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Timid Arab response to climate crisis
The global youth climate movement, which stormed the world over the last months, did not resonate in Arab countries. School strikes or public vigils didn’t happen, and the response was limited to general support statements, issued by individuals and associations largely representing an older generation. Although they likely acted with good intentions, those environmental activists behaved as if they just wanted to join the trend by jumping on board a popular wagon. ...more |
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Electricity is a prerequisite for electric cars
In an attempt to reduce pollution caused by the transport sector, the Lebanese government recently announced incentives to promote electric and hybrid cars. The measures comprised full tax and tariff exemption for vehicles fully running on electric motors, and a slightly lower reduction in fees on hybrid cars running on both electricity and fuel. ...more |
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Environment action urgent, stop being complacent
Najib Saab
Stop being complacent, show some urgency, and get real about implementing the goals you set in 2015 for achieving sustainable development. This unvarnished message is what Jock Martin of the European Environment Agency thought should be conveyed to world leaders, based on the findings of the sixth edition of Global Environment Outlook (GEO-6). The 750-page comprehensive report, to be released on 13 March, is the flagship evidence-based product of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Jock served with us for the past five years at the High Level Group entrusted with overlooking the GEO process and preparing an action-oriented summary for policy makers. Urgent action is needed if the world governments are serious about securing a healthy planet for healthy people. Although the report might not say it as forcibly as Jock, this is ultimately the essence of the new report, which shows that the overall environmental situation is deteriorating globally and the window for action is closing. Moreover, healthy environment is not only a necessity for human health and well-being, but also a prerequisite for economic prosperity. ...more |
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Climate between oil and meat, nations join the fight
While oil-producing countries did not object, this time, to reducing carbon emissions by enhancing efficiency and introducing renewable and clean sources as a key element in the energy mix, beef-producing countries on the other hand resisted the slightest reference to the impact of their production and consumption on the environment and human health.
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Financing development based on human dignity
Najib Saab, issue 248-249, November 2018
Over the past 10 years, the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) reports have identified the state of Arab environment in all its aspects and proposed solutions that have contributed to endorsing numerous environmental policies in the region. ...more |
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Why the Poland climate summit succeeded
Najib Saab
Despite all the hype and doomsday scenarios, the climate summit (COP 24) in Poland reaffirmed the commitment of countries to confront together a global dilemma that threatens everyone. The summit unanimously concluded with an arrangement that set practical steps to implement the Paris Agreement, in order to keep the global temperature rise “well below 2 degrees C.” True that they did not specifically commit to below 1.5 degrees as called for in the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which reflected scientific consensus; however, there was no fallback on the Paris commitments, and the process is moving toward 2020, the actual starting date for the implementation. This is also the time set for countries to make additional new commitments to reduce emissions. ...more |
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Arab banks discussing financing sustainable development goals in a regional meeting is in itself a major accomplishment; endorsing green banking is, nonetheless, an unprecedented achievement. The tone ushers a new direction not appreciated before. Simply put, the Arab banking sector is starting to realize that it cannot cater for changing development goals without adopting new vision and innovative approach. ...more |
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