Why Chemical Data Drives ESG Reporting in MENA

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Environmental, Social, and Governance reporting (or ESG) has become a major priority for organizations across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Investors, regulators, customers, and business partners increasingly expect companies to provide measurable evidence of their environmental and sustainability performance.

Sometimes companies are so reliant on chemical data that it ends up being the basis of their disclosures. The reason is that it’s nearly impossible to publish credible ESG metrics or show how they have progressed toward sustainability targets if they lack accurate knowledge of the various substances they use, store, transport, and dispose of during different operations.

chemical data for esg reporting

The Link Between Chemical Data and ESG Performance

Environmental data, including many of the common indicators in ESG reports, is backed up with chemical information. A look at safety data sheets (SDSs), a chemical inventory, and compliance data offers companies a better idea of the impact of the materials they use.

By using tools like KHA Environmental, many companies are dealing with this issue by bringing together SDS and chemical stock data. This approach not only aligns unit conversion, but it also ensures standardized reporting from plant to plant, and enables the generation of audit-proof disclosures. Sustainability departments will be happier with the same results when it comes to reviewing several locations’ performance.

Measuring Hazardous Waste and Emissions

Some ESG reporting systems require waste generation and air release from the facility to be quantified. These assessments are mainly based on chemical data. In addition, their scope includes hazardous classification, disposal guidelines, and handling information.

The data enables the sustainability group to analyze hazardous waste intensity and trends over time. Transparency generally gives insight that often means waste minimization and process upgrades.

Supporting Worker Health and Safety Metrics

In the context of employee exposure to workplace hazards, the social element of ESG reporting would include information about chemicals. A complete chemical inventory together with the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) that accompany dangerous materials gives clear and comprehensive accounts of potential hazards, proper handling methods, and protection requirements.

Employers or organizations are able to utilize this information to evaluate workplace dangers and take necessary safety precautions, resulting in increased occupational health and safety reporting.

Improving Water Quality and Compliance Reporting

Water scarcity and overuse continue to be major issues related to environmental and community sustainability throughout the MENA region. As such, there is an increasing expectation that companies should be transparent about their water consumption and pollution prevention methods.

Chemical tracking systems can be really helpful for finding out which substances in a company’s operations may pose a threat to the quality of the company’s wastewater or to environmental discharge. When they understand the chemical properties, businesses can carry out wastewater treatment much better and quite a bit lower the risks of contamination. Such actions ultimately help achieve higher accuracy in disclosing the ESG performance on water-related factors.

Creating Consistency Across Multiple Facilities

Many businesses have their operations spread among different facilities, warehouses, factories, or work premises. Such distribution of operations usually promotes growth of the company but can at the same time introduce problems if chemical data are collected differently at various places.

The fact that chemical terms differ, different kinds of statements are used, and different types of units are measured is a significant hurdle in preparing ESG reports. Setting up a centralized chemical management platform is the solution to this problem since it helps with the unified application of the same standards, principles, and practices on all sites. As you can see, not only is the data quality improved, but also the generation of the report is becoming simpler and faster.

Strengthening Governance Through Better Data Management

Strong ESG performance is closely tied to effective governance practices. Chemical information should not be regarded as solely an environmental or safety topic but should be integrated into the overall organizational governance strategy.

Having an explicit person accountable for chemical records, reviewing safety data sheets regularly, checking inventory from time to time, and developing clear reporting protocols are some of the ways that lead to higher data integrity. Apart from reducing mistakes, these practices enhance the reliability of sustainability reports. Stronger governance systems are usually an asset that enables organizations to disclose their environmental, social, and corporate governance activities to stakeholders.

Building Credible ESG Reporting in the MENA Region

As ESG expectations evolve across the MENA region, businesses are coming to understand the importance of accurate operational data. Chemical data is fundamental as it is used to support environmental, health, safety, and compliance metrics across industries.

Through the integration of SDS records, inventory items, emissions tracking, waste management issues, and compliance activities, companies can prepare more accurate ESG reports. Superior data increases transparency, apart from helping decision-making and achieving better sustainability results.

Taking into account that in such a commercial landscape, accountability matters more than other things, management and reporting of chemical information has evolved from just being a regulatory obligation to becoming the cornerstone of genuine ESG reporting and sustainable environmental management.

