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 May, 2018

Superman coral in Red Sea can take climate change but not sewage too, scientists warn – Haaretz

Hardy coral by Eilat and Aqaba voted most likely to survive global warming, but even it can’t overcome explosive algal growth fed by effluence and the rise in floodwaters Ruth Schuster | May 23, 2018 Of all the world’s reefs, the coral in the northern Red Sea is particularly resilient to temperature change and ocean […]

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Over 300 incendiary kites flown into Israel since April 13 – YNET

Although IDF has been fighting flaming kites with drones developed to intercept them, this ‘aerial terror offensive’ keeps disrupting Gaza border communities’ daily routine, causing farmers millions of shekels worth of damage. Matan Tzuri|Published: 05.27.18 , 12:00 On April 13, a new era of combat commenced as part of the ongoing conflict between Israel and […]

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Navy veterans gear up for last stand on Kishon dives – YNET

Veterans who dove in Kishon Stream and were later afflicted with cancer to submit petition to High Court of Justice seeking recognition, compensation; petition aimed at state for first time, demanding authorities to divulge full breadth of morbidity; Navy veteran says that while he won’t live to reap the benefits, he has made it his […]

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Water self-reliance remains elusive (editorial) – Jordan Times

May 22,2018 Despite efforts by the government to address the problem of water shortage in the country by making huge investments on mega projects and improved water management of existing sources, the goal of becoming self-reliant in this vital area remains elusive and probably a distant mirage. The reason is obvious: every time Jordan gets […]

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120mcm of fresh water saved through water theft crackdown campaign – Jordan Times

By Hana Namrouqa – May 27,2018 AMMAN — The government has saved 120 million cubic metres (mcm) of fresh water over the past five years, following the launch of a “groundbreaking” national crackdown on water theft and violations, according to government officials. Teams from the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and security forces have stopped […]

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20 per cent of water sector’s electricity to soon come from renewable sources – Jordan Times

By Hana Namrouqa – May 26,2018 AMMAN — In three years’ time, a total of 20 per cent of electricity consumed by the water sector will be generated with renewable energy, under the Water and Irrigation Ministry’s new “self-reliance” approach, government officials said. The ministry is currently implementing five mega renewable energy projects to reach […]

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Israelis asked to cut down shower time in bid to combat five-year drought – Haaretz

More efficient use of water at home and in municipal gardens, along with increased desalination efforts are among means mooted to address huge rise in consumption Zafrir Rinat | May 22, 2018 The Israel Water Authority is asking the public to shorten shower time by two minutes as part of a new campaign to save […]

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Kill those invaders or welcome them? Scientists split over invasive species = Haaretz

Several critical voices have been calling for a re-evaluation of the role of these animal and plant migrants and even urge compassion toward these invaders Zafrir Rinat | May 23, 2018 Do you wage an all-out war against invaders — or do you treat them with compassion? The question is a burning one — at […]

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Israel is stuck in traffic with a PM who hates the word ‘public’ = Haaretz

Increased use of cars instead of public transportation is causing huge damage. But Netanyahu despises public expenditures that take the entire public into account Nitzan Horowitz | May 27, 2018 “They see traffic jams; I see interchanges,” was the unforgettable statement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once made to the media. While a good deal of […]

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Nile dam won’t harm Egypt, says new Ethiopian leader – Al Arabiya

AFP Thursday, 3 May 2018 Ethiopia’s newly appointed prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, said on Thursday that the controversial dam his country is building on the Nile will not harm Egypt’s share of water supplies. Egypt relies almost totally on the Nile for irrigation and drinking water, and says it has “historic rights” to the river, […]

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Major drop in Mediterranean pollution off Israeli coast, report says – Haaretz

The biggest source of pollution was removed last year when the Dan Region’s sewage treatment plants stopped pumping their sludge into the sea and began dealing with it on land Zafrir Rinat | May 6, 2018 | 11:17 PM | 1 Pollution of the Mediterranean Sea off the Israeli coast from land-based sources has dropped […]

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Israel has world’s greatest poultry-related carbon footprint – Jerusalem Post

By EYTAN HALON 05/08/2018 Israel has the unenviable title of having the world’s largest per capita poultry-related carbon footprint, a study comparing annual carbon dioxide emissions across 130 countries revealed on Tuesday. German nutrition retailer nu3 analyzed data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to assess which countries have the […]

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Kingdom updates plan to eliminate persistant organic pollutants – Jordan Times

By Hana Namrouqa – May 09,2018 AMMAN — Jordan is reviewing and updating its National Implementation Plan (NIP) to eliminate and restrict new persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are organic chemicals toxic to humans and wildlife, according to environment and sustainable industrialisation experts. The review and update of the NIP is part of Jordan’s commitment […]

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Widely-used herbicide in Israel linked to Parkinson’s stirs debate – Haaretz

The Ministry of Agriculture opposes a ban on the pesticide, paraquat, because they consider it crucial to farming Zafrir Rinat | Apr. 30, 2018 | 1:58 AM A pesticide, suspected of increasing the risk of Parkinson’s disease, is widely used in Israel despite the fact that the health and environmental protection ministries have recommended halting […]

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Experts call for independent study into environmental impact of copper mining in Dana – Jordan Times

By Mohammad Ghazal – May 14,2018 AMMAN — Conducting comprehensive and independent studies to determine the economic feasibility and the environmental and ecological impact on mining copper in Dana area is key to making a decision on whether to go ahead with the projects, experts said on Monday. They stressed that any copper mining activities […]

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EU, EBRD to improve wastewater services for over 105,000 people – Jordan Times

53 million euros financing package to connect 15 towns to sewage networks leading to Wadi Al Arab wastewater treatment plant By JT – May 10,2018 AMMAN — The EU through its Regional Trust Fund “Madad” on Thursday signed a grant agreement to provide 20 million euros to co-finance a 25 million euros European Bank for […]

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EBRD, UK to provide JD22m to cut Amman’s solid waste – Jordan Times

By JT – May 09,2018 AMMAN — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the United Kingdom are providing a financing package equivalent to JD22 million to the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) to help improve solid waste operations in the capital and at Al Ghabawi, Amman’s only sanitary landfill facility, which also serves […]

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Amman joins EBRD’s Green Cities programme – Jordan Times

By JT – May 09,2018 DEAD SEA — Jordan has become the first country in the SEMED region to join the EBRD’s Green Cities Framework, planning and investing in its future green development. Amman’s Mayor Yousef Shawarbeh and EBRD director for municipal and environmental infrastructure, Susan Goeransson, on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding to […]

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Egypt gears up efforts to expand ‘Enough Plastic Bags’ national initiative – Egypt Independent

Hend El-Behary May 10, 2018 The Ministry of Environment (MOE) distributed at least 4500 environmentally-friendly bags to replace the traditional plastic ones as a part of its ‘enough Plastic Bags’ national Initiative that aims to reduce the consumption of single-use plastic bags, according to a press statement. The initiative has been officially announced on June […]

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Can climate change bring Israel and Jordan closer together? – Jerusalem Post

By DAVID HARARY AND BRIAN MALCZYK 05/16/2018 If Israel and Jordan do decide to further their trading relationship, the two countries will have much to benefit. The economic effects of climate change are geographically uneven and variant across the globe. The Middle East’s political landscape is similarly in constant turbulence. Fortunately, the region’s climate is […]

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