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Environment and development AL-BIA WAL-TANMIA Leading Arabic Environment Magazine

313 - April 2024
Editorial
Forum
Najib Saab
Defying Nature Can Buy Time but Does not Save the Environment
Najib Saab
Can technology alone stop the collapse of natural systems, without addressing the root of the problem and changing production and consumption patterns
more...

Cheryl Leutjen
LOVE EARTH NOW
Cheryl Leutjen
How to Be Earth-Mindful: Book Guides Readers Toward Realistic Ways to Show a Little Love to the Planet
more...
 
 
 
Meet the
 Editor-in-Chief Najib Saab 		 
 
Selected articles News
High-precision diaphragm metering pump makes the “Electrolysis Made in Baden-Württemberg” system demonstrator fit for industrial application 14/4/2024
Effective decarbonization of German industry – and with it, the achievement of the climate targets with a secure energy supply at the same time – is unthinkable without the expansion of hydrogen technologies. Since they are a carbon-free energy source, they do not release any emissions during combustion. Hydrogen is also suitable as a storage medium to compensate for fluctuations in renewable energy production, since it can be produced via electrolysis using any power source. As part of the "Electrolysis Made in Baden-Württemberg" project, which was completed in 2023, the Baden-Württemberg Center for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) has now strengthened the region as a hydrogen location for the long term. With the participation of 40 companies, a scalable system demonstrator for alkaline pressure electrolysis with an output of 1 MWel was engineered. The pump specialist LEWA from Leonberg, Germany, also contributed to the success of the project: an ecoflow diaphragm metering pump with Ex motor feeds the water required for hydrogen production into the process. As of 2026, the system will continue to operate in the H2 GeNeSiS model region and feed hydrogen into the new pipeline along the Neckar River. ...more
 
Ammonia attracts the shipping industry, but researchers warn of its risks 5/2/2024
Switching to ammonia as a marine fuel, with the goal of decarbonisation, can instead create entirely new problems. This is shown in a study from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, where researchers carried out life cycle analyses for batteries and for three electrofuels including ammonia. Eutrophication and acidification are some of the environmental problems that can be traced to the use of ammonia – as well as emissions of laughing gas, which is a very potent greenhouse gas. ...more
 
Resource-efficient and climate-friendly with sodium-ion batteries 13/12/2023
The transition to a society without fossil fuels means that the need for batteries is increasing at a rapid pace. At the same time, the increase will mean a shortage of the metals lithium and cobalt, which are key components in the most common battery types. One option is a sodium-ion battery, where table salt and biomass from the forest industry make up the main raw materials. Now, researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, show that these sodium-ion batteries have an equivalent climate impact as their lithium-ion counterparts – without the risk of running out of raw materials. ...more
 
Benchmarks for Success for COP28 6/11/2023
Floods recently wreaked havoc in Libya, damaging critical infrastructure and killing more than 6,000 people. Wildfires in Canada burned 18.5 million hectares, an area the size of Syria. September 2023 set “gobsmackingly bananas” heat records that unsettled climate scientists. ...more
 
75 percent of exclusive hardwood may be illegally harvested 26/10/2023
The tropical wood type ipê is popular for building exclusive wooden decks, and in North America and Europe, the demand for the material has increased sharply. Now, a study from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, shows that more than three-quarters of all ipê from the top producing region in Brazil could have been harvested illegally. "The study reveals where in the chain the greatest risks lie. It can be a tool to counteract illegal logging," says Caroline S.S. Franca, PhD student at Chalmers. ...more
 
How mercury emissions from industry can be greatly reduced 4/7/2023
Sulphuric acid is the world’s most used chemical. It is an important reagent used in many industries and it is used in the manufacture of everything from paper, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics to batteries, detergents and fertilisers. It is therefore a worldwide challenge that sulphuric acid often contains one of the most toxic substances – mercury. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, have now developed a method that can reduce the levels of mercury in sulphuric acid by more than 90 per cent– even from low levels. ...more
 
Gentle method allows for eco-friendly recycling of solar cells 13/4/2023
By using a new method, precious metals can be efficiently recovered from thin-film solar cells. This is shown by new research from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden. The method is also more environmentally friendly than previous methods of recycling and paves the way for more flexible and highly efficient solar cells. ...more
 
Stadium 974: What happens next to the first temporary World Cup stadium? 12/12/2022
The World Cup's first temporary stadium will soon be dismantled after hosting seven matches in two weeks at Qatar 2022. ...more
 
'Doomsday glacier,' which could raise sea level by several feet, is holding on 'by its fingernails,' scientists say 6/9/2022
Antarctica's so-called "doomsday glacier" -- nicknamed because of its high risk of collapse and threat to global sea level -- has the potential to rapidly retreat in the coming years, scientists say, amplifying concerns over the extreme sea level rise that would accompany its potential demise. ...more
 
