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 March, 2017

Haifa Chemicals workers block major Tel Aviv intersection in protest – YNET

In an effort to prevent the closure of the Haifa ammonia facility, Haifa Chemicals threatened to lay off all of its employees, leading the workers to escalate their struggle, paralyzing one of the biggest intersections in Israel. Itay Blumenthal, Ahiya Raved|Published: 28.03.17 Hundreds of Haifa Chemicals employees blocked a major intersection in Tel Aviv on […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Hamdallah denounces Israeli control of Palestinian water resources – Maan

RAMALLAH (Ma’an) — Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah denounced Israel’s policies affecting Palestinians’ access to water during a speech on Wednesday, calling on the international community to intervene in improving access to safe, clean water in the occupied Palestinian territory and Gaza. In his speech, intended to commemorate International Water Day which occurred a week […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Israel uproots trees planted by environmentalists in Bethlehem area – WAFA

Bethlehem, March 22, 2017 (WAFA) – Israeli forces uprooted on Wednesday a number of trees planted the day before by the Environmental Quality Authority (EQA), the Environmental Organizations Network and Laji Center in Aida refugee camp in Bethlehem, according to a statement by the EQA. It said the trees were planted in an area isolated […]

Read the rest of this entry »

The next phase of climate action – Jordan Times

Moha Ennaji Last November, while much of the world was trying to unpack Donald Trump’s election as US president, the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 22) was held in Marrakesh, Morocco. Participants from all over the world, including 38 heads of state and government, came together to create a plan for implementing the 2015 […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Egypt may face fresh water shortage by 2025 – Egypt Independent

Hend El-Behary The ongoing reduction in Egypt’s Nile fresh water may subject the country to fresh water and energy shortages by 2025, according to a report published in the Geological Society of America’s (GSA) March issue. It explained that any further decrease in Nile fresh water would be ‘grave’ because at best, the river barely […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Jordan deems preservation, development of its only sea gate a priority — environment minister – Jordan Times

By Hana Namrouqa – Mar 16,2017 AMMAN — Increasing maritime transport, development and tourist projects on the Red Sea coast are threatening its biodiversity, a regional expert warned on Thursday, while Jordan renewed its commitment to preserving its only sea gate. The Red Sea, among other marine environments in the Arab region, is witnessing an […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Toxic Algae Bloom Growing in Arabian Sea Endangers Marine Life – Haaretz / Environment and Development

Algae can paralyze fish, clog their gills, and absorb enough oxygen to suffocate them. These toxins have infiltrated whole marine food chains and have, in rare cases, killed people. The Gulf of Oman turns green twice a year, when an algae bloom the size of Mexico spreads across the Arabian Sea all the way to […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Environmentalists enraged at felling of centennial trees in ‘oak village’ – Jordan Times

By Hana Namrouqa – Mar 18,2017 AMMAN — The Jordanian Federation for Environmental NGOs on Saturday condemned the chopping down of centennial oak trees in the Bader Al Jadidah district in west Amman. The federation said that the Agriculture Ministry should have monitored the process to prevent the gradual elimination of oak forests in Jordan. […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Free water for farmers under new support project – Environment and Development

UAE-based private utility firm Utico has unveiled a new sustainable farm support programme that includes free water supply to UAE farmers, guaranteed buy-back of their produce and scientific advisory services. The programme was announced at an event held by the Environment Protection and Development Authority (EPDA), Ras Al Khaimah, to mark the International Day of […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Israeli bird-watching event raises NIS 254,000 to save black storks – Jerusalem Post

By Sharon Udasin March 29, 2017 Under moonlight, some 200 ornithology enthusiasts headed to the Arava Desert for a 24-hour charitable competition to identify as many bird species as possible. From 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Tuesday, the bird-watching teams from Israel and around the world partook in the fourth annual “Champions of the Flyway” […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Region’s water sector facing ‘brain drain’ — expert – Jordan Times

Fourth Arab Water Week to be held at Dead Sea next week By Hana Namrouqa – Mar 13,2017 AMMAN — Instability in some Arab countries has driven trained and qualified people out of the water sector, causing a deficiency in the management of water utilities, an expert on water-demand management said on Monday. Besides water […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Two arrested over alleged water theft in south Amman – Jordan Times

By Hana Namrouqa – Mar 16,2017 AMMAN — Authorities on Wednesday arrested two people for allegedly stealing about 10,000 cubic metres of water per day from a main carrier in south Amman, according to a government official. The two alleged violators are now in custody, the official at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation said, […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Arab donors urged to support resilience of water sector – Jordan Times

By Hana Namrouqa – Mar 19,2017 Minister of Water and Irrigation Hazem Nasser speaks at the opening of the Fourth Arab Water Week at the Dead Sea on Sunday (Photo courtesy of Ministry of Water and Irrigation) DEAD SEA — Arab and international banks and funds are urged to steer their financial support towards water […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Jordan, France sign 10m-euro water resilience agreement – Jordan Times

Mar 20,2017 AMMAN — Jordan and France on Monday signed a 10-million-euro project agreement to boost the water sector’s resilience in northern Jordan, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Water Minister Hazem Nasser and French Minister of State for Development and Francophonie Jean-Marie Le Guen signed the agreement detailing the project to be implemented by […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Israel-Lebanon maritime dispute heats up – YNET / Naharnet

Amir Ben David|Published: 26.03.17 Nabih Berri, Speaker of the Lebanese Parliament, called Israel’s proposed legislation to annex a section of disputed maritime territory a “declaration of war.” In an interview with Lebanese media, Berri said, “This will be the Shebaa Farms conflict at sea, which will open a situation with many dangerous possibilities.” Last week, […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Activists continue protests against gas deal with Israel – Jordan Times

By Suzanna Goussous – Mar 25,2017 AMMAN — Almost six months after the state-owned electricity company signed the gas deal with Israel, activists are still taking to the streets and protesting normalisation with Israel “on all levels”. Following the 49th anniversary of the Karamah Battle, protestors on Friday organised a march to denounce the gas […]

Read the rest of this entry »

International Renewable Energy Congress commences in Amman – Jordan Times

Mar 22,2017 AMMAN — The International Renewable Energy Congress (IREC) 2017 commenced in Amman on Tuesday. Organised by the German-Jordanian University in cooperation with the Scientific Research Fund, researchers from 28 countries will be participating in the three-day conference. Manar Fayyad, deputy university president, said that Jordan, as many other neighbouring countries, lacks natural resources, […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Oil shale electricity generation will overcome any obstacles — Mulki – Jordan Times

Mar 18,2017 AMMAN — Prime Minister Hani Mulki on Saturday stressed the government’s commitment to overcome any obstacles to the implementation of electricity generation through the use of oil shale, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. The project aims to increase self-reliance on local resources and to diversify energy sources, Mulki said, adding that the […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Solar park to power 50,000 homes unveiled – Environment and Development

The second phase of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park was inaugurated Monday by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The world’s largest single-site solar park located near Al Qudra in Dubai can generate up to 200MW solar energy daily, enough to power 50,000 […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Tunisia bans disposable plastic shopping bags – Environment and Development

In an effort to reduce plastic waste, shoppers in Tunisia will no longer be able to get single-use bags at supermarkets. If you happen to be shopping for groceries in Tunisia, you won’t be able to get a free, thin plastic bag in which to take home your purchases. As of 1 March 2017, single-use […]

Read the rest of this entry »

Page 1 of 2:1 2 »