For the first time in its long history of debates in the cold mountains of Davos and the scorching heat of the Middle East, the World Economic Forum will finally tackle the issue of sustainability and environmental challenges at length in its forthcoming meeting in Sharm El Sheik from 18-20 May. The forum will be held under the theme "Learning from the Future" where participants from business, government,... [read more]

By: Batir Wardam   It has became a common conclusion for both environmentalists and "green economists" alike that any breakthrough in commitment to environmental remediation will only be economically feasible when the evidence is conclusive that the cost of remediation is less than the cost of inaction, and that economic benefits can arise from investing in environmental management options. It... [read more]

The relationship between the banking sector and environmental protection is really vague. In fact, for a lot of environmentalists and bankers these are two completely isolated worlds. However, thanks to the Kyoto Protocol Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) banks have became real pioneers in financing carbon trading deals. A senior executive of Doha Bank, a major Qatari private commercial bank, sought... [read more]

The landmark annual report published by the WorldWatch Institute with the title of "State of the World" has just been released for the 2008 edition. This year the report focused on innovations for a sustainable economy and includes a variety of ideas and trends for a greener economic policies for all countries in the World.  This is the press release of the report by WorldWatch Institute   Environmental... [read more]

By: Batir Wardam     The Economics of environmental degradation in Jordan have been calculated in a recent study by the World Bank. The cost of environmental degradation in Jordan was estimated at JD 205 million or 3.1% of GDP. In detailed figures water pollution was found to be costing 0.71 to 1.24% of GDP while Air pollution costing 0.69% of GDP. Moreover Land degradation cost 0.46% of GDP while... [read more]

This is the full declaration of the Arab Corporate Environmental Responsibility Summit that was held in Abu Dhabi on November 29th 2007   Business leaders, meeting at the Arab Corporate Responsibility Summit in Abu Dhabi on 29 November 2007, Being aware of the magnitude of environmental challenges facing the Arab region and the world; Realizing that low-carbon technology will be the driver... [read more]

By: Batir Wardam   With a water per capita share of 160 cubic meters per year, Jordan is among the world's top 10 water scarce countries. The struggle to provide adequate and clean water resources is one of the biggest developmental challenges in Jordan. At the center of the debate about water management is the issue of water pricing and valuation.   Although the infrastructure of water supply... [read more]

(MENAFN - Arab News) Dr. Mohamed A. Ramady   It became obvious that tackling global climate change was one of the key issues of the recent G-8 summit in Germany with talk of emission targets and new global treaties, although the final agreement fell short of expectations. The issue of environmental control is no longer a subject that affects far away people and countries as the recent devastating... [read more]

Source: AME Info   Half of the world's top 250 companies today have active Corporate Social Responsibility programmes that focus on the social impact of their business. Mammoth multinationals such as Nike and Coke, to regional leaders such as Al Safi Danone and Oryx (Al Maha Enterprises), are all recognising the importance of CSR. 'The beginnings of CSR in Europe and North America, were... [read more]

Source: Arabian Business 30-5-2007 By: Tom Daly   An environmental expert has called on the region's municipalities to consider introducing a scheme whereby residents are charged for the amount of waste they generate, much like they are charged for power and water today. Addressing a waste and water conference in Dubai this week, Professor Dr. Ismail Mohammed Al-Madani, a director general... [read more]

Iwould like to think that this initiative is a genuine example of "corporate environmental responsibility" and not another public relations efforts. Only time and action will tell, and we will monitor the news.   Sama Dubai, the international real estate investment and development arm of Dubai Holding, has put environmental protection at the heart of its development efforts by becoming one of... [read more]

Source: Jordan Business   By: James Bennet   The UAE should introduce a population-wide green tax to combat its dramatically rising waste mountain, the head of the region's first recycling park has exclusively revealed to Arabian Business. Musaed Al-Saleh, vice chairman and CEO of the National Projects Holding Company (NPHC), told Arabian Business that in five years time Dubai would produce... [read more]

