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 May, 2025

How Conspiracy Theories About Palestinian Arsonists Spread Like Wildfire in Israel – Haaretz

Old videos, misleading maps and political rhetoric turned a natural disaster into a national scapegoating campaign. ‘Many people saw the lie,’ one expert says. ‘Fewer saw the correction’ Nir Hasson. May 3, 2025 As massive wildfires raged through the hills surrounding Jerusalem this week, Popular right-wing X account Torat Lehima (“Combat Doctrine”) shared a video […]

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Wildfires, Israel – Haaretz

Jerusalem-area Wildfires Contained More Than 24 Hours After They Broke Out May 1, 2025. Nir Hasson Aaron Rabinowitz Jonathan Lis Liza Rozovsky Yifat Reuven It was estimated that approximately 20,000 dunams (about 5,000 acres) have burned in what is being called one of the largest wildfires in the country’s history Israel Fire and Rescue Services […]

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Faintings, blackouts and violence: Iraq’s scorching emergency – in pictures – Guardian

The country’s average temperature has risen by 0.48C a decade from 2000. Last August, photographer Susan Schulman visited Baghdad and Amarah, to capture the impact of extreme weather on everyday lives  15 Apr 2025  Susan Schulman https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/gallery/2025/apr/15/faintings-blackouts-violence-iraqs-scorching-emergency-extreme-weather

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Countries yet to cash in on $300bn climate jackpot – The National

Lack of cash no longer a ‘valid reason’ to stop poorer nations going green – but wars, Trump and caution take over Tim Stickings May 01, 2025 Developing countries including most Middle East states have yet to use a new $300 billion climate fund to draw up plans to go green – blaming global turmoil and choosing to “wait […]

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Saharan storms ‘threaten Europe’s solar power future’ – The National

Solar power generation can be affected by dust particles, with traditional forecasting models in need of improvement, scientists say A man takes a photograph of Athens from Tourkovounia hill, as southerly winds carry waves of Saharan dust to the city in 2024. AFP Paul Carey. May 02, 2025 A growing atmospheric phenomenon is complicating Europe’s path […]

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Qatar’s Amir inaugurates Ras Laffan and Mesaieed Solar Power Plants – Environment and Development (Doha News)

Asmahan Qarjouli April 28, 2025 he power plants join the Al-Kharsaah facility, which was inaugurated in 2022, in contributing to 15 percent of the local peak electricity demand. Qatar’s Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has inaugurated the Ras Laffan and Mesaieed solar power plants in the Ras Laffan Industrial City on Monday as […]

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April was hottest on record in UAE – The National

Weather forecast to cool slightly across the country next week after searing month May 03, 2025 People across the UAE are in for some good news, as weather experts have forecast relief from searing temperatures next week.  Temperatures are expected to cool down slightly from Tuesday, due to changes in wind movements in the Gulf.  It comes […]

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Dubai to close all landfills by 2027 – Environment and Development (Gulf News)

2/5/2025 Dubai Municipality aims to meet its ambitious target three years ahead of schedule Dubai: In just two years, Dubai residents are likely to see the landfills in the emirates closed as Dubai Municipality has announced its plan to do so by 2027, three years ahead of the previously announced schedule. This was revealed during a media […]

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‘A hidden treasure’: Scientists rally to protect the Gulf’s overlooked seagrass meadows – The National

It feeds dugongs, shelters fish, and captures carbon faster than rainforests – so why is seagrass still overlooked? Experts gather in Abu Dhabi to change that Rachel Kelly. May 03, 2025 Vital to dugongs, sea turtles, fish nurseries and carbon storage, seagrass meadows are among the ocean’s most critical – and at the same time […]

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Nature is the star in several new Israeli exhibitions – Haaretz

Avshalom Halutz. Apr 27, 2025 Perhaps it’s the sudden loss of control over land, or the devastation of forests bombed and burned for months on end. Maybe it reflects a collective instinct to reconnect with the physical terrain over which Israelis have waged their longest war. Or perhaps it’s a response to the war’s unnatural […]

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