My weekly article published by the Star newspaper, Monday Jan 4th   The Arab World is not a drop of oil. This innovative and striking slogan was raised by the Lebanese environmental advocacy group "IndyAct" in its pursuit for more climate-responsible energy policies in the Arab world. This region, portrayed globally as a source of oil that leads to global warming is lagging behind in... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times 23-12-2009   By Omar Obeidat   Authorities said yesterday there are currently no plans to levy more fees on hybrid cars as demand on such vehicles has surged recently, a trend attributed to concerns that extra charges are imminent. According to figures by the Jordan Customs Department (JCD), a total of 4,796 cars have been cleared from the free zone... [read more]

Source: Jordan Times   By Hani Hazaimeh   Despite the Kingdom's abundant sunlight and limited conventional energy resources, solar thermal power accounts for only 2 per cent of Jordan's energy use, while more than 95 of energy is imported, according to a Department of Statistics (DoS) report issued on Wednesday. Only 12 per cent of Jordanian families use solar power for heating... [read more]

My latest article published by Jordan Property magazine in August 2009   The high increase of oil prices in 2007-2008 and the resulting turmoil in energy markets has acted like a wake-up call for many Arab countries, especially the non-oil producers to the absolute need for diversification of energy sources, and placed more emphasis on the renewable energies for both economic and environmental... [read more]

This is a very useful overview of the Jordanian energy sector published by Oxford Business Group with focus on future plans to mix various sources of energy.   In spite of dropping oil prices, Jordan is continuing to push its energy diversification programme in a bid to reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers and decrease the Kingdom's burdensome energy bill. With over 96% of Jordan's... [read more]

A good piece of critical journalism published by the National newspaper (UAE). However, being slow is better than not moviong at all. Just look at the full half of the barrel!!   Wael Madhi, Foreign Correspondent   In the 1980s, expatriates working at Saudi Aramco, a Saudi oil company, used to spend their weekends water skiing and swimming in a lake in the heart of the desert... [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]

On the occasion of the most unfortunate statement from an Arab official about Renewable energy, which was Saudi Arabia's oil Minister statement describing renewable energy as a "nightmare scenario" we are happy to present this important working paper by the Saudi researcher Yaser Al Saleh on renewable energy scenarios for Saudi Arabia. They are innovative and obviously far away from being a "nightmare"... [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]

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]

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]

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]

I am amazed to read that a coal fired power plant will be established soon in the Ajman Emirate within the United Arab Emirates. A country that is rich in oil and seeking enterpreneurship in renewable energy technologies is not expected to resort to old and polluting sources of energy anymore. Ajman is not one of the super wealthy Emirates and is suffering from electricity shortage but to think of... [read more]

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]

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]

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]

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]

Three Gulf states - Qatar, Kuwait and Oman - are expected to sign up soon to a World Bank programme aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions by finding commercial uses for natural gas that is still burned, or flared, as a by-product of oil production. Amid growing awareness of climate change and the need to conserve resources for their expanding water and power needs, the Gulf states are seeking... [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]

This is a comprehensive article that was published in Time magazine describing the current wave of renewable energy innovations coming out of the UAE. Again the focus here is Masdar city but with more investigative reporting than public relations   By: Bryan Walsh   If you want to see the future of sustainable design, drive southwest from Abu Dhabi's international airport, stop when you... [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]

This is one of the most promising and exciting project proposals to emerge for years. In fact, the idea to energize Europe with renewable energy from the Middle East could be one of the milestones of future energy security plans linking Europe with the Middle East.   The proposal is entitled DESERTEC and developed by the Trans-Mediterranean Renewable Energy Cooperation (TREC). The detailed proposal... [read more]

Source: Financial Times   By Simeon Kerr in Dubai Published: February 10 2008   Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy initiative, Masdar, has laid the cornerstone of its carbon-neutral, waste-free city, saying it will invest $22bn in the hope that the project becomes a blueprint for sustainable development around the world.     Oil-rich Abu Dhabi said it was committing $15bn (€10... [read more]

A much welcomed concerted efforts by NGOs to exert pressure on Arab "leaders" for a uniform position on Climate Change, the Daily Star reports   By Michael Bluhm Daily Star staff Tuesday, February 12, 2008   BEIRUT: The Arab Climate Network will take its first step this week in creating a united Arab policy on climate change, as network co-founder Wael Hmaidan leaves for Jordan to talk... [read more]

Aramex became the first Jordanian company that declares commitments to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions. The commitments were displayed in Aramex's "Sustainability report" that was published as an indication of its Social and Environmental Corporate Responsibility package. Aramex has previously announced its participation in the United Nations ‘Global Compact' initiative, a platform created to engage... [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]