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, 2019

Water Security in Jordan – UNESCO

Elias Mechael Salameh University of Jordan Musa Shteiwi University of Jordan UNESCO International Centre for Water Security and Sustainable Management (i-WSSM), 125, Yuseong-daero 1689 Beon-gil, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, Republic of Korea. abstract: To secure water resources and achieve their continuous flow in arid and semi-arid areas of the globe is a highly challenging task because one […]

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Security of Water Infrastructures against Sabotage and Damage in Jordan – Unesco

Ghaida Abdallat and Rakez Al-Zareer Ghaida Abdallat, Center for Strategic Studies (CSS), University of Jordan. e-mail: ghidaaabdallat@yahoo.com Rakez Al-Zareer, CSS, University abstract: Due to regional instability in the Middle East (Syrian and Iraqi wars), which were connected to many threats and damage to the critical water infrastructures and resources in Jordan by individuals and/or terrorist […]

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Noble Energy ‘grossly underestimating’ pollution impact on Israel’s environment, study says – YNET

Study recommends company immediately reassess current drilling site; natural gas platform continues to be by far country’s most polluting facility, emitting over half of Israel’s carcinogenic benzene pollution I24News|Published: 10.23.19 New research suggests that Noble Energy, the gas company in charge of the “Leviathan” natural gas site off Israel’s western coast, is “grossly underestimating” its […]

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Israel eyes sunlight to power whole country – YNET

With the Arava region of southern Israel close to its goal of being completely reliant on solar energy during daytime hours, the team behind this achievement is now lobbying for legislation that would make whole country 100% solar energy-reliant in daylight by 2030 The Media Line|Published: 10.26.19 The Arava region of southern Israel, which includes […]

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Environment Ministry approved 1,760 projects since beginning of 2019 – Jordan Times

JT – Oct 23,2019 AMMAN — The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment on Wednesday said it has granted environmental approvals to a total of 1,760 out of 2,123 projects submitted since the beginning of 2019. The ministry also said that the projects accredited covered a variety of sectors, including industry, agriculture and services, the Jordan […]

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Invasive devil firefish are infesting the Mediterranean Sea – Haaretz

The lionfish is carnivorous and can kill and eat a large number of local fish. It also endangers humans if they come into contact with its poisonous spike Zafrir Rinat | Oct. 21, 2019 A fish from the lionfish family that has spread into the Mediterranean Sea over the past few years is threatening the […]

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Why does everyone suddenly want to grow peas? These Israelis know the answer – Haaretz

Finistere Ventures is part of the country’s rapidly growing foodtech/agritech scene, inspired in part by the success of America’s Beyond Meat Amitai Ziv | Oct. 17, 2019 | 1:47 PM Here’s a story any high-tech entrepreneurs can sink their teeth into: Beyond Meat, a U.S. company that has developed a product that looks and tastes […]

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Thai food giant backs Israeli start-up producing protein from fly larvae – Jerusalem Post

By EYTAN HALON 10/20/2019 The seafood company Thai Union Group, the world’s largest producer of canned tuna products, has committed an initial $30 million to the venture fund. Expanding its hunt for breakthrough food technologies, Thailand-based seafood giant Thai Union Group has invested an undisclosed sum in Israeli alternative protein start-up Flying SpArk. The investment […]

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Cairo University to plant one million fruit trees within four years – Egypt Independent

October 10, 2019 President of Cairo University Mohamed Othman al-Khesht signed a cooperation protocol between the university and Vodafone Egypt for the launch of the “Green Egypt” project, which aims to plant one million fruit trees within four years. The trees will be planted by students and specialists under the supervision of professors from the […]

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Sidon-Beirut Highway Blocked over Naameh Landfill Reopening Reports – Naharnet

Protesters on Sunday briefly blocked the vital Sidon-Beirut highway in the Naameh area over unconfirmed reports suggesting that the controversial Naameh garbage landfill will be reopened. Army troops and security forces managed to reopen the road after negotiations with the demonstrators. Protesters had earlier gathered outside the closed landfill to protest the reopening reports. The […]

