Last month I was involved in the translation of the landmark report to be released by the Arab Forum on Environment and Developemnt on Nov 19th in Beirut entitled "Impacts of Climate Change on the Arab World". From my review of three important draft chapters I can say that the report will be a comprehensive outlook on the impacts of climate change on the region, documented for the first time in... [read more]

This may be hugely disappointing for the majority of world population and environmental activists, but many countries will be rejoice in secret if a deal is not reached at Copenhagen next months. The gloomy propspects have been reiterated again today in a feature published by the Guardian quoting officials from industrialised countries casting doubts over the possibility of sealing the deal on emission... [read more]

Ministers of Environemnt in Jordan (Khalid Irani) and Sweden (Andreas Calgren) have wrote a joint article that was published by the Jordan Times on Thursday Nov 5th, in preparation for a joint Jordan-EU conference to be held in Amman on Nov 8th entitled "the road to Copenhagen". Here is the text of the article   The climate is changing fast. All over the world, including in Jordan,... [read more]

I have always admired the encyclopedic knowledge of HRH Prince Hasan bin Talal and I always feel encaptivated while listening to his speeches or reading his articles. I think, however that the Prince may increase the penetration of his ideas to the general Arab public by engaging directly with the public opinion through initiating a blog that may act as a platform between the Prince and the people... [read more]

It might be a little bit late but this feature published in the Economist's issue of October 15th provides a harsh but justified criticism of the Arab education system, especially in applied science. Here is the full text http://www.economist.com/world/middleeast-africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14660446    ARECENT issue of Science, the weekly journal of the American Association... [read more]

Under the theme 'strategic implications of climate change" the Biterlemons has published a package of articles and interviews reflecting the potential and current impacts of climate change on the region from a strategic perspectives. The articles can be accessed here http://www.bitterlemons-international.org/previous.php?opt=1&id=288    This is the full text of an interesting... [read more]

The role of scavengers in waste management is currently increasing in many Arab cities, but without a proper and sustainable apparatus for organization and processes of the various waste collection and separation activities. This report from the National sheds light on the role of scavengers in Amman   Suha Philip Ma’ayeh, Foreign Correspondent Last Updated: November 01 Link  ... [read more]

Source: Amnesty International   Amnesty International has documented the methodical practices by Israel resulting in denial of the palestinians' right to access to their water resources in the occupied palestinian territories through total control of water and discriminating against palestinian users.   Download Full report here http://http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE15/027/2009/en/e9892ce4-7fba-469b-96b9-c1e1084c620c/mde150272009en... [read more]

In rich and technologically advanced saudi Arabia there are open discussions about the methodology of nuclear waste disposal. In Jordan this issue is muted by mainstream media and the propaganda surrounding the nuclear energy programme   Source: The National Wael Mahdi   JEDDAH // As Saudi Arabia moves ahead with its civilian nuclear plan, concerns are rising in the Saudi parliament,... [read more]

Source: The National   Leah Oatway   DUBAI // The former US vice president Al Gore urged Gulf leaders yesterday to keep trying to capture the world’s renewable energy market.Mr Gore, whose campaigning on climate change won him a share of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, said GCC nations “have the wealth in their legacy from oil and gas, and the ability to follow a vision to take... [read more]

Yesterday marked the global Blogging Action Day 2009 with the all important theme of Climate Change being the common denominator of all the blogs posted on that particular day, almost 10,000 posts. The Jordanian Minister of Environment Khalid Irani provided an unprecedented expression from an Arab official using modern social media tool. Here is his post written for 7iber.com which is Jordan's... [read more]

A very inspiring story about civic mobilization from Egypt   source: the National   Matt Bradley, Foreign Correspondent   The streets of Egypt’s capital have never been particularly clean, said Dana Moussa. But since rubbish men in Giza, a suburb of Cairo, went on strike three weeks ago, the rubbish that was once just part of the scenery quickly turned into towering... [read more]

Source: IRIN news   SYRIA: Cleansing the olive oil business   Syria’s huge olive oil industry is leaving its mark on the environment. Waste products from olive oil processing mills which are not properly disposed of are causing soil and water pollution, and killing plant and animal life.During the processing of olive oil, olives are crushed and mixed with water. The oil is then... [read more]

