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 June, 2020

On Planet Israel, no one wants to be labeled an environmentalist – Haaretz

Netta Ahituv | Jun. 13, 2020 Last week, nearly 200 of the U.K.’s wealthiest and most powerful businesspeople and CEOs, including the vice president of Coca Cola Europe, the CEOs of Heathrow Airport, Lloyds Bank and HSBC Bank, and the owners of numerous companies in the energy, construction, plastics, insurance, automobile and wholesale industries, issued […]

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Collapse of Haifa’s iconic cooling tower revives debate on Israel’s need for clean energy – HAARETZ

The collapse at an oil refinery in a city that produces almost 40 percent of the country’s industrial pollutants comes amid talks of plan to move petrochemical industries to southern Israel Zafrir Rinat | Jun. 13, 2020 | 7:33 PM | 1 Friday’s collapse of one of the two iconic cooling towers of the Haifa […]

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European Investment Bank invests in Israeli water desalination project – Jerusalem Post

The EIB consists of shareholders representing 27 EU member states, whom jointly provide the capital to fund projects such as Sorek II. Brine water flows into the Mediterranean Sea after passing through a desalination plant in the coastal city of Hadera (photo credit: NIR ELIAS / REUTERS) The European Investment Bank (EIB), which acts as […]

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A $10 million grant from the World Bank to sustain Palestinian wastewater treatment services – WAFA

WASHINGTON, Thursday, 11 June 2020 (WAFA) – The World Bank approved today a $10 million grant to finance the operation and maintenance of the North Gaza wastewater treatment plant for four years and build the conditions for sustainable wastewater treatment services, according to a press release. In line with previous partnerships in the sector, the […]

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UN: Mediterranean is world’s most over-fished body of water – Haaretz

Cod population especially damaged, UN report says, and many sardine species compromised Zafrir Rinat | Jun. 15, 2020 | 1:09 AM Fishing stocks in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea are at the most unsustainable levels in the world, with two-thirds of the commercial stocks at risk of over-fishing, according to a new report by […]

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Commercial ventures have no place on Israel’s beaches, top court rules – Haaretz

Ruling now gives the state authority to remove ‘massive encampments’ which it deems to exceed ‘reasonable activity’ Zafrir Rinat | Jun. 15, 2020 | 11:11 PM The High Court of Justice on Monday made clear that it accepts the state’s position that commercial projects do not have a place on Israel’s beaches. All existing commercial […]

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Dolphins, whales frolic in quiet Aqaba waters amid lockdown – Jordan Times

By Bahaa Al Deen Al Nawas – Jun 13,2020 Dolphins are pictured swimming in Aqaba waters in this recent photo shared with The Jordan Times (Photo courtesy of Ehab Eid) AMMAN — More than two-and-a-half months of the coronavirus-induced lockdown has helped marine creatures to reclaim their space in the ecosystem, with recent videos posted […]

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Aqaba marks int’l environmental occasions with underwater cleanup campaign – Jordan Times

By Maram Kayed – Jun 13,2020 Around 45 divers joined in the Marine Science Station’s cleanup campaign at the Rainbow Reef diving site on the Gulf of Aqaba to mark World Climate Change Day and World Environment Day (Photo courtesy of MSS) AMMAN — In celebration of World Climate Change Day and World Environment Day, […]

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Divers lift 7 tons of waste from Red Sea off the Egyptian coast – Egypt Independent

June 12, 20203:45 pm A group of divers in the Egyptian city of Dahab took advantage of the suspension of tourism and marine sports activities to lift seven tons of waste from the seabed of the Red Sea. The divers organized the campaign in coordination with local authorities and authorities at the Red Sea reserves. […]

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Industrial Zone in West Bank Settlement Would Harm Palestinian Water Sources, Environmentalists Say – Haaretz

Zafrir Rinat | Jun. 10, 2020 Groups warn that zone planned by Betar Ilit will damage both water sources for nearby villages and an important ecological corridor for wildlife A West Bank settlement seeks to build a large industrial zone that will endanger the water sources of nearby Palestinian villages as well an important ecological […]

