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]

In the past 4 years this blog has attempted to perform a very difficult task of providing a resource center for environmental information about the Arab World. In doing so, I have attempted to use the blog as a “public awareness” tool by using press materials as main content trying to cover almost all environmental concerns and issues in the Arab world. This is too much to ask from a blog maintained... [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]

In this text, translated from Arabic Dr Khalid Toukan the head of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission describes some of the technical details of the proposed nuclear power programme in Jordan. The translation was posted here   In his interview with Al-Ra'y, Tuqan states that yellowcake would be produced from uranium excavated from Jordanian mines, or from phosphoric acid after processing... [read more]

This is a crucial institutional and social breakthrough for organic farming in Jordan. waiting for proper laws and policies. With Queen Rania putting her strength behind the initiative, we can hope for a non-traditional fast track approach. This is the report from Jordan Times of the launching of the national organic farming programme in Jordan   By Hana Namrouqa   Her Majesty... [read more]

The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) released the results of a survey, the first of its kind in the emirate, which was conducted to measure the level of environmental awareness and behavior among the general public in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.   'The results of this survey have helped us to better understand the impact of environmental education and awareness programmes conducted... [read more]

The World Bank published last week a report entitled Assessment of Restrictions on Palestinian Water Sector Development.  The report is the Bank’s first on the issue of water in the West Bank and Gaza. Together with two other recent reports, examining access to West Bank land and to telecommunication frequencies, it provides comprehensive insight into a critical, but largely unaddressed component... [read more]

Yet another record for desalination plants broken in saudi Arabia. Hope this will not cause complacenecy in water consumption effeciency measures. Arab News reports   Siraj Wahab | Arab News   Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday launched massive development projects worth SR54 billion in the Eastern Province’s newest industrial zone called Jubail-II. The... [read more]

Source: The National   Vesela Todorova   The first step was recognition, but for Wadi Wurayah the hard work is still to come. It has been a month since the country’s first protected mountain area was established in Fujairah. But for the team behind the project there is a long way to go to preserve the area, one of the country’s richest and most diverse habitats. A big problem... [read more]

This is the press coverage by the Jordan Times of the launche of the capacity Building for  Zarqa River Rehabilitation project, implemented by the Ministry of Environment and funded by the Spanish Agency for International Development. I happen to be the project coordinator and will hopefully post more in-depth information in the coming few days.   By Hana Namrouqa   AMMAN... [read more]

The Badia Research and Development Center (BRDC) in Jordan has recently launched its landmark publication "Jordan's arid Badia: deepening our understanding". The publication, edited by Rederic Dutton and Mohammad Shahbaz includes an exquisite scientific and practical journey into research and development for the Badia region conducted by the BRDC over the past 20 years. The publication has been commissioned... [read more]

An innovative tool for environmental education and awareness from lebanon, that can be spread to the region. This is a report by the Daily Star   By Marc Abizeid This year the Ibsar Nature Conservation Center for Sustainable Futures decided to take on a new approach to spreading environmental awareness and gaining support for their activities. Instead of relying on sympathetic donors... [read more]

Another sad reality of life in Iraq now, where the once famous rivers feel the implications of the devastating violence. Interpress news reports   By Dahr Jamail There is less water now in the Tigris, and it is less clean. The river has fewer fish, and rising fuel and other costs mean they are more costly to catch. It's not, as Hamza Majit finds, a good time to be a fisher. "It's... [read more]

And this is even worse than "natural resource depletion" trends!   Source: The National   James Reinl As a radical student in 1990s Khartoum, it was only a matter of time before Aisha says she fell foul of the authorities and became another academic forced to flee the intellectual straitjacket that stifles progress for many in the Arab world. Aisha, now a 35-year-old genetic... [read more]

Gulf countries are always nrevous when the issue of a carbon tax is discussed. The National reports why   Tom Ashby   Gulf oil exporters are often cast as the villain in the climate change debate, as the largest producers of the carbon-rich oil and gas that fuel the world’s industry.But as talks progress towards developing a sequel to the Kyoto agreement this year, many of these... [read more]

After two weeks of "investigation" a special committee in the Jordanian Parliament has blamed Israel for the pollution of the Yarmouk River water last month. Obviously the political statement was clear.   By Khetam Malkawi   A Lower House fact-finding committee has finished its investigation into last month's incident in which the King Abdullah Canal was contaminated with pollutants... [read more]

A new regional project hopes to protect the flyway of soaring migratory birds in the Middle east area, coordinated from Jordan. This is the report published by the Jordan Times today   By Hana Namrouqa   Jordan and neighbouring states have joined forces in a project to protect migratory birds flying on the Rift Valley-Red Sea route, officials said yesterday. Implemented locally... [read more]

This is a very useful overview of the Jordanian energy sector published by Oxford Business Group with focus on future plans to mix various sources of energy.   In spite of dropping oil prices, Jordan is continuing to push its energy diversification programme in a bid to reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers and decrease the Kingdom's burdensome energy bill. With over 96% of Jordan's... [read more]

A good piece of critical journalism published by the National newspaper (UAE). However, being slow is better than not moviong at all. Just look at the full half of the barrel!!   Wael Madhi, Foreign Correspondent   In the 1980s, expatriates working at Saudi Aramco, a Saudi oil company, used to spend their weekends water skiing and swimming in a lake in the heart of the desert... [read more]

This announcement really worries me for the very simple reason of why a storage facility for nuclear wastes should be built and operated in Jordan as early as next year if the famous Jordanian nuclear reactor will only be established in 2015?   http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/WR-USA_to_construct_Jordanian_storage_facility-0903094.html   The USA is to design and construct a... [read more]

This is an interesting story that I will try to follow up on in details and illustrations later. For now, enjoy this feature   Jordanian optical scientist Hanna Al-Khalili has designed and built an eco-friendly 50 square metre mud home in Wadi Seer west of Amman for a family of four.According to Al-Khalili, her “Moon House” was designed in conformance with standards established by NASA,... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times   By Hana Namrouqa   Jordan sent a letter to Syria objecting to the cultivation of crops upstream and downstream on the Yarmouk River. The Jordanian side believes the farming activity is slowing the river's water flow and storage at Wihdeh Dam, a senior water official said . During a meeting of a technical subcommittee affiliated with the Jordanian-Syrian... [read more]