This article was originally publsihed by The Star newspaper, Monday Dec 29th, 2009   By: Batir Wardam   The year 2009 can be better described, from an environmental perspective as the year when Jordan finally opened its eyes to the threats of Climate change. After years of neglect, denial and lack of data Jordan has realized through a concerted effort backed by global momentum... [read more]

High controversy has been generated in Jordan in the last couple of days after the biggest global news agency "Reuters" published a news item about a scientific study claiming high levels of radioactive isotopes found in Jordan major strategic water reservoir; the Disi Basin. The scientific study was conducted by a team of researchers from the USA, Jordan, Israel and Palestine. One of the Jordanian... [read more]

As Jordan moves rapidly without looking back and around for renewable energy as an alternative source of energy in response to a volatile and unpredictable oil market, it is always useful to stop for a moment and ask the simplest of questions: does the nuclear energy provide a suitable source of energy for Jordan? Environmental expert raouf Dabbas tries to answer this question in an article that... [read more]

Source: Green Prophet http://greenprophet.com/2009/01/28/6409/edama-initiative-jordan/    by Rachel Bergstein   Fresh on the heels of Israel, Egypt, and the UAE, who have all recently made commitments for a renewable energy future, Jordan recently launched EDAMA,  an initiative to help Jordan reduce energy demand, water usage, and protect the environment. EDAMA... [read more]

One of the most promising environmental programmes in Jordan will start delivering results later this year. The Integrated Badia ecosystem restoration programme funded by the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) will launch its first demonstration projects in April 2009. This is the report from Jordan Times   By Hana Namrouqa   Implementation of projects seeking to improve... [read more]

Source: IRIN news   Jordan Valley Farmers are experiencing a severe lack of rainfall and urgent steps are needed to expand the area covered by greenery and promote the efficient use of water, environmentalists say. “The rainfall situation this season is unprecedented. Jordan has not witnessed such a situation for more than 50 years,” Musa Jamaini, secretary-general of the Jordan Valley... [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]

Source: AP   A trek uphill from Jordan's scorching Dead Sea shore through the towering sandstone walls of the Mujib gorge leaves you with a pulse-racing way to get back down - strap into a harness and rappel down a waterfall into a sparkling river. Jordan, home of the ancient red-rock city of Petra, is reaching beyond its considerable historical and biblical tourist attractions to try... [read more]

A new global survey conducted by Worldpublicopinion.org covering 21 nations has resulted in some interesting trends and statistics reflecting the perspective of Jordanians to renewable energy and other energy forms. The Jordanian part of the survey was conducted by the Center of Strategic Studies- University of Jordan.   The report can be downloaded from here http://www.worldpublicopinion... [read more]

All options of alternative energy sources are being examined in Jordan. After the success of the first Biogas facility in Russeifa, the governemnt is seeking private sector investments for the establishment of new biogas facilities turning solid wastes into electricity. This is a report from Jordan Times   By Hani Hazaimeh 16 October 2008   The Ministry of Municipal Affairs, in cooperation... [read more]

Mohammad Shahbaz, the national coordinator the IUCN national committee and the head of the Badia Research and Development Center (BRDC) has been elected as a regional councilor for West Asia and the Middle East in the World Conservation Union IUCN council elections conducted two days ago during the IUCN congress in Barcelona, Spain. A highly contested election for West Asia/ Middle East saw Mr... [read more]

TIME magazine has selected three environmental activists working together across political borders to save the Dead Sea as heroes of the environemnt 2008. Here is the article from TIME   The Holy Land is dying of thirst. Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian territories may once have been lands of milk and honey, but their fragile, semidesert ecosystem has been unable to withstand 60 years of overdevelopment,... [read more]

Rural communities and livestock herders/owners are facing the dire consequences of gradual removal of susbsidies and increase of fodder price. A traditional way of life is threatened with severe socio-economic impacts. IRIN reports http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=80695   High fodder prices, drought and government policies have caused a sharp drop in livestock numbers in Jordan... [read more]

Jordan Business magazine has a very interesting feature on the water situation in Jordan in its September issue. The analytical feature is based on an exciting and frank interview with the former Minister of Water and irrigation and current deputee Dr Hazem Al Nasser. The interview sheds light on the problems of water theft and the debate about water allocations between agricultural needs and drinking... [read more]

Source: Forbes   By DALE GAVLAK   AMMAN, Jordan - The Jordanian government on Tuesday launched an initiative to set "green" standards for the region's cities, touted as the first of its kind in the Arab world. Environment Minister Khaled Irani said the drive will spell out minimum standards that cities have to abide by if they want to become environment friendly, including implementing... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times 4 September 2008 By Hana Namrouqa   AMMAN - The Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) will start within two months implementing the first phase of a project to sort and recycle solid waste, a GAM official said on Wednesday. Under the first phase, a total of 1,000 recycling bins will be distributed in three districts in Amman, including Wadi Seer, Zahran and Bader for... [read more]