Portable Battery Packs: The Definitive Guide

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With more people working outside of homes, preparing for power outages, or just working from home, portable power stations have become a more affordable solution to backup power. Unlike fuel-powered generators, these quiet and exhaust-free battery devices are able to safely provide power to many common household items inside as long as the user conforms to the manufacturer’s specifications.

To select a good model to suit your needs without opting for the biggest and/ or most expensive model, it helps to grasp several essential specification and options related to the best portable battery packs.

a portable power station at a camping site

What is a Portable Power Station?

A portable power station is a large rechargeable battery pack, often integrated along with an inverter and various types of AC (110/120V) outputs as well as DC (USB/5V) ports. At its core, it stores electrical energy that can be applied to power or work with devices in due time.

Portable generators are not like a traditional generator.

  • Don’t burn gasoline or diesel.
  • Produce little operating noise
  • Require minimal maintenance
  • They can typically be recharged from wall sockets, solar panels, or vehicle chargers.

So these also perform, of course, according to the battery capacity, size, and power specification of the inverter and charging facility.

General Applications for Portable Power Station

Portable power stations come in handy for a wide range of situations.

Camping and Outdoor Activities

These are used by many campers to run:

  • LED lights
  • Smartphones
  • Laptops
  • Cameras
  • Portable refrigerators
  • Fans
  • GPS devices

They also work in silence, making them great for campsites where noise matters.

Emergency Backup

Portable power stations can keep the following pieces of equipment running during a blackout or off-grid living:

  • Wi-Fi routers
  • Mobile phones
  • Medical devices (within power limits)
  • Small refrigerators
  • Lights
  • Laptops

Bigger models can additionally accommodate office tools or further appliances for short periods of time.

RV and Van Life

Portable power stations are used for several purposes among travelers, such as:

  • Cooking appliances
  • Device charging
  • Entertainment systems
  • Portable coolers
  • Small kitchen equipment

Many of these systems will also work with portable solar panels for longer times off-grid.

Key Features to Consider

Selecting the right portable power station starts with understanding its specs.

Battery Capacity (Wh)

Capacity in watt-hours (Wh) tells how much energy the battery can store.

Typical ranges include:

  • 200–300Wh: Phones, cameras, tablets, lights
  • 500 – 700Wh: For laptops, CPAP machines, small fridges
  • 1,000–2,000Wh: Home backup, RV-ing/Travel use (multiple appliances)
  • 2,000Wh+: Extended outages and applications with high current demands

While the higher capacity usually results in longer runtime, it may also come with bigger and heavier batteries.

Output Power (Watts)

You may want the inverter rated above this so you can run multiple appliances from the power station.

Check both:

  • Continuous output
  • Surge (peak) output

Motorized devices, such as refrigerators and pumps. Additionally, you may need more power when starting the appliances.

Battery Chemistry

Most new portable power stations use LiFePO₄ (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries.

LiFePO₄ batteries generally provide the following advantages over traditional lithium-ion chemistries:

  • Longer service life
  • Greater thermal stability
  • More charge cycles
  • Improved durability

This battery type has started to become common on modern premium power stations.

Charging Options

The majority of portable power stations use several load-bearing methods including:

  • AC wall charging
  • Solar charging
  • Vehicle charging
  • Generator charging (on compatible models)

Certain models are even compatible with fast charging for far reduced charge times.

Available Ports

Depending on the outputs available, you use it where.

Common options include:

  • AC outlets
  • USB-A
  • USB-C Power Delivery
  • 12V DC ports
  • Car socket

Pay attention to the number and types of ports when comparing models, so you can find one to fit your existing and future devices.

How to Choose the Right Size

Choosing the right size is based on how you plan to use it.

Primary Use                                                      Suggested Capacity

Phone charging and lighting                                     200–300Wh

Weekend camping                                                    300–700Wh

Remote work                                                             500–1,000Wh

RV travel                                                                   1,000–2,000Wh

Home emergency backup                                         2,000Wh or more

Before picking a unit, it’s often useful to approximate the total watt output of all appliances you wish to run.

Advantages of Portable Power Stations

There are some practical advantages of portable power stations:

  • Quiet operation
  • No fuel storage required
  • Low maintenance
  • Indoor-safe operation when used correctly
  • Multiple charging methods
  • Compatibility with solar energy

All these factors have made them increasingly popular for recreational and emergency use.

Limitations to Keep in Mind

Portable power stations are quite versatile, but they have their limits.