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Organic Ecosystem project promotes agro-food alliances in Mediterranean region – Jordan Times

By JT – Jun 08,2020 The Organic Ecosystem project aims to improve the organic agro-food sector and its business system by creating new job opportunities while introducing innovative, healthier and more sustainable products to the market (Photo courtesy of ENI CBC Med website) AMMAN — The EU-funded Organic Ecosystem project aims to boost a cross-border […]

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Egypt worries Ethiopia will procrastinate on Sudan-mediated GERD talks – Egypt Independent

Egypt expressed concerns Tuesday that recent Sudan mediated talks over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dame (GERD) will become a new tool at Ethiopia’s disposal to waste time and hinder reaching an agreement. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi headed a meeting with the National Security Council to discuss developments regarding the contentious GERD dam. A statement […]

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Solar power firm CEO offering property owners rent for leasing their roofs – Jerusalem Post

The lease agreement is for a period of up to 25 years with an area of about 500 sq.m. yielding the property owner an annual rent of NIS 20,000. By JERUSALEM POST STAFF   JUNE 10, 202 Solar (photo credit: INGIMAGE) Advertisement Enerpoint, an Israeli company that installs rooftop solar energy systems, is offering property […]

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In Israel, Mountain Gazelles Are in Danger From All Sides – Haaretz

Zafrir Rinat Jun. 11, 2020 Gazelles are considered in serious danger of extinction, with around 300 poached every year, researchers warn Hundreds of mountain gazelles are hunted or run over every year in Israel. So says a scientific survey of these mammals in Israel, published on Wednesday. The survey demonstrates that a large percentage of […]

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Biblically mislabelled, Israel’s griffon vultures get new lease of life – Reuters / Jerusalem Post

CARMEL MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, Israel (Reuters) – The griffon vulture is not only ungainly, smelly and endangered: it is also often denied its biblical fame by being mixed up with the eagle. But for a network of Israeli conservationists, the bird still has pride of place in the land whose ancient prophets saw in its […]

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Energizing Mid–East water diplomacy: The potential for regional water–energy – Water International

David Katz & Arkadiy Shafran Received 03 Jul 2018, Accepted 09 Apr 2020, Published online: 26 May 2020 ABSTRACT This article presents a nongovernmental initiative to address asymmetric hydropolitical relations in the Jordan River basin through issue linkage. The initiative would develop desalination capacity along the Mediterranean to supply water to Jordan, with Jordan generating […]

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Israeli violations biggest threat to Palestinian biodiversity, say organizations – WAFA

RAMALLAH, Thursday, June 4, 2020 (WAFA) – Marking World Environment Day, which coincides on June 5 under the theme of “Biodiversity”, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) and the Environment Quality Authority (EQA) accused in a joint statement published today the Israeli occupation of being the main cause of biodiversity deterioration in the occupied […]

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How will the pandemic influence development goals? Environment and Development

8/6/2020 NAJIB SAAB Can the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) still be achieved on time by the 2030 deadline?   The apparent answer is no, not only because priorities have shifted and resources will be diverted towards addressing other urgent matters, but also because achieving the SDGs successfully now requires new rules and methods.   The […]

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Rice grown in the Sharjah desert promises bright farming future – Environment and Development

Rice is a demanding crop to grow. It typically requires specific conditions and flooded paddies but a group of scientists in the UAE are learning to turn the dry deserts of Sharjah into land capable of nurturing this global staple.   It is hoped the joint project between UAE University scientists and South Korean experts […]

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Tel Aviv to double length of bike paths by 2025 – Jerusalem Post

The plan, which was announced on World Bicycle Day, will aim to reach strategic goals that prioritize pedestrians and cyclists in the city. By AARON REICH   JUNE 3, 2020 18:08 Bicyclists are seen on one of Tel Aviv’s bike paths. (photo credit: COURTESY OF TEL AVIV-YAFO MUNICIPALITY) The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality announced on Tuesday […]

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