By: Batir Wardam It has been more than 40 days since the USA and China drafted the toothless "Copenhagen Accord" in cooperation with Brazil, India and South Africa during the United Nations Summit on Climate Change in Copenhagen. The accord that has sidelined the EU and most developing countries has failed in identifying specific targets for emission reductions. It has also asked all industrial... [read more]

Source: Terra Viva   Terna Gyuse   COPENHAGEN (IPS/TerraViva) – In outlining a position on climate change, the League of Arab States must somehow account for looming problems like water stress – a problem found from Morocco in the west to the Gulf states in the east – and the importance of oil to the economies of many of the league’s members. Dr Emad Adly, in Copenhagen representing... [read more]

An insight from Science Devnet portal on the lack of reliable climate change data in the Arab world. Can't agree more.   Abdulhakim Mahmoud   [SANA'A] The Arab world must move quickly to carry out its own research to avert the worst effects of climate change on the region, a report has warned. The report, released last month (24 November) by the Lebanon-based Arab Forum for... [read more]

Source: Wall Street Journal   By SPENCER SWARTZ   With some of the world's fastest-growing oil consumers under pressure to cut carbon emissions, big petroleum-producing states are beginning to fret over a long-term drop in crude-oil revenue. For years, oil-producing states have worried about rich nations like the U.S. cutting back on energy consumption through conservation or... [read more]

Source: Going Green   Patrick Galey   As a small country, Lebanon punches above its weight in many spheres. Its financial sector is apparently invulnerable to global shocks; it has the largest stockpile of gold in the Middle East. Lebanon’s graduates are some to the best qualified on the planet; tri-lingual ex-pat businessmen and entrepreneurs frequently occupy top positions... [read more]

Here are the full recommendations of the AFED 2nd annual conference taht was held in Beirut last month   The Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) held its second annual conference in Beirut on 19-20 November 2009, under the patronage of His Excellency the President of the Lebanese Republic General Michel Sleiman. The conference brought together 500 delegates from 22 countries,... [read more]

The Copenhagen Diagnosis project has released a major report that compiles all significant scientific data that has been documented between 2007-2009 after the release of the IPCC's fourth assessment report on Climate Change. The report can be downloaded from here http://www.copenhagendiagnosis.com/default.html  The purpose of this report is to synthesize the most policy-relevant climate... [read more]

The most comprehensive report documenting and discussing the projected impacts of climate change on the Arab world has been released by the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) in Beirut last week, within the proceedings of the second annual conference for AFED. This report, edited by Mostapha Tolba and Najib Saab is the second of a series of annual reports produced by the Arab... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times   By Hana Namrouqa   Jordan’s water resources will be depleted by climate change even if the Kingdom witnesses an increase in precipitation, a report launched on Thursday indicated. Climate change will severely impact the quantity of monthly surface water runoff, according to the report, indicating that even if current rainfall amounts remain unchanged,... [read more]

Source: Pal Telegraph, processed from World Bank resources   The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is particularly vulnerable to climate change. It is one of the world's most water-scarce and dry regions; with a high dependency on climate-sensitive agriculture and a large share of its population and economic activity in flood-prone urban coastal zones. On the other hand, societies... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times   By Hana Namrouqa   Precipitation in Jordan, the fourth water poorest country in the world, is expected to decrease by 20 per cent within the next few years, a senior government official predicted on Sunday. Minister of Environment Khalid Irani said yesterday that although the Kingdom is accountable for around 0.1 per cent of total global greenhouse gases,... [read more]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Source: IRIN   In the shadow of Black Peak Mountain in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, an historic feud over irrigation is being slowly re-ignited, illustrating how increased water scarcity is triggering social conflict in Lebanon. “Nothing’s profitable to grow here. Twenty thousand dunums [nearly 5,000 acres] of farmland is unused,” said Abdel-Wahab Amhaz, head of a Shia Muslim clan in Nabha,... [read more]

The Ministry of Environment in cooperation with UNDP Jordan is currently developing Jordan's Second National Communication on Climate Change. Within this prokect a  National Dissemination Workshop was held to present the Studies conducted by various consultants reflecting greenhouse gas emissions, mitigation and adaptation options in each sector. The quality of the studies was very impressive... [read more]

By: Batir Wardam   Few Arab cities, including Amman and Dubai took part in the symbolic initiative done two weeks ago to turn off lights in cities for one hour in an activity called Earth Hour advocated by the World Wide Fund (WWF). For many of the still evolving species of Arab environmentalists, this was a much celebrated step.    All Arab environmentalists know for certain that when it came... [read more]

A recent report published by the High Representative and the European Commission to the European Council stated that climate change poses a real security threat for the EU and international stability. This report focuses on the impact of climate change on international security and considers the impact of these international security consequences for Europe's own security, and how the EU should respond... [read more]

A recent report by Friends of the Earth Middle East (a regional environmental watchdog composed of Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli researchers) has warned that climate change is proving to be a new security threat facing the Middle East. The report states that extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, and less precipitation caused by climate change will contribute to even greater water... [read more]

By: Mohammad Yahia Published by: Islam Online     Every summer, over one million tourists flock to Alexandria, Egypt, to enjoy the sun and the beaches. The historic city, with its magical charm, is also home to four million people. But the beautiful fragile coastal city of the Mediterranean Sea stands to lose much from the imminent danger of climate change, and it may not even be Egypt's... [read more]

As if the Arab World does not have more than its fair share of catastrophies in the form of occupation, drought, civil wars, terrorism and oppression it is expected that Climate Change will add more mayhem, especially in North Africa.   According to a new report published by UNEP, Climate change is likely to aggravate old conflicts and could even turn into wars or violence in many parts of the... [read more]

At last the Arab oil producing countries have got serious about the need to mitigate climate change. In the last OPEC summit held in Saudi Arabia, the Arab Gulf countries have decided to develop a US $ 750 million research fund for Climate Change. I only hope this vast amount of money will be used for a comprehensive package of introducing environmentally friendly technologies in the Arab World and... [read more]

Any activity that focuses on climate change mitigation and adaptations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is always worth highlighting. Such activities can have a synergistic and cumulative effect to create a "social critical mass" to advocate for more climate friendly policies in such countries. In bahrain, a recent UNDP activity warned that Bahrain will have a lot to lose in case of... [read more]

A great article provided to Arab Environment Monitor by Mr Wael Hmaidan. I thank him for a very sharp insight.   By Wael Hmaidan IndyAct Executive Director   More than 200 environmental and social activists from around the World met in London on the 12th and 13th of May to discuss a global campaign on climate change. The discussion was not about the importance of the issue or the need... [read more]

Gulf daily News 16.5.2007   Two events in Bahrain are bringing climate change to the forefront of many people's minds. An exhibition at Beit Al Quran, organised jointly by the Beit and the British Council, entitled North, South, East, West, continues until June 5. Today, the Bahrain Businessmen's Association (BBA) is holding a seminar on the Economics of Climate Change, jointly sponsored... [read more]

It is interesting to see the editorial of a Saudi newspapers engaging in advocacy for the IPCC report and global efforts to curb greenhouse gases. The editorial published on April 7th by Arab News provides adequate criticism for China and India in their pursuiy to water down the IPCC report. However the editorial falls short of mentioning official Saudi efforts in confronting the original IPCC text... [read more]

The BBC website has published an interesting report indicating examples for reactions to the threat of Climate Change from around the World. As expected, the Arab World is the main "forgettable" part of the world, mainly due to the lack of serious engagement in climate change policies in the region. For information on how the world thinks you can check the BBC report here http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/6099272... [read more]