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, 2014

A gas monopoly is a threat to Israeli democracy – Haaretz

Huge impact of natural gas on Israeli economy mustn’t be treated lightly: A monopoly over newly discovered gas reserves will overpower Israel’s economy. Haaretz Editorial | Oct. 23, 2014 The issue of the cost of living in Israel, the future of certain industries and even elements of the government’s ability to govern – the main […]

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Lack of energy – Jordan Times

by Yusuf Mansur | Oct 27, 2014 The energy debate is ever continuing in Jordan. It is unending and seemingly fruitless. One strategy after another is formulated, yet implementation does not happen, and energy champions (ministers) come and go through fast revolving doors. Meanwhile, neither demand nor supply have improved in a country starved for […]

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Onshore oil bill making the rounds – Daily Star

Elias Sakr| The Daily Star BEIRUT: The Lebanese Petroleum Administration will be reviewing a draft bill on onshore petroleum resources before returning it to the government for further assessment, a source told The Daily Star Wednesday on the sidelines of a conference on Lebanon’s oil and gas industry. The source said concerned ministries have reviewed […]

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Energy does grow on trees, thanks to Israeli engineers – YNET

The eTree looks like a real tree, but uses solar power for WiFi, device chargers smartphones, electrical outlets and even night lights. Yisrael Wolman Published: 10.22.14 The frenetic Israeli brain has already presented the world with numerous developments in the solar energy and hi-tech fields, but Sologic’s new “solar tree” is a unique combination of […]

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‘Fertigation’ saves farmers while protecting nature – Jordan Times

Oct 23, 2014 Jordan Valley farmer Sameeh Freij treats his crops like his babies, nurturing them as he watches them grow. Every day at dawn, Freij abandons the comfort of his bed and heads to his small farm in the heart of the Jordan Valley, the Kingdom’s fruit and vegetable basket. As Freij strolls amongst […]

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Fears for Jordan refugee camp water lifeline – Al Jazeera

Without a sewage system in place, many fear the water which supplies most of Jordan will become polluted. Last updated: 10 Oct 2014 video report: http://www.aljazeera.com/video/middleeast/2014/10/fears-jordan-refugee-camp-water-lifeline-201410101116542412.html Jordan is one of the three driest countries in the world, and a refugee camp for Syrians has been built haphazardly on one of the most important underground water […]

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In Pictures: ‘When we garden, we feel happy’ – Al Jazeera

Syrian refugees at Zaatari camp turn to gardening to make a difference. Rosie Thompson Last updated: 27 Oct 2014 In the midst of an expanse of dry land, thousands of Syrian refugees have been living in Zaatari Camp, Jordan, opened two years ago. Some have turned to gardening to help them adapt to life in […]

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Project to increase water supply to Maan residents – Jordan Times

by Hana Namrouqa | Oct 23, 2014 AMMAN — The Water Ministry has started construction on a project to increase Maan Governorate’s daily water share, a government official said ?Thursday. Under the project, the ministry is drilling a well in Maan to pump around 1,000 cubic metres of water daily to increase the amount of […]

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Jordan world’s second water-poorest country – Environment and Development

27/10/2014 Jordan Times- Jordan now ranks as the world’s second water-poorest country, where water per capita is 88 per cent below the international water poverty line of 1,000 cubic meters annually, government officials said last Wednesday. The deteriorating regional conditions and turmoil have led to waves of hundreds of thousands of refugees flowing into Jordan, […]

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Water tariffs set to drop another 10% in 2015 – Jerusalem Post / Haaretz

By SHARON UDASIN 10/26/2014 Stabilization in the water sector has made reduction in tariffs possible. After dropping 5% in 2014, water tariff rates are expected to fall another 10% on January 1, 2015, the Water Authority announced on Sunday. “The stabilization of the water sector and the increase in regulatory demands of the Water Authority […]

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With Water Scarce In Yarmouk, Civilians Face Starvation, Malnutrition, Disease – Syria Deeply

