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 December, 2017

Environmental Conservation and Protected areas in Palestine: Challenges and Opportunities – Mahmiyat PS / Hanns Seidel Institute

full report: http://www.mahmiyat.ps/uploads/171013%20HSF_Bethlehem_Printed%20Version_NC.pdf Forward: This publication bases on the report “Environmental conservation and protected areas in Palestine: Challenges and Opportunities” by Dr. Mazin Qumsieh, Betlehem University and Dr. Zuhair Amr, Jordan University of Science and Technology, which have been contracted by Hanns Seidel Foundation for this task. The report has been written in the framework […]

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UAWC holds workshop on water reality in Salfit – Maan

Dec. 19, 2017 SALFIT (Ma’an) — The Union of Agricultural Work Committees held a workshop titled “the water reality of Salfit, challenges and horizons”, in cooperation with the Municipality of Salfit, to maintain water resources and facilitate access to it. Forty representatives of all members in the water sector in Salfit and the Palestinian Water […]

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Northern region faces ‘worst drought of past 40 years’ /Forecast: Another Dry Winter / Prayers for Rain – — YNET / Haaretz

Northern region faces ‘worst drought of past 40 years’ YNET Israel’s northern region reports fifth year in a row of minute precipitation; farmers have no choice but to water fields already sown but refrain from sowing further; ‘I remember the amazing taste of the nectarines we grew here, it was heavenly. But now it has […]

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Wind Turbines in Israel Kill Many More Birds, Bats Than Expected- Haaretz

The impact of wind turbines on birds and bats exceeds tolerable levels recommended by nature authorities, and there is currently no solution to the problem Zafrir Rinat Dec 20, 2017 Wind turbines cause significant damage to bird and bat life in Israel, beyond the level deemed tolerable by nature authorities. The Parks and Nature Authorityy […]

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Authorities seize ‘sophisticated’ illegal drilling rig in Azraq / ‘Unusual’ drop in Ramtha’s main aquifer water levels caused by ‘illegal well’- Jordan Times

Authorities seize ‘sophisticated’ illegal drilling rig in Azraq By Hana Namrouqa – Dec 23,2017 AMMAN — Authorities have arrested four people in Azraq, east of the country for allegedly drilling an illegal well and obstructing enforcement of the law, an official source said on Saturday. In the process, authorities seized and confiscated a “sophisticated” drilling […]

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Lebanese Waste Crisis, updates – Naharnet

Hariri Chairs Committee Meeting on Expansion of Landfills 26 December 2017 Prime Minister Saad Hariri on Tuesday chaired the ministerial committee meeting at the Grand Serail tasked with addressing a controversial solution for waste management. The meeting was held in the presence of Deputy PM and Health Minister Ghassan Hasbani, Ministers of: State Talal Arslan, […]

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Repeated Red Sea oil spills forces Environment Minister to take action – Egypt Independent

Al-Masry Al-Youm Dec 13/2017 The Environment Minister Khalid Fahmy instructed the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) and the Red Sea Marine Park Authority (RSMPA) on Wednesday to clean up oil spills which repeatedly occurred and appeared on the Red Sea’s Ras Ghareb beach since February 2016. Committees of the EEAA and RSMPA surveyed the beach […]

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Egypt FM to visit Ethiopia over Nile dam – Al Arabiya

AFP Tuesday, 26 December 2017 Egypt’s top diplomat is to visit Addis Ababa Tuesday to discuss controversial Ethiopian plans to build a dam on the Nile that Cairo fears will impact its water supplies, his ministry said Monday. Construction of the massive dam on the Blue Nile in Ethiopia has poisoned relations between the two […]

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From Your Pan To Europe’s Gas Stations: Egyptian Start-up Wants Your Used Cooking-Oil – Egypt Independent

Mareike Enghusen December 26, 2017 It was a coincidence and an empty fuel tank that led Mahmoud Abo al-Rokab to his business idea. During a trip in Britain in 2008, where he was working as a soccer commentator, he approached a gas station with the car he had rented. Among the fuels on offer, one […]

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Thick smog keeps schools closed for fourth day in Iran – Al Arabiya

AFP, Tehran Wednesday, 20 December 2017 Schools were closed for a fourth straight day in Tehran on Wednesday as dangerous air pollution covered the Iranian capital and traffic restrictions failed to clear the thick smog. Average airborne concentration of the finest and most hazardous particles (PM2.5) was “unhealthy” at 160 microgrammes per cubic metre, slightly […]

