, the oil ministry said on Wednesday. The militants torched oil wells in the region to help […]

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Second oil spill appears in Ras Ghareb in under a month – Egypt Independent

Al-Masry Al-Youm An oil spill has polluted the coast around the Red Sea city of Ras Ghareb, the second such spill in the area in the past month. Informed sources from the Red Sea governorate say the oil spill was noticed several days ago by Environment Ministry authorities, with an environmental emergency declared while officials […]

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Solar-powered golf course opens in Aqaba – Jordan Times

By Bahaa Al Deen Al Nawas – Oct 02,2016 The Ayla Golf Course in Aqaba is designed by professional golfer Greg Norman (Photo courtesy of Ayla Oasis Development Company) AQABA — Some 72 golfers took part in an amateur tournament on Friday to mark the opening of Jordan’s first 18-hole championship golf course in Aqaba, […]

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Over 43,000 deaths in Egypt linked to pollution in one year – Egypt Independent

Aswat Masriya Over 43,000 Egyptians died from diseases related to air pollution in 2012, a report issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) said. The diseases included in the report comprised acute lower respiratory, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, stroke, ischemic heart disease (IHD) and lung cancer. According to the report, 22,327 Egyptians died of IHD […]

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Company provides bikes for employees for environmental protection – Egypt Independent

Al-Masry Al-Youm In the midst of Cairo’s unbearable traffic and heat, a young man with KarmSolar, a solar technology and integration company, rides around on a bike, a mode of transportation that is both fast and environmentally friendly. The bikes are provided by KarmSolar to all their employees and are part of their efforts to […]

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