Battery capacity is not infinite, and it has to be charged. The inverter may not be able to handle some heavy appliances, but with the best-quality inverter, it can handle much of the power equipment. But larger-capacity models are heavy and therefore much less portable. It is helpful to frame these trade-offs to manage expectations.

Maintenance Tips

It reinforces how proper maintenance can help you achieve maximum battery life.

  • Put it in a cool, dry place.
  • If your storage time is longer, you should charge it regularly to maintain it.
  • Do not expose it to too much warmth or moisture.
  • Follow the charging practices recommended by the manufacturer
  • Check for firmware updates if the model offers app connectivity.

Final Thoughts

The deal with the best portable power stations is that they will depend on your specific energy needs, portability preference, and how you plan to use it. This information provides insight into specifications that can help you decide what kind of power station to choose, whether it’s so you have backup power in case of a blackout; use for off-grid camping or sheltering; both during emergencies or natural disasters, or simply on camping trips, including safety (fire resistance and chemical prevention) and output.

An Introduction to Solar Pond

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A solar pond is a three-dimensional, open-air pit, filled with water endowed with special properties. It receives solar energy through insulation, then the trapped heat is extracted from it from the water lying at the bottom of the pond. When solar energy falls onto the pond, it heats the water, splitting it into three sections: the first section is the uppermost layer, or Surface Zone, containing fresh water with a low level of salinity. This owes to the fact that salts gather at the bottom.

The second layer is the middle layer, called the insulating layer or Insulation Zone, whose salinity is greater than that of the surface level. The most important layer, though, is the bottom or lowest layer, known as the Storage Zone. This is the layer which retains solar energy and at which the extraction of energy is possible. This saturated layer is between approximately one and two metres thick, whereas the pond is generally two or more metres deep.

solar-pond

When the water of any Solar Pond gathers heat, it expands, becomes less dense, and rises. As soon as it reaches the pond’s surface, is loses its heat to the air as water vapour or by convection currents. The coolest water, which is considered the densest and heaviest, changes places with warm water which has risen to the surface, thus creating a natural carrying movement which mixes up the water and disperses the heat energy.

Importance of Solar Ponds

Solar Ponds provide the simplest technique for transforming the sun’s energy into solar power, which can be extracted for different purposes. Check out solar panel installers if you want to make the best use of solar energy.

Solar Ponds are unique in their ability to gather and store energy simultaneously. It is known that the cost of Solar Ponds per unit area are less than any other current popular solar energy collector, as well as the fact that the continuous fluctuations in oil prices in recent times have pushed many individuals and organisations to look for other, cheaper, renewable sources of energy.

Similarly, the warm water which we get after extracting the pond’s heat can then be put to multiple industrial uses and for heating greenhouses in or around the Dead Sea region when the winter frosts set in. Solar Ponds can be used in all climates, as long as there is lots of sun, and even if the pond froze over, it would still be able to generate energy as it is saturated with salts.

For an efficient, energy-generating Solar Pond to be set up, the following are needed: a relatively large area of low-cost land, water with high salinity and lots of sunshine. All these prerequisites are abundant in the Dead Sea region, which is the lowest and saltiest body of water in the world. Solar Pond system in the Dead Sea will help in large-scale energy storage and should be seen as an innovative step in the field of energy production and development in Jordan.

Solar Pond in the Dead Sea

In order to extract heat from the water of the Dead Sea, a small, square Solar Pond, 1.25 metres deep and 2.0 metres wide was designed as a test by Hashem al-Balawneh, an engineering student from Jordan, under the guidance of Dr. Khaldun al-Wahoosh. This solar pond was constructed in the Dead Sea region, at the coordinates 0 20 30 N, 0 30 35 E. Heat is prevented from escaping via convection by the Dead Sea water’s specific salinity, as well as by the addition of a group of Sodium Chloride, Magnesium Chloride and Sodium Bicarbonate salts (NaCl, MgCl₂ and NaHCO₃), which are also extracted from the Dead Sea.

Solar Ponds in the Dead Sea have a certain characteristic which allows them to keep heat energy, and that is the increase in salinity with increased depth. Accordingly, density also increases with depth, forcing the warm water to stay lower down because of the salts. Next, the heat which the water has absorbed in the last, salt-saturated layer whose temperature can reach between 85-90°C – moves turbines, thus generating clean, renewable, environmentally-friendly electrical energy.