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Palestinian, Jordanian, Israeli Track II Environmental Forum – Arava Institute for Environmental Studies

For over 20 years the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies at Kibbutz Ketura has brought together Israelis, Palestinians, Jordanians and international students to study cross border environmental cooperation together. There are now 1000 alumni who work throughout Palestine, Jordan, Israel and around the world. This includes 230 Palestinians from the West Bank, Gaza and Israel; […]

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Made in Israel: Exploiting Palestinian Land for Treatment of Israeli Waste – B’Tselem

December 2017 Researched and written by Adam Aloni Translated by Maya Johnston English edited by Shuli Wilkansky Table of Contents Introduction 4 Waste recycling in the West Bank 6 Waste recycling legislation 12 Conclusions 16 Appendix: Israeli waste treatment facilities in the West Bank (including areas annexed to the Jerusalem municipality) 19 Introduction Power disparities […]

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‘How Israel turned the West Bank into its garbage dump’- 972mag.com/ Al Jazeera

‘How Israel turned the West Bank into its garbage dump’- 972mag.com Published December 5, 2017 A new report from B’Tselem details how Israel has exploited the legal regime in the West Bank, trucking in hazardous waste to be processed in the occupied territory. By Joshua Leifer Israel is taking advantage of less stringent environmental regulations […]

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Palestine’s Idhna struggles with e-waste – Al Jazeera

by Hoda Abdel-Hamid 2 Dec 2017 Around half of the e-waste generated in Israel finds its way to the occupied West Bank. Computers, fridges, air conditioners, filters for gas masks, TVs and many more litter the multiple workshops in and around the town. With increasing rates of unemployment in the past 15 years, many people […]

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“As If You’re Inhaling Your Death” The Health Risks of Burning Waste in Lebanon – Human Rights Watch

NOVEMBER 2017 ISBN: 978-1-6231-35461 “As If You’re Inhaling Your Death” The Health Risks of Burning Waste in Lebanon Summary …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1 Recommendations ……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9 To the Ministry of Environment ……………………………………………………………………………………. 9 To the Ministry of Public Health ………………………………………………………………………………….. 10 To the Ministry of Education ………………………………………………………………………………………. 10 To the Ministry of Interior and Municipalities………………………………………………………………… 10 To […]

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Report: Serious Health Risks from Lebanon Waste Burning – Human Rights Watch / Naharnet

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH Lebanon: Waste Crisis Posing Health Risks: End Open Burning; Create Long-Term Waste Management Plan (Beirut) – The lack of action by authorities to end open burning of waste across Lebanon is posing serious health risks for nearby residents, violating their right to health, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. […]

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Bloomberg Climatescope: 2017 report and country ratings

REPORT: Each year, Climatescope takes stock of clean energy activities across the world’s developing nations. This year, the survey has been expanded to cover 71 nations. Among them, this group accounts for 32.5% of global GDP and 72.4% of global population. Collectively, developing nations represent both the greatest challenge and greatest hope in addressing global […]

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Egypt joins top 20 countries in clean energy transition rating: Bloomberg – Egypt Independent

Farah Tawfeek November 29, 2017 In a historic feat in the clean energy and sustainability fields, Egypt’s rank jumped 23 places in Bloomberg’s Climatescope 2017 annual report, becoming number 19 out of 71 countries assessed for the progress they made towards clean energy. This makes Egypt the second fastest country to progress in the clean […]

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UAE funds $220m renewable energy project – Jordan Times

Envoy says imminent project a ‘thank you’ for Jordan By JT – Dec 02,2017 AMMAN — UAE will fund a renewable energy project worth $220 million, UAE ambassador to Jordan Matar Shamsi announced, adding that the construction will begin “soon”. Quoted by the Jordan News Agency, Petra, on Saturday, Shamsi added that under the direction […]

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Int’l investment forum for renewable energy kicks off – Jordan Times

Dec 05,2017 AMMAN — The 4th International Investment Forum for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency meetings have started at the Dead Sea, with the attendance of the chairperson of the higher oversight committee of the Arab Renewable Energy Commission (AREC) HRH Princess Sanaa, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Tuesday. Secretary General of the […]

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