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]

Source: the Jordan Times By Taylor Luck   With soaring global oil prices, the Kingdom is pinning hopes on attempts to utilise its potential of renewable and alternative energy sources. “The energy sector is in a dangerous situation and we need rapid change in the way we approach energy,” National Energy Research Centre (NERC) President Malek Kabariti told The Jordan Times recently. According... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times By Hana Namrouqa   The Kingdom’s one per cent area covered with forest trees is now, more than before, facing the threat of increasing illegal logging. Setting off the deforestation alarm, agriculture and environment officials pointed to the Jerash, Dibbeen and Ajloun areas as hot spots. Sources familiar with the issue differ on whom to blame on the arbitrary deforestation... [read more]

By: Batir Wardam Weekly article published by Star newspaper-Jordan     The Social Security Corporation (SSC) declared that it has donated its ownership of a portion of Dibbin Forest to be added to the already existing Dibbin Nature Reserve, run by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN). This is a positive conclusion of the environmental-economic fiasco that has erupted last year... [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 my weekly environmental article published in the Star newspaper this week   By: Batir Wardam   Awake from Hybernation The National Agenda was prepared in 2005 and launched in 2006 comprising a comprehensive political and socio-economic reform plan for the country until 2017. The National Agenda was based on extensive research and integrated inputs from key players and organizations... [read more]

This is my weekly article published in The Star newspaper for today.   A paradigm shift is being developed in energy management at the national level. The previous dependence on foreign oil imports is coming to an end with a new package of legislative, administrative and technological innovations aiming to steer the country into more reliable, sustainable and even environmentally friendly... [read more]

This is my weekly article publsihed in the Star newspaper today. I also would like to invite you for the first public event on climate change in Jordan organized by the Arab Climate Action Network in partnership with Greenpeace and United Nations University at 5:00 p.m on Saturday 8 December 2007 at the premises of the United Nations University Check the facebook event here http://www.facebook... [read more]

This is my weekly article that was published in the Star newspaper on Thursday Nov 29th.   I tried in vain to search for any environmental messages in the slogans and programmes of the 885 candidates that rode their luck for a parliamentary seat in the elections that Jordan witnessed last week. I read slogans and advertisement and went to some tents and took a look at what I managed to get from... [read more]

Wild plant species are not only beautiful or compose the nasic ingredients of ecosystem but they can also be a remarkable source for well being by providing medicinal uses and subsequently income generating activities that can help communities to overcome the burden of poverty. One such example of sustainable use and conservation of medicinal plants in Jordanian Badia (desert) is provided by this... [read more]

In a landmark transition towards comprehensive and effective environmental compliance systems in Jordan the Ministry of Environment is currently developing a robust bylaw for environmental compliance and enforcement. The announcement came by the Minister of Environment Khalid Irani during the opening of a joint Jordanian-USA workshop on environmental inspection and enforcement that included the environmental... [read more]

I have published this article in the weekly "The Star" newspaper. I am hoping to publish a weekly environmental article in this newspaper starting next week. I hope you find it useful   By: Batir Wardam   In the past few weeks readers of the daily newspapers in Jordan were getting information about the closure, penalization and warnings of various factories and developmental facilities in... [read more]

The Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) has stated it will establish four new nature reserves in one of the most vulnerable and threatened ecosystems in Jordan: the Jordan Valley. The reserves will be a result of a new project for the integrated ecosystem management of Jordan Valley. This is the report from Jordan Times   By Hana Namrouqa   AMMAN - Four new nature reserves... [read more]

Good and adequate environmental information is the basic ingredient for good governance and decision making. In an effort to increase the effeciency of air pollution monitoring and evaluating ambient air quality the Ministry of Environment in Jordan will install a systemised package of air monitoring devices in big cities. This is a news report published by IRIN   AMMAN, 18 October 2007 (IRIN)... [read more]

It is about time that a coherent action be done in Jordan to encourage organic farming. The practices of oraganic farming have been widespread in many countries in almost all continents but are still not penetrating the Arab world. This news item from the Jordan Times provides some hope for a transition based on sound regulations.   By Hana Namrouqa   AMMAN - The Ministry of Agriculture... [read more]

Al Mushatta industrial hub is emrging as a promising and attractive location for new industries in Jordan. The hub is established in a strategic location adjacent to the Queen Alia Airport in Jordan and spans an area of 4.4 million square meters of state-of-the-art infrastructure for attracting new industries. The environmental added value of this hub is its special eco-friendly infrastructure... [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]

The majestic city of Petra has won its righteous place in the World New Seven Wonders. Regardless of UNESCO's reservations, the voting process represented a "global collective approach" of cultural diversity that was made by people and public participation. Petra's uniquness was decribed by the New 7 wonders committee as a symbol of "engineering and protection". One of the most amazing achievements... [read more]

By: Batir Wardam   You will have to search several locations in the World to find a situation similar to Aqaba’s: Jordan’s only outlet to the sea. This is a unique case of a confined, fragile and exquisite ecosystem subject to the cumulative effect of the “triangle of environmental threats”: Industry, tourism and transport. The Jordanian segment of the Gulf of Aqaba is only 27 Km. Being the... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times Sunday 1 July 2007   By Mohammad Ghazal and Hana Namrouqa    AMMAN — The Environment Ministry will establish a pilot plant by the end of this year to treat the liquid residue of the olive-pressing process, as it pollutes the soil and water resources. The JD500,000 EU-funded plant, to be built either at the Ikeider holding area or the Jordan University of Science... [read more]

Source: Oxford Business Group   A Jordan-Russian joint venture in the field of renewable energy was registered in the Mafraq Special Economic Zone this week, with the aim of reducing the percentage of traditional energy consumption in the kingdom. The new joint company specialises in designing and selling solar panels and auxiliary equipment across the Middle East and North Africa, with the... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times 7-6-2007   By Hana Namrouqa  AMMAN — Demographic changes and migrations have created an imbalance between available water resources and demand, Minister of Water and Irrigation Thafer Alem said on Wednesday. In his remarks at the opening session of a regional forum on local water governance entitled “Water is everybody’s business,” Alem said per capita water supply... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times 8-6-2007   By Dalya Dajani  AQABA — Beneath the pristine waters of this Red Sea resort, a concrete paradise is giving Mother Nature and the local fishing community a helping hand. Emerging from a featureless sandy bed in the northernmost tip of the Aqaba coast, an artificial reef has been steadily thriving over the past two years as a safe haven for the fragile marine... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times 7-6-2007   The Jordan Biogas Company in Ruseifa is currently conducting negotiations with the government of Finland to sell biogas generated from the Ruseifa landfill, the company's director, Hatem Ababneh, said on Thursday. "Selling the biogas to Finland is an outcome of Jordan signing the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in 1992 and the Kyoto Protocol, which... [read more]