Crops are blooming on Gaza City rooftops, thanks to an aquaponic gardening method that saves water and space. Ala Qandil | 24 Jan 2015 Gaza City – Abu Ahmed’s rooftop was once only a space to store garbage. Today, in the densely populated centre of Gaza City, it is a green oasis. In winter, it […]

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Vakur SÜMER Advisor, Water Research Program ORSAM (CENTER FOR MIDDLE EASTERN STRATEGIC STUDIES) Water problem is a grave concern in Gaza Strip. In addition to long-lasting difficulties associated with various aspects of water, including limited resources, demographic pressures, pollution, and wasteful use; the region is now increasingly threatened by water infrastructure damage caused by continued […]

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Assist. Prof. Vakur Sümer, ORSAM Advisor, Selçuk University The countries of the Middle East, most of which rank among the world’s most water-scarce ones, should focus more on reusing existing water resources. Reusing the treated sewage effluent (TSE) is one of possible routes to water efficiency, something gravely needed in the region as a whole. […]

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When it comes to the coastline, Israel’s environmental movement has racked up some impressive achievements. By Zafrir Rinat | Jan. 22, 2015 Not long ago, a group of activists from the Green Course (Megamah Yerukah) organization made their way to a building site along the Bat Yam coast. The members protested the plan to eliminate […]

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December 4, 2014, By Moses Jackson, The Wilson Center Source: New Security Beat Water is a key ingredient for peace, especially in the Middle East. The Jordan River, which forms the border between Israel, the Palestinian West Bank, and Jordan, is central to the interrelated political and environmental challenges facing the region. Addressing these challenges […]

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THE 5 R GO TO SCHOOL Wednesday, January 14, 2015 The youth of today will be the main consumers of goods of the future. It is, therefore, crucial to guide the new generation towards a “conscious consumption”, to train them in the Reduce, Reuse, Rethink, Recycle of waste and Recovery of energy. The improper waste […]

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How challenging is it to protect the environment in a region affected by conflict? By Peggy Giakoumelos,  13 JAN 2015 With necessities such as access to clean water and food at the forefront, maintaining other aspects of the natural environment can take second or even third place. A group calling itself “EcoPeace Middle East” brings […]

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RAMALLAH, January 13, 2015 (WAFA) – Palestinian Environmental Quality Authority (EQA) said, in a statement Tuesday, that following the Palestinian Authority’s recent move of signing on to four international conventions on environment, Israel will be held accountable for committing crimes against the environment in Palestine. Ahead of the United Nations Security Council’s failure to adopt […]

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Jan 13, 2015 AMMAN — HRH Prince Hassan has called for galvanising “efforts to ensure that policies are put in place that ensure and promote the role of communities and end users in natural resources management”. “Anthropolitics, or a politics of humanity, must take centre stage in the Middle East to restore respect for human […]

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Israeli company AORA to provide solar-biogas hybrid power solutions for rural communities in Ethiopia. Anav Silverman, Tazpit 01.17.15 Ethiopia is aiming to enhance access to affordable and environmentally-friendly renewable energy for its population, with the country’s Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy announcing last month that it had signed an agreement with an Israeli solar-hybrid […]

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Egypt considers gas imports from Israel Oil minister says Cairo continues to mull decision to enter arrangement with Jerusalem in order to end post-Mubarak energy woes. 01.14.15 Egypt is open to importing gas from Israel, its oil minister said in state-owned media on Wednesday, another sign that Cairo may lean on its Jewish neighbor to […]

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AFP | Jan 17, 2015 ABU DHABI — Falling oil prices could have a negative impact on global efforts to develop renewable energy sources, experts warned Saturday at a conference in Abu Dhabi. Oil prices have fallen by almost 60 per cent since June, crashing on worries over global oversupply and weak demand in a […]

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Explosive urban growth, mainly in Middle East, China and Africa, is a danger to the planet – unless cities can be planned to use energy strategically, says international team. By Ruth Schuster | Jan. 16, 2015 Cities already consume the lion’s share of global energy and they’re growing fast. Now a groundbreaking new study proposes […]

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Sunday, 11 January 2015 Director General of the Urban Planning Administration in Makkah Municipality Fayiz Kansarah said the leveling of mountains increases the risks of earthquakes, especially the leveled areas are not utilized properly for development projects, Makkah daily reported. Kansarah said the municipality has started carrying out plans for protecting the topography of Makkah […]

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In study, use of barn owls and kestrels has led to 50% to 90% drop in applications for highly toxic chemicals. By Zafrir Rinat | Jan. 12, 2015 The use of birds of prey to tackle pest control has led to a marked reduction in the use of highly toxic chemical pesticides by farmers, according […]

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RAMALLAH, January 6, 2015 (WAFA) – The Palestinian Water Authority Tuesday revealed that 95% of the groundwater in the Gaza Strip is unfit for human consumption, stressing that it is in dire need of rehabilitation. A report issued by the water authority said that the overall potable water consumption in Gaza reached 103.34 million cubic […]

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EnGlobe Corp. began dredging the polluted waterway last year; will it leave the Environmental Protection Ministry high and dry? By Zafrir Rinat | Jan. 5, 2015 A Canadian company that began cleaning the badly polluted Kishon River, south of Haifa, last year is planning to significantly reduce its involvement in the project. It is not […]

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AZA CITY (Ma’an) — Hundreds of Palestinians in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday were forced to evacuate their homes due to rising water levels, as winter Storm Huda began to take a toll on the besieged coastal enclave on the third day of its landing. Hatem al-Khur, an official in the Khuzaa municipality east […]

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EAPC made the headlines in December 2014 after a disastrous oil spill at a southern nature reserve. The trail of companies behind it is even more labyrinthine than its pipelines. By Aluf Benn | Jan. 6, 2015 They are members of one of Israel’s most secret clubs – veterans of the security establishment, local businessmen […]

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