Arab Environment Watch: Jordan

New Jordanian Science and Engineering Blog

Mon, 25 Aug 2008 14:44:00 GMT

I was really excited to be notified by my personal Friend and the highly respected researcher Dr Nizar Abu Jaber from Yarmouk University that he has pioneered the first dedicated science blog in Jordan. The new blog is entitled "Jordan Science and Engineering" and can be accessed at http://jordanscience.wordpress.com/ The blog contains very interesting, well-articulated and referenced... [read more]

Tackling the root causes of pollution in Jordan's Zarqa River

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 14:57:00 GMT

A new effort by the Ministry of Environment in Jordan will be initiated with the purpose of launching a long term plan for tackling and stopping the main root causes of pollution in Zarqa River. This is a report from IRIN AMMAN, 21 August 2008 (IRIN) - A team of local and international environmentalists is to conduct a six-month study of the polluted channel (known as `Saeil'), which cuts... [read more]

The Business of Nature in Jordan

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 10:19:43 GMT

Fellow blogger Naseem Tarawnah is doing a great job writing in the Jordanian monthly magazine Jordan Business. His style is well articulated and the articles are always very well researched. His latest feature in Jordan Business was a comprehensive insight into the business of sustainable use of biodiversity and ecotourism in Jordan. Here is the full text of the article, while the link is here ... [read more]

World Bank: There are alternatives for the Red-Dead

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:01:12 GMT

While still supporting the socio-economic and environmental impact assessment studies for the proposed Red-Dead seas canal, the World Bank suggests that the canal is not the only option for saving the Dead Sea from gradual evaporation and decrease in sea level. This news feature from the Jordan Times sheds more light on the subject By Mohammad Ghazal Jordan Times 28 July 2008 AMMAN... [read more]

Disi Project to be launched in August: This time is for real?

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 10:33:55 GMT

Maybe we still need to wait for seven days to make sure, but according to official statements by the Ministry of Water and Irrigation in Jordan, work on the long awaited Disi Conveyor Project will finally start on August 3rd. After so much confusion and delays I hope you will appreciate that I will not be convinced until the bulldozers start moving. This is a feature by the Jordan Times published... [read more]

Jordan: The Costs of being a Banana Country!

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 00:36:00 GMT

This is a well researched and balanced feature from the Jordan Times about one of the most chronic patterns of water mis-management in Jordan. Social considerations, however are still used to cover up a system of unsustainable water utilization by a strong lobby of farmers. By Taylor Luck Jordan Times July 25th 2008 AMMAN - Domestically produced bananas cost the Kingdom... [read more]

Jordan Putting the Water Challenge on the Agenda of Mediterranean Union summit

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:13:51 GMT

Jordan is still marching on to a dismal potential fate of thirst and in need for positive breakthroughs in water demand management. A new essay by the Oxford Business Group explains more. Jordan's Prime Minister Nader Al Dahabi was in Paris last week for the inaugural Mediterranean Union summit, where he took the opportunity to highlight the problem of water supply in the Middle East. In an... [read more]

Carbon Neutral City Planned in Jordan

Sun, 18 May 2008 08:43:41 GMT

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]

EU: Jordan makes impressive progress in environmental reforms

Fri, 16 May 2008 16:26:00 GMT

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]

Groundwater in Jordan in Alarming Condition

Fri, 09 May 2008 13:24:00 GMT

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]

Jordan’s nature reserves feature on world tourism map

Sat, 03 May 2008 16:53:27 GMT

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]

Public Health Boost as Jordan switches to unleaded fuel

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 23:54:43 GMT

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]

Conference on green property in Amman in April

Sun, 06 Apr 2008 11:46:26 GMT

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]

The Right to Water in Jordan

Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:54:12 GMT

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]

Renewable sources pose as sole answer to cut power bill in Jordan

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 18:08:00 GMT

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]

Jordan’s limited forests get the axe in cold winter

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:31:10 GMT

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]

Positive end to the Dibbin development vs. nature fiasco

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 01:38:02 GMT

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]

The Environmental Protection Fund in Jordan

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 13:33:49 GMT

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]

The Environmental Components of the National Agenda

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:01:32 GMT

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]

Environmental dimensions in Jordan's energy shift

Fri, 14 Dec 2007 00:36:40 GMT

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]

Jordan and Climate Change

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 13:10:00 GMT

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]

The Environmental Impact of the Elections Campaign, and Beyond!

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 00:39:00 GMT

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]

Exploring without exploiting medicinal plants in Jordan

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 12:30:00 GMT

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]

Environmental enforcement legislation to be developed in Jordan

Tue, 13 Nov 2007 14:54:23 GMT

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]

Jordan: The Environmental Law is here to stay and be effective!

Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:08:00 GMT

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]

Four New Nature Reserves to be established in Jordan

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 14:45:00 GMT

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]

Jordan to install air pollution monitoring devices in big cities

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 22:44:53 GMT

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]

Strategy to encourage organic farming in Jordan

Thu, 27 Sep 2007 22:40:00 GMT

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]

Green Industrial Hub established in Jordan

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 22:58:00 GMT

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]

Pricing of Domestice Water in Jordan

Sat, 14 Jul 2007 15:37:00 GMT

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]