A new video film on Waqf for Water has been produced by IUCN WESCANA in cooperation with InWent. This 8-minute video film promotes new prospects for innovative funding of water projects that can be of benefit to the water critical crisis in the region. According to the video, the Middle East and North Africa region is the most arid in the world and water resources are consequently very sparse. Of the... [read more]

By Assem Abi Ali Special to The Daily Star RAMLIEH, Aley: Eco-tourism suffered greatly during the summer 2006 war with Israel, and one of the main victims was the Aley village of Ramlieh, where local investors and other stakeholders had been planning an extensive program before hostilities broke out on July 12. Ramlieh was at the vanguard of Lebanese villages seeking to cash in on eco-tourism,... [read more]

The Arab Group for the Protection of Nature and the Friends of Environment society in Jordan have launched a campaign to protest against the plans designed by Dubai Capital Co. to set up its devastating investment project in Dibbin Forest north of Jordan. The Project is enough to destroy the biodiversity of this area of Jordan which is known for its magnificent beauty and unique plant and animal  ... [read more]

A new Waqf Fund Initiative for Water has recently been created by the IUCN West Central Asia & North Africa Regional Office (WESCANA) to finance water conservation activities. Waqf is an inalienable religious endowment in Islam by which an asset is used for Muslim religious or charitable purposes. It is conceptually similar to the common law trust. The Waqf Fund initiative is seen as a more flexible... [read more]

Source: Gulf News   By Scott Shuey, Chief Business Reporter   Dubai: When it comes to kicking Mother Earth, a recent report by the World Wildlife Fund said the UAE is leaving the biggest footprint. According to the WWF report, the UAE's "Ecological Footprint," which is a measurement of human demand on the environment, is the world's largest, per capita. The 2006 study was the third report... [read more]

ESCWA is currently implementing an impressive and ambitious programme to explore links between trade and environment in West Asia. A number of events and workshops were conducted within the framework of this programme with the latest one being in Amman. The procedures and presentations of the Amman national roundtable can be viewed from this link http://www.escwa.org.lb/divisions/events/11Dec06... [read more]

Last week I have been in Cairo participating in the regional workshop on the impacts of Free Trade Agreements on Sustainable Development in the Arab World. The workshop was organized by the Arab NGO Network for Development (ANND) based in Beirut and the Third World Network (TWN) based in Malaysia. In the workshop I presented a paper on the social and environmental impacts of the QIZs in Jordan. This... [read more]

Article by: Yusuf Mansur Published at the Jordan Times 28-11-2006 Several investors, lured by the stability and safety of Jordan, seek approvals for mega real estate projects in forest areas of the country. By granting such approvals, the Kingdom could be sacrificing long-term benefits for short-term gains. Investors should prove to Jordanians that the short-term benefits of the proposed ventures... [read more]

From the Jordan Times:   The Ministry of Environment (MoE) will soon create a fund to finance environmental projects in the country, the ministry announced on Monday. Sources at the MoE told The Jordan Times that fines collected from industrial facilities and factories that violate environmental laws will contribute to the fund. The source added that the corresponding bill will be discussed... [read more]

The importance of the Jordan-U.S. Trade Agreement (FTA) is clear.  This agreement will serve as an integral component of Jordan’s economic vision of the future.  The agreement, has a set of unique features pertaining to environment. It is worth mentioning, however that no financial resources have been yet allocated by the USA for the implementation of Environmental provisions of the FTA!   Following... [read more]

Article by: Batir Wardam   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 liberalization by joining the WTO, developing a bilateral... [read more]

In a recent study conducted by the World Bank the economic cost of environmental degradation in Jordan was estimated to be 3.1% of GDP annually with a total of 205 million JDs as money lost estimated in five sectors. The most significant impact on health and quality of life was caused by water pollution at an estimated cost of 0.71- 1.24% of GDP. Diarrheal illness and mortality which damage cost... [read more]