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The Jordan Valley springs: Between the rock of the occupation and the hard place of settlers – WAFA

By Al Harith Al Hasni THE JORDAN VALLEY, Thursday, October 10, 2019 (WAFA) – Muheeb Fathi Abu Mohsen, a resident of Ein el-Helweh in the northern Jordan Valley, brings his cows twice a day to the water spring of Ein el-Helweh to drink from it – once before he goes to the pastures, and in […]

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Authorities dismantle illegal pipeline diverting water in Muwaqar – Jordan Times

AMMAN — Authorities uncovered an alleged major violation against the main water carrier in Muwaqar, from which over 100 cubic metres of freshwater were siphoned off per hour, the Water Ministry said on Tuesday. A two-inch pipeline was installed within the main carrier, which supplies the area with water, diverting water to a number of […]

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Government report: 28% increase in cancer-linked air pollution in 2018 – Jerusalem Post

By EYTAN HALON 10/07/2019 Caused by burning of landfill waste, according to the report. However, emissions from the industrial Haifa Bay area – traditionally a major source of pollution – continued to decrease. Emissions of suspected or recognized carcinogenic substances in Israel increased by 28% in 2018 due to the burning of landfill waste, according […]

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Emissions free and pollution free: Israel unveils massive solar power plant – YNET

Ashalim power station, located in the Negev Desert near the city of Be’er Sheva, consists of 360photovoltaic solar panels – which operate without generating harmful substances – making it Israel’s biggest photovoltaic-based power plant Ynet|Published: 10.19.19 Israel has taken another step in moving from fossil fuels to environmentally friendly renewable energy, approving its biggest plant […]

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Eyes skyward: Sunlight for powering all of Israel – Jerusalem Post

By TARA KAVALER/THE MEDIA LINE 10/20/2019 Yosef Abramowitz, Dorit Banet see strides in southern Arava as model for rest of country The Arava region of southern Israel, which includes the city of Eilat, will reach its goal of being 100-percent reliant on solar energy during the daytime by next year, placing the area light years […]

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Eilat cleans up its coast in bid to save coral reef – YNET

Tons of waste are removed from 2-kilometer ecologically sensitive strip of sand as local official warns of damage caused by human presence at Israel’s popular southernmost resort city Ilana Curiel|Published: 10.05.19 Eilat municipality recently completed a coastal cleanup operation, evacuating all buildings and clearing tons of waste and debris from the Red Sea coastline. The […]

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Red Sea Chamber of Diving joins Greenfins initiative – Egypt Independent

October 3, 2019 The Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS) of Egypt’s Red Sea announced in collaboration with The Reef-World Foundation that it will join the Greenfins program to reduce the impact of diving and marine activities on the environment, preserve the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba coral reefs, and achieve sustainable ecotourism. The […]

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Interspecies coexistence: Israeli farmers being trained to get along better with birds – Haaretz

Agriculture Ministry, nature groups fight extinction threats by teaching humans how to treat their feathered friends Zafrir Rinat | Oct. 18, 2019 Farmers and birds are often connected to the same piece of territory, though usually the birds defer to the humans and tend to stay away whenever people are around. But Israeli nature conservation […]

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NGOs Warn Lebanon Skies a Death Trap for Migratory Birds – Naharnet

Bird protection groups called Tuesday for urgent action to save endangered migratory species that are being decimated by illegal hunters over Lebanon. For the 41 species in Lebanon listed as particularly endangered, “the situation is really critical,” said Fouad Itani, president of the Association for Bird Conservation in Lebanon. “If nothing is done, their numbers […]

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In Israel, the struggle for nature preservation may do more harm – Haaretz

Efforts to preserve natural habitats often intervene in existing ecological systems Zafrir Rinat | Oct. 3, 2019 Two weeks ago hikers found three dead ibexes in a cistern in a Negev streambed. Several weeks earlier, the ibexes had been rescued from the same cistern. One of their rescuers had at the time suggested to the […]

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