The audacious PR plot that seeded doubt about climate change 27/7/2022
Thirty years ago, a bold plan was cooked up to spread doubt and persuade the public that climate change was not a problem. The little-known meeting - between some of America's biggest industrial players and a PR genius - forged a devastatingly successful strategy that endured for years, and the consequences of which are all around us. ...more
 
Bottling the sun 14/6/2022
From a small hill in the southern French region of Provence, you can see two suns. One has been blazing for four-and-a-half billion years and is setting. The other is being built by thousands of human minds and hands, and is — far more slowly — rising. The last of the real sun’s evening rays cast a magical glow over the other — an enormous construction site that could solve the biggest existential crisis in human history. ...more
 
Ukraine's natural environment is another casualty of war. The damage could be felt for decades 23/5/2022
The pine forests around Irpin are Oleh Bondarenko's happy place. He discovered them as a child, when his mom sent him to the area for summer camp, and he has been coming back ever since. ...more
 
Forests Can Heal an Ailing Planet – But Champions Needed 10/5/2022
Humanity has been receiving warning signs for some time that our home, the Earth, is in peril. The concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) is increasing and the global average temperature is rising. Thousands of species are threatened with extinction. Vast areas of land have become degraded, ten million hectares of forest are being cleared each year, and more than 800 million people are malnourished. ...more
 
Building Materials – A Hidden Heavyweight for Climate Action 7/4/2022
An era of massive construction is currently underway, with a new area the size of Paris being built every week. The global building floor area is expected to double by 2060, which will have a massive impact on the climate. The production of building materials and construction activities are already responsible for 10% of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. ...more
 
More than Just SDG 12: How Circular Economy can Bring Holistic Wellbeing 7/4/2022
As it’s moved from the fringes of academia into the mainstream, the circular economy has been posited as a means to address ecological breakdown by cutting resource extraction and limiting warming to 1.5-degrees. Now, practitioners are also exploring how a circular economy with social and ethical concerns at its heart can create new jobs, ensure more equitable resource management and combat inequalities. ...more
 
Preventing Plastic Pollution with Partnership 10/3/2022
The world has a plastic problem. Since the 1950s, the rate of plastic production has grown exponentially and faster than that of any other material. This is a trend with severe environmental consequences. ...more
 
Asia is most climate disaster-impacted region, UN meteorological agency says 24/4/2024
Asia was the world's most disaster-hit region by climate related hazards last year, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said, with floods and storms causing the highest number of casualties. ...more
 
As plastic treaty talks open, countries more divided than ever 24/4/2024
Countries are under pressure to make progress on a first-ever global plastics treaty this week, but they face tense negotiations in the Canadian capital with parties deeply divided over what the treaty should include as talks begin on Tuesday. ...more
 
Reuters Exclusive: Ecuador examining new Amazon and Ocean linked debt-for-nature swaps 24/4/2024
Ecuador is scoping out new debt-for-nature swaps, one to funnel funds into the Amazon rainforest and another for a giant ocean protection zone backed by Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio, people familiar with the matter have told Reuters. ...more
 
China can't quit coal by 2040, researchers say, despite global climate goals 24/4/2024
China's coal consumption will fall by just one-third by 2040, according to a report by a European consultancy published on Tuesday, threatening climate targets that call for phasing out much of global coal use by 2040. ...more
 
Electric and hybrid car sales to rise to new global record in 2024 24/4/2024
Electric and plug-in hybrid car sales will jump to a new global record in 2024 despite slowing growth in some markets, according to forecasts from the influential International Energy Agency (IEA). ...more
 
Record UAE rain a drop in the ocean as region plans for climate change 23/4/2024
Climate change brings the perils of fire and water. The Gulf might have thought extreme heat was its biggest threat, but last week demonstrated that water, too, is a threat. The region needs an integrated approach to cope with rising seas, floods and drought. ...more
 
Global plastic treaty talks are happening. What do stakeholders want? 23/4/2024
Global leaders will gather in Canada's capital this week to discuss progress in drafting a first-ever global treaty to rein in soaring plastic pollution by the end of the year. ...more
 
Health-harming heat stress rising in Europe, scientists say 23/4/2024
Europe is increasingly facing bouts of heat so intense that the human body cannot cope, as climate change continues to raise temperatures, the EU's Copernicus climate monitoring service and the World Meteorological Organization said on Monday. ...more
 
UN livestock emissions report seriously distorted our work, say experts 23/4/2024
A flagship UN report on livestock emissions is facing calls for retraction from two key experts it cited who say that the paper “seriously distorted” their work. ...more
 