Source: IRIN news   SYRIA: Drought driving farmers to the cities   Thousands of Syrian farming families have been forced to move to cities in search of alternative work after two years of drought and failed crops followed a number of unproductive years."The situation has now got really severe; we are talking about desert, rather than farming land," said Abdel Qader Abu Awad, MENA... [read more]

source: IRIN News   Jordan's plan to save the shrinking Dead Sea by channelling more water to it from the Red Sea could have a detrimental environmental impact, environmentalists have warned. However, not doing anything could lead to an environmental, economic and human catastrophe, say experts. Two water-related projects are currently being proposed in Jordan: the Red Sea-Dead Sea canal... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times 17.9.2009   By Hana Namrouqa   Jordan will demand industrial countries’ support for national projects that curb the impact of climate change in the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference, a senior government official said on Wednesday. The conference, which will be held in Copenhagen in December, is expected to yield a climate change deal building upon the... [read more]

This is the editorial of Najib Saab publisher and editor-in-chief of Environment & Development the leading environmental magazine in the Arab World for the September issue http://www.najibsaab.com/english/editordetails.asp?id=220    Climate Change: Challenge of Tomorrow, Solution for Today   Is it true that combating climate change hampers efforts to tackle... [read more]

My latest article published by Jordan Property magazine in August 2009   The high increase of oil prices in 2007-2008 and the resulting turmoil in energy markets has acted like a wake-up call for many Arab countries, especially the non-oil producers to the absolute need for diversification of energy sources, and placed more emphasis on the renewable energies for both economic and environmental... [read more]

My article published in the Jordan Times today   By Batir Wardam   The 2008-2022 national water strategy has been officially endorsed. This document will set the planning platform for the most crucial development sector in the country for the next 14 years. In a country where values like good governance, accountability, transparency, public participation and decentralisation... [read more]

A good gesture from the Jordanian side to explain the details of the Red-Dead canal to Egyptian environmental officials and experts. The free flow of accurate information is very critical.   Source: Jordan Times By Hana Namrouqa   Ministry of Water and Irrigation officials on Tuesday met with an Egyptian delegation to address Cairo’s reservations over the Red-Dead Water Conveyance... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times 19 June 2009   By Susan Lawrence Helke   Long a destination for divers who want to experience the wonders of the Red Sea, the Aqaba Marine Park is currently threatened by the effects of global warming, according to environmentalists. Known for its garden-like coral formations and abundance of marine life, the park is being confronted with the negative... [read more]

This is a very important and well articulated argument encouraging Gulf states to look to the positive side of Climate Change committments. The article is written by Mari Luomi who is  researcher at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs and a doctoral candidate at Durham University. It was published in the National newspaper on June 15th.   By: Mari Luomi   The... [read more]

By Talal El-Atrache – Jun 2, 2009 AFP    Some 160 villages in northern Syria were deserted by their residents in 2007 and 2008 because of climate change, according to a study released on Tuesday. The report drawn up by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) warns of potential armed conflict for control of water resources in the Middle East. "The 2007/8... [read more]

Jordan is about to launch its first systematic climate change adaptation project, through an integrated approach that will involve 4 UN agencies, 5 ministers and supported by the Spanish government. Here is the story published by Jordan Times, while you can check the project details here. http://sdnhq.undp.org/opas/en/proposals/suitable/142    I am proud to say that I have participated... [read more]

Source: IRIN   Jordan may have been spared a major water crisis this year but the outlook is not good in the parched kingdom, and a range of measures and projects need to be implemented as quickly as possible, say experts. The government has said the kingdom will have enough water this year to supply its 5.6 million people, as its reservoirs are roughly half full: "We can meet the... [read more]

By: Batir Wardam   It is easy to note that green economic development is gaining more momentum in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). This can be attributed mainly to necessity more than a lucrative option to select between various scenarios. The MENA countries' struggle with degradation and scarcity of natural resources has put a huge challenge for governments, businesses and civil society... [read more]

The Article was originally published in Jordan Property Magazine- May 2009   Jordan is a vibrant business market in the Middle East. The country is strategically located in the heart of the Middle East and has taken an early informed judgment to open up its economic policy and fully integrate within the global economic system. Between 1999 and 2003 Jordan has established three pillars of trade... [read more]

This article was originally published in Jordan property Magazine issue of May 2009   The year 2009 will be exceptional for global climate change policies. Denmark will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 15) in December. The meeting will hopefully mark the turning point in the world’s effort to effectively combat climate change and it will be the last chance for a new global... [read more]

By: Batir Wardam   Biodiversity in the Arab Region has exceptional value when considering the variability of ecological, chemical and genetic characters of the species “intraspecific diversity” which provides a wealthy stock of biological resources that can be utilized through biotechnology techniques to serve agricultural, medicinal and industrial purposes.   The unique and... [read more]

The long-awaited water strategy for Jordan has been "finalised" by a committee of national experts. Now it could be appropriate to publish the strategy for the most important development concern of Jordan and discuss it after being finalised as in the traditional planning systems in the Arab World.   However, this is the press coverage from Jordan Times   A Royal panel tasked... [read more]