This is yet another disappointing indicator from the Arab World. According to the Annual Pew Global Attitudes Survey, respondents from the three Arab countries surveyed (Jordan, Egypt and Lebanon) were among the bottom five populations concerned with climate change and environmental issues. Not surprisingly, the two other nations that completed the unhonorable list are the USA and China. The survey... [read more]

As an indicator of the EU's disappointment with the slow rate of economic integration and reform resulting from its current aid programme to MENA countries, a new aid plan will be developed that will focus on environment and energy. In a press release by the EU published by the Associated Press last week, the Union proposed a revamp of its multibillion-euro aid program toArab countries and Israel,... [read more]

After two days of deliberation on the various scenarios proposed by the World Economic Forum for the Middle East in 2025, this is the summary of the conclusions as presented in a special session in the final day   • Adam Bly • Lord Carey of Clifton • Nabila Freidji • Yuriko Koike Scenario Champions: •Ayman Haddad • Ismail Serageldin Facilitated by: Nik Gowing  Participants in this WorkSpace... [read more]

This is the summary of the scenario session on energy perspective in WEF MENA 2008 as posted on the WEF website.   Juan G. Aguiriano• Connie Hedegaard • Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber • Sauat Mynbayev Scenario Champion: • Tony Hayward Moderator: • Nic Frances    The world faces a huge challenge to satisfy the ever-rising global demand for energy and also cut emissions of greenhouse gases... [read more]

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]

A new online community where young people can have their say on the environment by uploading videos, pictures and comments is being launched today. The site, www.connect2earth.org, will also allow people to rank other entries, discuss the issues that matter most to them, and share smart ideas and solutions from their own communities. Each month users will vote on a winner who will be rewarded with... [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]

After all the extravaganza and hype associated with the New 7 Wonders competition that reached its maximum on July 7th with the announcement of the new 7 wonders list, including the great city of Petra in Jordan, the same organization is opening up the initial nominations for round two of the competition focusing on natural wonders. The initial phase of nominations is now open online. Nominations... [read more]

In the last couple of months there has been a lot of global hype about biofuels being the magic bullet that will save humanity from the disasterous impacts of climate change by providing alternative and clean energy. However, skepticism is increasing with the potential side-effects of biofuels ranging from threatening agriculture and supply of food crops like corn, to the expected control of biofuels... [read more]

Environmentalism is a shared conviction among all human races, religions and ideologies and it reflects a sense of deep attachment to sustainable values that is not limited to a particular set of beliefs, more than others. Reading an article entitled "Muslims going green" in South California In Focus", described by its publishers as "the largest muslim newspaper California" made me feel uncomfortable... [read more]

A 47-nation survey finds global public opinion increasingly wary of the world's dominant nations and disapproving of their leaders. Anti-Americanism is extensive, but also the growing global concern of environmental threats. The Pew survey finds a general increase in the percentage of people citing pollution and environmental problems as a top global threat. Worries have risen sharply in Latin America... [read more]

Press Release from UNEP:   Climate change worries coupled with high oil prices and increasing government support top a set of drivers fueling soaring rates of investment in the renewable energy and energy efficiency industries, according to a trend analysis from the UN Environment Programme.   The report says investment capital flowing into renewable energy climbed from $80 billion in 2005... [read more]

The involvement of Parliamentarians in environmental policies is considered, in theory a major contributor to better lefgislation and policies aiming at environmental sustainability. However this involvement has not been subjected to an impact analysis yet.   Recently, The 6th Meeting of the Circle of Mediterranean Parliamentarians for Sustainable Development (COMPSUD) took place on 3-4 May... [read more]

The option of developing market mechanisms for water resource management has been advocated by a lot of international development organizations with an economic liberalization state of mind by led by the World Bank and the World Water Council. This approach has been criticised by the other spectrum of development organization with more interest in social democracy, pointing out that this approach... [read more]

The long awaited and highly controversial IPCC report on Climate Change entitled "Climate Change 2007: Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability: summary for Policy Makers" was released Friday in Brussels. The 23 pages summary exjausted the mental powers of author scientists and governmental representatives who gathered in Brussels to discuss every word and figure and engage in heated debates... [read more]

Burlington/Nairobi, 22 March 2007.  While there has been some improvement in the quality of water in some parts of the world, there are still serious problems that must be addressed for the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), according to a new report from the GEMS/Water Programme of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Water Quality Outlook, launched as part of today’s observance... [read more]

