University of Haifa study raises fears for future food crops. By Zafrir Rinat Global warming is causing genetic changes in wild cereal grains in Israel that could endanger food production, a recent study by University of Haifa scientists reveals. Wild cereal progenitors provide the genetic basis for improving cultivated varieties of wheat and barley. wheat, […]

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by Taylor Luck | Mar 21,2012 | 23:16 AMMAN — Jordanian and Iraqi energy officials have entered advanced talks over a natural gas deal that would provide the Kingdom with an alternative energy source within five years. According to Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Quteiba Abu Qura, Amman and Baghdad are discussing “in detail” […]

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Founder of electric vehicle initiative assures company will turn profit; calls to find more ‘Better Places,’ establish successful regulation Tomer Hadar, Calcalist Published: 03.14.12, 08:44 / Israel Business “Ever since last summer, ‘profitable’ has become a dirty word in Israel, but we’ll be profitable,” assured Better Place founder Shai Agassi at the first national conference […]

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Bronicki Investments sells 11.8% of stock to FIMI fund. By Yoram Gabison Bronicki Investments, owner of the controlling block of shares in Ormat Industries, finalized the sale of 11.8% of the alternative energy company’s capital stock to FIMI Opportunity Fund on Friday. The price: NIS 297 million at NIS 21.67 per share. The price is […]

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By ARIEH O’SULLIVAN / THE MEDIA LINE 03/18/2012 11:30 International community’s biggest challenge is producing enough nutritional food, delivering it to the hungry. Climate change, water shortages, higher energy prices, crop diseases and a rapidly expanding population. These are all factors that are making it increasingly difficult and risky for farmers and governments to ensure […]

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Report also foresees a further decrease in natural water resources due to climate change. By Zafrir Rinat The amount of rainwater reaching Lake Kinneret and groundwater reservoirs in Israel has decreased by 11 percent in the last two decades, according to a recent report by the Israel Water Authority. According to the report, which studied […]

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Water storage in dams reaches 112 million cubic metres Petra | Mar 17,2012 | 23:41 AMMAN — Water storage in the country’s major dams stood at 112 million cubic metres as of Saturday morning, Ministry of Water and Irrigation Spokesperson Adnan Zu’bi said. He noted that the total amount of water stored in the Kingdom’s […]

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by Hana Namrouqa | Mar 17,2012 | 23:33 AMMAN — Fifty per cent of the Disi Water Conveyance Project’s production wells have been drilled, as overall progress in venture reached 76 per cent, according to a source involved in the implementation of the project. Work on 28 production wells is completed, while the nine piezometer […]

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Green Economy is Re-Branding of Sustainable Development Nairobi, 21 February 2012 – AFED’s Secretary General Najib Saab was a panelist at a ministerial roundtable on Green Economy, during the UNEP Governing Council and the Global Ministerial Environment Forum (GC/GMEF) in Nairobi on 21 February. In face of some expressed doubts about green economy, in a […]

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Volume 17, No.168 5 Environment and public relations (editorial by Najib Saab) 10 How to protect your children from home poisons personal tips 18 Climate refugees (cover story) 24 Sinking Rufisque a city in Senegal devoured by the ocean 26 Natural gas for vehicles in Egypt 28 Dutch embassy in Amman, first LEED certified building […]

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The Eastern Mediterranean gas discoveries: conflict or cooperation? see: http://www.bitterlemons-international.org/index1.php Individual articles: The jury is still out Mamdouh G. Salameh The dispute is mostly a demarcation issue. http://www.bitterlemons-international.org/inside.php?id=1516 Cyprus: there may be some truth to the rumors an interview with Chris Pelaghias A liquefaction plant in Cyprus could change the balance of energy power in […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 03/14/2012 00:55 Public Utility Authority approves 9 licenses for fields; Arava Power confident it will complete first field by 2014. The Public Utility Authority approved on Monday afternoon nine licenses for the country’s first large photovoltaic solar fields, the regulatory body announced on Tuesday. The fields will amount to 385 MW, bringing […]

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Council agrees to scale back construction of new tourism facilities. By Zafrir Rinat A plan for tourism development along one of Israel’s most beautiful beaches has been significantly scaled back in response to a battle waged by local residents. The compromise reached over Habonim Beach by residents and the Hof Hacarmel Regional Council will now […]

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Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED), a regional not-for-profit organization based in Beirut, is recruiting a Business Development Officer and a Program Officer. For more details please see http://www.afedonline.org/en/inner.aspx?contentID=730# The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) is a not-for-profit regional non-governmental organization, grouping experts together with the civil society, business community and media, […]

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competition By JUDY SIEGEL 03/14/2012 05:47 Pair of Netanya high school pupils developed a system using solar rays to disinfect and clean water supplies. Avishai Katko and Maya Braun By Sasson Tiram A pair of Netanya high school pupils who developed a system using solar rays to disinfect and clean water supplies so they are […]

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15-03-2012 The European Investment Bank (EIB)is supporting the international solidarity initiative for the Palestinian people, which aims to provide Gaza with an ambitious seawater desalination plant. According to a press release, the EIB is offering its technical expertise on the technical definition of the project and its operating environment and for the management of grants […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 03/15/2012 04:18 Energy and water minister Landau at global water forum, hopes to see partnership with Electricite de France. Energy, Water Minister Uzi Landau at press confere By Gidon Sharon This week in France, Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau has been forging dialogues with international energy partners, as well as learning […]

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by Hana Namrouqa | Mar 15,2012 | 22:22 AMMAN — Mobile phone users will start soon receiving SMSs guiding them on ways to improve their water use efficiency, an official at the Ministry of Water and Irrigation said on Thursday. The SMSs will be sent to Jordanians as part of a campaign that seeks to […]

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By SHARON UDASIN 03/15/2012 04:12 In total, Israel collected about 77% of all beverage containers in 2011, exceeding the government’s target of 73%. Israelis recycled 50 percent of the country’s plastic bottles in 2011, overtaking Europe and the United States, with figures of 48% and 29%, respectively, the ELA recycling company reported. While the country […]

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Researchers have found a treasure trove of rare plant species thriving in the Hebron area. Chalk it up to traditional farming methods. By Zafrir Rinat When a farmer plows and sows the land, he ostensibly changes the order of nature. But that is not necessarily a bad thing. A new survey shows that the agricultural […]

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