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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Energy, mining companies holding back investment following regulatory changes hitting natural resource companies, as Natgas decision could set back industry for years. Reuters Published: 01.06.15 New regulation of Israel’s natural gas and mining industries aimed at increasing competition to bring down prices is scaring off investors, putting billions of dollars at risk. The rules, introduced […]

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Despite reports earlier this week that a state-owned Indian hydrocarbons firm had expressed interest in entering the Leviathan natural gas reservoir, the company has now denied any such inclinations. Last week, Israel Antitrust Commissioner David Gilo announced he would be reconsidering the status of the Delek Group and Noble Energy – the two major stakeholders […]

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Hasan Lakkis| The Daily Star BEIRUT: A preliminary agreement has been reached regarding the waste treatment file, a source close to Prime Minister Tammam Salam told The Daily Star Sunday. Monday’s Cabinet session dedicated to the issue will be a smooth one that will generate a conclusive solution to the divisive file that had put […]

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Mazin Sidahmed| The Daily Star BEIRUT: As the debate in Cabinet intensifies over the best means to manage Lebanon’s thorny issue of waste management, two workable solutions stand tabled: the building of new landfills or the establishment of the incinerators. Either option, however, comes with its own pros and cons. The issue of waste management […]

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BEIRUT: Environment Minister Mohammad Machnouk Tuesday urged Lebanese to be patient as the long-awaited shutdown of the controversial Naameh dump has been hit by delays. “I hope those who were patient for 17 years would understand the situation and help us reach an appropriate solution, especially that [this issue] exhausts all citizens,” Machnouk said in […]

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BEIRUT: Environment Minister Mohammad Machnouk Monday ruled out of the possibility of managing Lebanon’s garbage sector without using landfills, and declared that the Naameh dump will not be closed on time. “We cannot shut down the Naameh landfill on 17th of this month because no alternative is available yet,” Machnouk said at a news conference […]

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ENGAGING YOUTH’S RECYCLING COURSE: A SOURCE OF SELF-RELIANCE 30 December 2014 Three internally displaced Palestine refugees from Yarmouk and nine interior design trainees sat around a table at the UNRWA Damascus Training Centre, preparing a wastebasket of recycled magazines. These students were the first batch of apprentices to join a new UNRWA recycling course, and […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 01/01/2015 A technology hailing from the Hebrew University’s chemistry laboratories aims to tackle hydrocarbon contaminants at their chemical core, providing an efficient and affordable solution for cleanups like the country’s December oil spill. After some 5 million liters of crude oil surged into the Arava Desert sands last month, the Environmental Protection […]

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BEIRUT: Hezbollah deputy head Naim Qassem Sunday joined calls for Lebanon to start drilling for oil and gas off its southern coast to prevent Israel from stealing it. “If we act now on this subject, Israel will not be able to take or steal our wealth,” Qassem said during a private meeting with mukhtars, mayors […]

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Kerry discusses issue with Netanyahu after regulator recommended breaking up control of offshore gas reserves by Noble Energy and Delek Group. By Reuters | Dec. 30, 2014 The United States supports moving forward with offshore natural gas deals in the Mediterranean involving the U.S. company Noble Energy, a State Department spokesman said on Tuesday. U.S. […]

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Three weeks after 5 million liters of crude oil spilled in the Arava Desert, Eilat Ashkelon Pipeline Company is looking for approval to expand. By Zafrir Rinat | Dec. 30, 2014 A plan to increase stores of liquid petroleum gas to roughly 60,000 tons is on the agenda of a National Planning and Building Council […]

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A drab building in Rishon Letzion’s industrial zone hides one of Israel’s most surprising and innovative enterprises. The offices of this startup company are stashed away at the back corner of the second floor, and the lack of any signs showing the way doesn’t make it any easier to find it. Not far away, in […]

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