I was really excited to be notified by my personal Friend and the highly respected researcher Dr Nizar Abu Jaber from Yarmouk University that he has pioneered the first dedicated science blog in Jordan. The new blog is entitled "Jordan Science and Engineering" and can be accessed at http://jordanscience.wordpress.com/   The blog contains very interesting, well-articulated and referenced... [read more]

A new effort by the Ministry of Environment in Jordan will be initiated with the purpose of launching a long term plan for tackling and stopping the main root causes of pollution in Zarqa River. This is a report from IRIN   AMMAN, 21 August 2008 (IRIN) - A team of local and international environmentalists is to conduct a six-month study of the polluted channel (known as `Saeil'), which cuts... [read more]

Fellow blogger Naseem Tarawnah is doing a great job writing in the Jordanian monthly magazine Jordan Business. His style is well articulated and the articles are always very well researched. His latest feature in Jordan Business was a comprehensive insight into the business of sustainable use of biodiversity and ecotourism in Jordan. Here is the full text of the article, while the link is here ... [read more]

While still supporting the socio-economic and environmental impact assessment studies for the proposed Red-Dead seas canal, the World Bank suggests that the canal is not the only option for saving the Dead Sea from gradual evaporation and decrease in sea level. This news feature from the Jordan Times sheds more light on the subject   By Mohammad Ghazal Jordan Times 28 July 2008   AMMAN... [read more]

Maybe we still need to wait for seven days to make sure, but according to official statements by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in Jordan, work on the long awaited Disi Conveyor Project will finally start on August 3rd. After so much confusion and delays I hope you will appreciate that I will not be convinced until the bulldozers start moving. This is a feature by the Jordan Times published... [read more]

This is a well researched and balanced feature from the Jordan Times about one of the most chronic patterns of water mis-management in Jordan. Social considerations, however are still used to cover up a system of unsustainable water utilization by a strong lobby of farmers.   By Taylor Luck Jordan Times July 25th 2008   AMMAN - Domestically produced bananas cost the Kingdom... [read more]

Jordan is still marching on to a dismal potential fate of thirst and in need for positive breakthroughs in water demand management. A new essay by the Oxford Business Group explains more.   Jordan's Prime Minister Nader Al Dahabi was in Paris last week for the inaugural Mediterranean Union summit, where he took the opportunity to highlight the problem of water supply in the Middle East. In an... [read more]

This is exciting news emerging from the planners of Masdar city, the first zero carbon city in the world. In a report published in UAE's the National newspaper, a big carbon neutral city will be built outskirts of Amman that will accomodate 700,000 people. This is the text of the report, which I will be debating later.   Chris Stanton May 15. 2008 The National http://www.thenational... [read more]

The EU commission has published its assessment report of Jordan's political and socio-economic developments in 2007. The report entitled "Implementation of the EU neighborhood policy in 2007: Jordan progress report" contained some critical evaluations of Jordan's economic performance. However it was noted that the report placed a lot of praise for Jordan's environmental reform initiatives. As an appreciation... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times By: Hana Namrouqa   The Kingdom’s underground water situation is alarming, a prominent water expert said on Wednesday. Elias Salameh, a professor specialised in the topic at the University of Jordan, said both the quality and quantity of the Kingdom’s water in aquifers are declining, pinning blame on overpumping and the meagre rainfall during the winter. Excessive... [read more]

By: Hana Namrouqa Jordan Times   Jordan has become an eco-tourism leader in the Mediterranean region and many of its nature reserves are currently on the world tourism map, demonstrating a model of sustainable development, according to Wild Jordan Director Chris Johnson. Johnson told The Jordan Times in a recent interview that he spoke about Jordan’s 14-year journey in ecotourism at the... [read more]

IRIN news wire has published this story about Jordan's recent switch to unleaded fuel. Worthy of reading and documentation. The link to this story is here   Many petrol stations across Jordan no longer sell leaded petrol after a government decision to switch to unleaded fuel in a bid to improve public health. Emissions from vehicles which use leaded petrol are believed to be harmful - especially... [read more]

The first conference on green buildings will be held in Amman between 22-23 April 2008 under the title "Think Green". The Conference aims to bring together key stakeholders to promote environmentally-responsible design and construction methods and solutions that foster sustainable economic development. The Conference is supported by the World Green Building Council, Ministry of Public Works and Housing,... [read more]

Two weeks ago a statement by the Minister of Water and Irrigation caused havoc in the Jordanian society. By declaring that the government is "discussing" the option of increasing the prices for domestic water, the Jordanian consumer was hit with fear of yet another increase in the price of basic commodities. Indeed the threat of increasing the price of water is linked to a possible reduction in the... [read more]