Arab Environment Watch: Bahrain

Brave new world: Gulf seeks bold science initiatives

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 12:06:00 GMT

This is a very well written analytical article about the efforts conducted by Gulf states in developing cutting edge research and innovation practices. The article is originally published by Science Devnet By: Waleed Al-Shobakky Farouk El-Baz routinely shifts between two views of the Gulf countries. One day the Egyptian-American geologist will be in his Boston office poring over detailed... [read more]

Climate Change Alert in Bahrain

Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:32:56 GMT

Any activity that focuses on climate change mitigation and adaptations in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries is always worth highlighting. Such activities can have a synergistic and cumulative effect to create a "social critical mass" to advocate for more climate friendly policies in such countries. In bahrain, a recent UNDP activity warned that Bahrain will have a lot to lose in case of... [read more]

Bahrain World Trade Center shortlisted for international environmental excellence award

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 21:09:24 GMT

The impressive World Trade Center in Manama, Bahrain has just been shortlisted for the EDIE Award for Environmental Excellence. This is another documentation of the increasing popularity and appreciation of the sustainable building designs in some of the Gulf Countries. This is the report from AME Info The Bahrain World Trade Center (BWTC) designed by Atkins, has been short listed for the... [read more]

Study: The greenest skyscraper in the world is in Bahrain

Sun, 15 Jul 2007 00:43:00 GMT

Sustainable buildings are wittnessing high growth and momentum in many countries around the world. The concept is pioneering and such buildings will include hundreds of eco-friendly innovations. The cost of installation and maintenance will always be high until it becomes economically feasible but the technology is there and that matters. The Ecogeek blog, the world's leading blog for ecological... [read more]

Bahrain Fighting Desertification

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 01:58:00 GMT

Source: Gulf Daily News By: Rebecca Torr BAHRAIN is taking strong measures to combat desertification following its loss of agricultural land to development projects, it emerged yesterday. "We have been losing agricultural land for the last 30 years due to development," Municipalities and Agriculture Ministry Under-Secretary for Agriculture Kadhem Hashim Al Hashimi told the GDN. "We... [read more]

Bahrain More Aware of Climate Change Threats

Tue, 29 May 2007 10:19:11 GMT

Gulf daily News 16.5.2007 Two events in Bahrain are bringing climate change to the forefront of many people's minds. An exhibition at Beit Al Quran, organised jointly by the Beit and the British Council, entitled North, South, East, West, continues until June 5. Today, the Bahrain Businessmen's Association (BBA) is holding a seminar on the Economics of Climate Change, jointly sponsored... [read more]

Bahrain's coral reefs a bed of rubble

Tue, 29 May 2007 10:16:56 GMT

Source: Gulf Daily News Bahrain risks losing all its vital coral reefs unless action is taken immediately, an environmental expert warned yesterday. British biologist Dr Charles Sheppard said that excessive excavation, land reclamation, landfill, illegal dumping and pollution - among other things - were already to blame for the destruction of one major coral reef in the country's waters... [read more]

Bahrain demonstrating wind energy

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 09:21:54 GMT

In a welcome move in the Arab Gulf Countries, Bahrain has initiated the demonstration installation of winde power turbines at the Bahrain World Trade center. We hope to see more green energy sources from the Gulf. Here is a story from UPI MANAMA -- Large-scale wind turbines were installed for the first time in a commercial development Tuesday at the Bahrain World Trade Center (BWTC). Testing... [read more]

Farms vanish as building booms in Bahrain

Sat, 24 Mar 2007 09:07:00 GMT

Source: Gulf Daily News By: Rebecca Torr BAHRAIN's farms are under threat from owners who are selling them to building developers for high prices, say local environmentalists. They claim in many cases owners who sell their farms are violating laws that protect palm trees and land that falls within the green belt. Environment Friends Society (EFS) founder and president Khawla Al... [read more]

Shortage of unused land in Manama

Tue, 20 Feb 2007 17:22:00 GMT

Bonny Mascarenhas Bahrain Tribune Manama Municipalities Council Chairman voiced concern yesterday over the possible sale of a vacant plot in the Diplomatic Area. During his last term as councillor he had made request to the Ministry of Works and Housing to purchase the land with the intention to build 1,460 housing units. Speaking to the Tribune, Majeed Milad the Council Chairman, said: “I... [read more]

Invasive Species threaten Ecosystems in Bahrain

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 11:46:05 GMT

From: Gulf daily News By REBECCA TORR BAHRAIN's ecosystems are under attack from invading foreign species, an environment expert warned yesterday. Animals are either being brought into the country by ships or are released into the wild by humans, revealed Bahrain Natural History Society member Abdulqader Khamis. He said that terrapins, cats, birds and other animals - including the... [read more]

Bahrain 'stopover' for Rainbow Warrior

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 11:43:45 GMT

From: Gulf daily News By GEOFFREY BEW MANAMA: Greenpeace vessel the Rainbow Warrior II made an unscheduled stop in Bahrain as part of a tour of the Gulf, it has emerged. The ship, which had a crew of 19, arrived on February 5 before leaving two days later to Qatar, where it is still docked. It arrived from Abu Dhabi and has also visited Kuwait and Dubai as part of a campaign to encourage... [read more]

Conservation the key to adequate water supply in the Gulf

Sat, 17 Feb 2007 11:41:00 GMT

From: Gulf daily News By TARIQ KHONJI RISING demand for water in the Gulf region will mean that governments will need to take conservation more seriously, predicts an industry leader. Suez Environment chief executive officer Jean-Louis Chaussade believes that the current level of water consumption, in which very little recycled water is being used, is not sustainable. Suez Environment... [read more]

New Push to teach environmental protection at Kindergartens in Bahrain

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 19:09:25 GMT

Gulf Daily News By Rebecca Torr Children as young as three may soon learn how to protect the environment in their kindergartens if a group of educationalists get their way. "For years we have been looking to have environmental education in kindergartens, it's so essential," Environment Friends Society (EFS) president Khawla Al Muhannadi told the GDN. "The earlier you can instil environmental... [read more]

UAE Marine Conservation Forum

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 14:07:07 GMT

The first EWS-WWF Marine Conservation Forum took place in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on September 11-14, 2006. The Forum provided an opportunity for the region’s environmentalists to share concerns about the region’s coral reef and marine turtle populations and collaborate on potential solutions. Representatives from Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and... [read more]

New Book warns of water scarcity in the Gulf

Sat, 16 Dec 2006 18:21:00 GMT

By Arvind Nair- Gulf News Published in 4-12-2006 WATER crisis in Qatar, as indeed in the Gulf and the rest of the world, threatens future progress and impedes efforts to alleviate poverty. To drive this point home, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation’s Doha office has brought out a book called Policy Perspectives for Ecosystem and Water Management... [read more]

What's in Bahrain's new environmental strategy?

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 23:53:47 GMT

Bahrain has recently developed a new environmental strategy. A report published in the Gulf daily News explores the contents of this strategy. by: Tariq Khonji BAHRAIN's new environment strategy will mean stricter rules will have to be enforced by the government to ensure sustainable development, according to a senior official. Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources,... [read more]

Traffic Blamed for Air Pollution in Bahrain

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 23:38:00 GMT

Source: Gulf Daily News By SARA SAMI and TARIQ KHONJI TRAFFIC, not industry, is the main source of pollution in Bahrain, according to air quality tests. Air monitoring equipment set up in each of Bahrain's five governorates in July has revealed a significant increase in pollutants associated with vehicle emissions over the past 10 years - particularly nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ozone gas... [read more]