With its energy consumption growing twice as fast as its economic growth, the Arab region is among the least efficient in the world. The report of the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) on sustainable energy points out that a 56 percent reduction in energy consumption can be achieved in the Arab region through […]

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ClimBEco PhD course “From Local to Global: Political Ecology, Natural Resource Conflicts and Environmental Peacebuilding” This Spring term from 10-14 March, Lund University will offer an intensive and exciting PhD course at the ClimBEco Graduate Research School, a research school that promotes young scientists to engage in interdisciplinary research on climate, earth system and society […]

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By Muna Dajani and Sami Backleh Sumud, steadfastness and rootedness on the land, has characterised the Palestinian identity for generations. Today, as we pause and witness the state of our homeland, it is clear that the attack on the epitome of our identity has wreaked havoc and destruction on the land. Furthermore it is clear […]

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(Haaretz) — Tu Bishvat, the so-called Jewish Arbor Day, what better time to examine the preservation of nature in Israel and compare it to the situation in other countries? To do this, we can turn to a new report issued by the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel, which will be presented in […]

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For the first time in Israel, a prison sentence has been imposed Tuesday for violating waste disposal laws. The Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court sentenced Alfonso Hasson to 60 days in jail for operating and managing an illegal waste transfer station in Bnei Brak. Judge Shamai Becker said the crimes committed were grave and, based on […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 01/16/2014 Leaders of both parks aim to learn from each other’s successes and challenges in order to create the greenest spaces possible in two densely populated metropolitan regions. Once deemed the wastelands of their respective regions, the two most notorious garbage dumps of Israel and New York City are joining hands to […]

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by SHARON UDASIN 01/08/2014 In comparison, Lake Kinneret celebrated an increase of 11 cm. in the same time period. As rainstorms barreled through Israel in December, drenching fields and filling up reservoirs, the Dead Sea’s water level continued to drop. By early January, the Dead Sea fell to 427.82 meters below sea level, three centimeters […]

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by SHARON UDASIN 01/14/2014 These latest grants represent the fifth round of funding provided to American and Israeli firms by the BIRD energy program since its inception in 2009. The energy arm of the United States-Israel Binational Industrial Research and Development Foundation will be granting $3.6 million to four clean energy projects developed by American […]

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The Ministry of Environment and Water will be given new powers to penalize polluters and develop recycling under legislation expected to be introduced this year. Broad reforms being considered for environmental laws will allow the ministry to bypass the courts and punish offenders. Dr Rashid bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water, said his ministry […]

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West Bank utility agrees to buy $1.2 billion worth of natural gas for a power plant to go up near Jenin. By Eran Azran | Jan. 6, 2014 The first customer to sign up to buy gas from Israel’s giant Leviathan field is the Palestine Power Generation Company, which is developing an electric power plant […]

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Demands using site for settlements’ garbage too By Zafrir Rinat | Jan. 9, 2014 The Civil Administration refuses to allow the operation of a landfill funded by the World Bank and intended to serve the Palestinian population south of Jerusalem. The administration is demanding that the Palestinians agree to let the region’s settlements use the […]

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Israel recently disclosed that its desalination capacity exceeds the country’s water needs. By Avi Bar-Eli | Jan. 9, 2014 | Both Jordan and the Palestinians are seeking to buy Israel’s excess desalinated water, TheMarker has learned. Israel recently disclosed that its desalination capacity exceeds the country’s water needs, and the Jordanian government contacted Israel in […]

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January 03, 2014 12:08 AM By Rola Majdalani, Joelle Comair In this period of profound turmoil and transformations that the Arab world is witnessing, regional cooperation for over even the most basic subjects remains elusive and cooperation over something as complex as shared water resources seems hopeless. However, in a changing and increasingly uncertain world, […]

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by SHARON UDASIN 01/06/2014 State has abandoned natural resources to tycoons rather than using them for public’s benefit, charges Hadash MK Henin. The government must create a national database to control the country’s natural resources, as well as limit the activities of mining giants, environmental advocacy group leaders stressed on Sunday. “The field of natural […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 01/09/2014 Court decision says building resort could cause “irreparable harm” to the beach, one of the last beaches remaining in nature state in Israel. Ending a decade-long battle over the fate of Palmahim Beach, the Central District Court rejected a petition earlier this week in which developers requested authorization to construct a […]

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by JT | Jan 09, 2014 AMMAN — The government will not decide to proceed with the national nuclear programme until after some 20 months from now, Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour said Thursday. At a meeting with a number of ministers, nuclear experts and opponents of the project, Ensour said the government is open to […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 01/07/2014 Goal is to improve appearance, signage, tourism businesses and public seating areas. The Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry, alongside the Tourism Ministry, are investing NIS 60 million in a campaign to strengthen eco-tourism in the country’s rural areas. Launching the plans this year, the two ministries will jointly operate the program […]

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The Israel Nature and Parks Authority is undergoing a shake-up of both staff and vision; How the government agency will emerge remains to be seen. By Zafrir Rinat | Jan. 9, 2014 The Israel Nature and Parks Authority has recently been undergoing a shake-up of its leadership amid efforts to find its way forward. A […]

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Najib Saab December 2013 Dozens of Lebanese seeking new opportunities in Australia lost their lives when a boat carrying them from an island in Indonesia capsized. While the Phoenicians were known to be adventuring traders and daring seafarers roaming throughout the world, their descendants are fleeing their sinking homeland in search for stability and better […]

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JENIN, December 30, 2013 (WAFA) – Israeli settlers from the Illegal Israeli settlement of Meirav Monday pumped waste water coming out of the settlement into the nearby Palestinian village of Jalboun, east of Jenin, according to local sources. Director General of Marj Ibn Amer municipality, Helal Nassar, told WAFA that the municipality filed an official […]

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