October 20th, 2014 by Katarina Montgomery Thousands of Palestinian refugees are trapped inside Yarmouk refugee camp, facing starvation, malnutrition, disease and now face a threat of lack of water supply. Syria’s Yarmouk refugee camp, on the outskirts of Damascus, has been under siege by Syrian government forces since December 2012. Thousands of Palestinian refugees are […]

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Israeli scientist: Egypt’s expansion of Suez Canal could hurt marine ecosystem – YNET

A group of scientists headed by an Israeli woman, Dr. Bella Galil, says the project could do significant damage: ‘Thousands of species have already migrated from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.’ The Media Line 10.21.14 Egypt has begun digging to significantly expand the Suez Canal to enable a larger volume of shipping. The move […]

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Israel’s Tamar group looks to sell gas to Egypt – Al Arabiyah / Jordan Times

Al Arabiyah By Ari Rabinovitch | Reuters, Jerusalem Sunday, 19 October 2014 The partners in Israel’s offshore Tamar gas field said on Sunday they are negotiating the sale of at least 5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas over three years to private customers in Egypt via an old pipeline built to send gas in […]

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Israeli partners sign bid to sell natural gas to Egyptian firm – Jerusalem Post / YNET

Pipeline carried gas from Egypt to Israel for several years until saboteurs began thwarting the flow through Sinai pipeline explosions. Turning the tables on the region’s natural resource flow, Israeli gas may soon surge southward through the Egyptian pipeline that for several years provided gas to Israel – but fell victim to saboteurs in Sinai. […]

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Waste Disposal, Lebanon, 3 stories – Daily Star

Jumblatt calls for closure of Naameh dump – Daily Star Siniora lauds Sidon rehabilitation projects – Daily Star Minister proposes opening new waste-management bid – Daily Star Jumblatt calls for closure of Naameh dump – Daily Star BEIRUT: The waste dump in Naameh presents a public health danger and must be shut immediately, Progressive Socialist […]

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International Finance Corporation to fund construction of seven solar power plants in Jordan – Jordan Times

by Mohammad Ghazal | Oct 16, 2014 | 23:01 AMMAN — The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, said it has finalised a $207.5 million loan package to fund the construction of seven solar photovoltaic plants in Jordan. The package is the largest private sector-led solar initiative in the Middle […]

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GIZ earmarks 6.5m euros to address environmental challenges in Jordan – Jordan Times

by Hana Namrouqa | Oct 20, 2014 | 22:47 DEAD SEA — The Environment Ministry on Sunday signed four grant agreements with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) to improve the management of solid municipal waste, adaptation to climate change and protection of ecosystems. The agreements, which were signed on the sidelines of the Eco-Cities of […]

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Palestinian engineer wins National Energy Globe Award – Maan

19/10/2014 BETHLEHEM (Ma’an) — A Palestinian engineer has won the Energy Globe Award, which is issued annually by the Energy Globe Foundation. Tamer Alslaibi project aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a new technique in which microwaved olive stone activated carbon is used compared to the conventional thermal process, the organization’s website said. It added […]

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Tel Aviv U. launches fuel substitutes accelerator – Jerusalem Post

SHARON UDASIN 10/21/2014 Program to operate with goal of encouraging start-ups to engage in the fields of intelligent transportation and alternative fuels. With the goal of encouraging start-ups to engage in the fields of intelligent transportation and alternative fuels, the National Research Institute for Transportation Innovation at Tel Aviv University will soon be launching an […]

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Planning committee gives nod to Ariel Sharon Park expansion – Jerusalem Post

SHARON UDASIN 10/21/2014 Playgrounds, a cafe, an amphitheater, bike paths and various other recreational facilities planned in the northern portion park. Once notorious as the eyesore of the Gush Dan region, a garbage dump turned green oasis will likely be expanding even further. The Tel Aviv District Committee for Planning and Building approved on Monday […]

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