Mongolia signs landmark climate finance deal for its grasslands 23/4/2024
Mongolia's government and a coalition of partners have signed a nature finance agreement aimed at protecting 35.6 million acres (144,000 square km) of the country's lands and waters, including the world's last great tract of temperate grassland. ...more
 
AFED at MCSD Steering Committee 22/4/2024
The Steering Committee of the Mediterranean Commission on Sustainable Development (MCSD) held its 23rd meeting in Athens. Main item on the agenda was to review the implementation status of the Mediterranean Strategy on Sustainable Development (MSSD) for 2016-2025 and set guidelines for updating the strategy for the coming period. This includes identifying main directions, thematic working groups and elements of a sustainability dashboard. ...more
 
World Bank wins $11 bln in pledges to boost lending for climate, global crises 22/4/2024
The World Bank on Friday said that 11 countries have pledged to contribute over $11 billion to new hybrid capital and portfolio guarantee instruments designed to expand the bank's financing capacity by $70 billion over a decade to tackle climate change, pandemics and other global challenges. ...more
 
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say 22/4/2024
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering "moderate to severe" levels of subsidence, putting millions of people at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise, according to a study of nationwide satellite data released on Friday. ...more
 
Finance firms urge ambitious action on plastic pollution 22/4/2024
A group of 160 financial companies on Friday urged governments to agree a treaty to end plastic pollution that would help spur private sector action, ahead of the next round of global talks in Canada. ...more
 
Ocean spray emits more PFAS than industrial polluters, study finds 22/4/2024
Ocean waves crashing on the world’s shores emit more PFAS into the air than the world’s industrial polluters, new research has found, raising concerns about environmental contamination and human exposure along coastlines. ...more
 
What caused Dubai floods? Experts cite climate change, not cloud seeding 19/4/2024
A storm hit the United Arab Emirates and Oman this week bringing record rainfall that flooded highways, inundated houses, grid-locked traffic and trapped people in their homes. ...more
 
Climate change damage could cost $38 trillion per year by 2050, study finds 19/4/2024
Damage to farming, infrastructure, productivity, and health from climate change will cost an estimated $38 trillion per year by 2050, German government-backed research finds, a figure almost certain to rise as human activity emits more greenhouse gases. ...more
 
Scotland to ditch 2030 greenhouse gas reduction target, says BBC report 19/4/2024
Scotland's devolved government will abandon its target to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 75% by 2030, the BBC reported on Wednesday, adding that Scotland would keep a separate goal to reach net zero by 2045. ...more
 
Transition to Renewables Calls for New Approach to Energy Security 19/4/2024
Evolving concept of energy security must address energy demand, system flexibility, technology access and infrastructure development, says IRENA ...more
 
Kale, watermelon and even some organic foods pose high pesticide risk, analysis finds 19/4/2024
Watermelon, green beans and bell peppers are among the many common fruits and vegetables found in US supermarkets that contain potentially unsafe levels of pesticides, according to an analysis published today by Consumer Reports. ...more
 
Major Global Utilities Announce Joint Intent to Scale Renewable Capacity by 2.5 times to 2030  19/4/2024
Utilities for Net Zero Alliance members announce action plan at IRENA Assembly, focused on increasing speed of grid investment and development    ...more
 
The Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi Expands Its Native Tree-Tagging Programme 18/4/2024
The Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi (EAD) has announced the expansion of its native tree-tagging programs to encompass all naturally occurring native trees in Abu Dhabi's wild habitats and natural reserves. This initiative is a collaborative effort with the Agency's strategic partners aimed at bolstering sustainability, safeguarding Abu Dhabi's natural heritage, and reinforcing the emirate's position as a leader in environmental endeavours. ...more
 
World leaders call on nations to swiftly ratify U.N. ocean treaty 18/4/2024
The European Union and the governments of 13 countries urged nations on Tuesday to prioritise the ratification of a U.N. treaty to protect the world's oceans from overfishing and other human activities. ...more
 
Healthier ready-to-eat meals would have ‘huge’ EU climate benefits – report 18/4/2024
Healthier ready-to-eat meals could cut EU emissions by 48m tonnes annually and save customers €2.8bn (£2.4bn) each year, as well as reducing disease, a report has found. ...more
 
Coral bleaching afflicts most of Australia's Great Barrier Reef, report shows 18/4/2024
Some three-quarters of Australia's famed Great Barrier Reef is suffering from coral bleaching, authorities said in a report on Wednesday, days after climate scientists warned the condition was blighting such reefs worldwide. ...more
 
How green are your trainers? Team Japan kits to have carbon footprint labels 18/4/2024
Japanese Olympians stepping up to the podium in Paris will have more than a medal to be proud of this summer: the carbon footprint of their eco-friendly team kits. ...more
 
 
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