Source: Asia Journal   Filipinos with access to the Internet are among the people most aware of global warming, according to a survey by a multinational consumer research group. The AC Nielsen "Online Consumer Opinion Survey," conducted last November, covered 25,408 Internet users from 47 countries and territories in Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and the Middle East. The survey found... [read more]

During the last UNEP Governing Council Conference a aministerial meeting was conducted between ministers of Arab and South American countries to foster cooperation and further coordination between the two regions. This is a view expressed by a Brazilian writer about this meeting.   Alexandre Rocha* São Paulo - Arab and South American ministers, deputy ministers and diplomats connected to... [read more]

By Daniel Zimmer- World Water Council Executive Director   The Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources signed an agreement with the World Water Council in Ankara recently to host the 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul, that takes place in March 2009. Building on the success of the 4th World Water Forum held in Mexico City last March, which boasted over 15,000 visitors from every continent,... [read more]

Manama, 12 February 2007 – The Director and Regional Representative of the United Nation Environment Programme/Regional Office of West Asia, Dr. Habib N. El-Habr announced that UNEP Governing Council was wrapped up at UNEP Head Quarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The Opening of the 24th Session of the Governing Council (GC24)/Global Ministerial Environmental Forum (GMEF) was commenced on the 5th of February,... [read more]

Nairobi, 6 February 2007—The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) reinforced the bond between fighting poverty and protecting the environment today by launching the joint Poverty and Environment Facility in Nairobi during the 24th session of the UNEP Governing Council. The Facility, one of the first tangible examples of UN reform in action,... [read more]

UNEP has just launche dits annual summary report on the state of global environment entitled "GEO Yearbook 2007". The full contents of the publication can be viewed and downloaded from http://www.unep.org/geo/yearbook/yb2007/   The chapter on West Asia focuses agaon on our symptom of "environment and conflicts" where palestine, Iraq and the Lebanon take center stage for all the wrong reasons... [read more]

Press Release from UNEP UNEP headquarters hosted the Joint Ministerial Meeting between the Arab States and the Community of South American Nations on environmental Development between the two Regions. The meeting aims at enhancing cooperation in environmental protection and achieving sustainable development in the Arab Region and in Southern America in the framework of south-south cooperation and... [read more]

On 2 February 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) adopted the Summary for Policymakers of the first volume of “Climate Change 2007”, also known as the Fourth Assessment Report (AR4). “Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis”, assesses the current scientific knowledge of the natural and human drivers of climate change, observed changes in climate, the ability of science... [read more]

ALGIERS: The UN International Year of Deserts and Desertification has ended with stark warnings from experts about the expansion of uninhabitable zones and an increase in climate-driven migration. Desertification -- the expansion of desert areas, caused by growing populations and climate changes -- is one of the most important global issues, UN Under Secretary-General Hans Van Ginkel said at the... [read more]

This is a call for contribution issued by IUCN's Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy for the 15th issue of its magnificant magazine "Policy Matters". I hope that the coming issue will contain some analytical examples from the Arab World.   Policy Matters (PM) is a periodic publication of the World Conservation Union’s (IUCN) Commission on Environmental, Economic, and Social... [read more]

The United Nations Development Programme has recently published its landmark annual report "Human Development Report" for the year 2006. This year's report has a clear environmental focus as it tackles the issues of water and sanitation and their relation to poverty. The report entitled "Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty and the Global Water Crises" has published a wide array of its resources on the... [read more]

The Online Access to Research in the Environment (OARE)  http://www.oaresciences.org/en/  is a new international public-private consortium coordinated by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Yale University, and leading science and technology publishers, enables developing countries to gain free access to one of the world's largest collections of environmental science literature... [read more]

Press Release from UNEP:   The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), through its GEMS/Water Programme, is launching a new capability to its scientific resource, GEMStat, by making it geospatially referenced to Google Earth.  GEMStat provides environmental water quality data and information that is scientifically credible, accessible and interoperable. GEMStat’s website at http://www.gemstat... [read more]

The REN 21 network has released its annual "Renewable Energy Global Status Report" for 2006 which tracks and documents global trends in renewable energy development and innovation. The reports states that 2005 was a record year for investment in the renewable energy sector. The network is a global policy network for the advancement and promotion of renewable energy with Dr Mohammad Al-Ashry as head... [read more]