Translated by Katie Holland

Katie Holland graduated from Durham University in 2015 with a degree in Arabic and French, having also studied Persian. Currently working in London, she hopes to develop a career that uses her knowledge of Arabic and the Middle East, alongside pursuing her various interests in the arts. 

Common Water Pollutants and Their Effects on the Environment

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English poet W.H. Auden once said, “Thousands have lived without love, not one without water,” and how true that is. Water is what keeps us alive and sustains us. Why, then, do we have such a problem keeping water clean, and what does water pollution do, not only to us but to the environment? Let’s delve into the subject of water pollution so we can better understand it and its effects on the whole world.

Water Pollution Facts

Water pollution is caused when a toxic substance gets into the water supply, whether that be a river, ocean, or the underground aquifer, and contaminates it to the point that the supply becomes dangerous. Water is also particularly vulnerable to pollution because it is a “universal solvent.” Water can dissolve chemicals, bio-matter, and even solids which can enter lakes and rivers or even the underground aquifer and pollute the water supply.

water-pollution

Major water pollutants include the following:

  • Raw sewage: The World Health Organization estimates that 2 billion people do not have access to basic sanitation, and even when they do, it is extremely common for raw sewage to be spilled directly into the sea or another water source.
  • Nutrients: These are nitrogen-rich products such as fertilizers that get washed into the sea or are absorbed and get into the aquifer.
  • Wastewater: This contaminant comes in many forms including chemicals released by factories, washing machine water filled with detergents, and rain runoff from highways.
  • Plastics: A major pollutant that does not dissolve in water. Everything from drinking bottles to clothing is made from plastic, and it is not biodegradable. One plastic bottle can last for 450 years in the ocean.

Environmental Costs

Speaking of plastics, aquatic animals are harmed by plastics every day. They get entangled in plastic and lose limbs or are strangled. Most sea life ingests plastic all of the time. On the coast of South Africa, a sea turtle was saved after scientists pulled an entire plastic bag out of its throat.

In Norway in 2017, a goose-beaked whale had to be put down after eating 30 plastic shopping bags. The two animals that appear to be most sensitive to the harms of plastics appear to be sea turtles and sperm whales, but the stories of animals killed or harmed by plastic go on and on.

The environment is also severely affected by nutrient pollution. Nitrogen causes algae in the water to multiply at astounding rates, and the algae, in turn, absorbs all of the oxygen in the water, causing mass kill-offs of marine life.

Implications on Humans and Entire Communities

In Washington, D.C., in the U.S., the Environmental Working Group conducted research and discovered that carcinogens in American drinking water may be the cause of over 100,000 cases of cancer. While there are medications available to treat cancers, proper care of many forms remains extremely expensive and treatment often prolongs life but does not cure.

In Flint, MI, an entire community faced serious issues due to water pollution from the Flint River. Despite many complaints, the city insisted the water was safe, but it was severely contaminated with lead and other chemicals. Through 2018 and 2019, government officials finally acted on previously overlooked problems and helped residents with health-related issues caused by this disaster. They also replaced the corroded pipes which were the source of the dangerous contaminants.

The U.S. is not the only nation with pollution issues. It’s much worse in developing countries. Of the 3,119 populated areas in India, only 209 of them have any type of sewage treatment facility. It is estimated that more than 3 million children expire every year due to poor sanitation and toxic drinking water. The contaminated water causes such conditions as cholera, diarrhea, and intestinal worms.

water-pollution-developing-countries

Furthermore, in Africa, dirty water acts as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, causing malaria and encephalitis. Over $7 million a year is spent on healthcare to treat waterborne illnesses. Entire developing countries are suffering, with many unfit to work or go to school due to illness. Companies like Waterdrop are taking actions to provide reliable water projects to sub-Saharan African communities.

Both developing and industrialized countries, in addition to the world’s fish and wildlife, are having problems due to water pollution, and it is likely to get much worse before it gets better. Countries need to step up and find solutions to effectively deal with this ongoing problem, or the future of the entire world will be in jeopardy.

Restocking the Seas around Bahrain through Fish Farming

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The marine waters around Bahrain have been showing a decline in fish stock for several decades. But in the first decade of this millennium, restocking has become a routine practice endorsed by the former Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife (now the Supreme Council for the Environment). In recent years, the fishing industry in the Kingdom of Bahrain is starting to really look up with the restocking of the waters from farmed fish.

FishFarm

Requirements of a Fish Farm

Fish farming means growing fish in fixed enclosures (tanks, ponds or cages) exposed to the natural climatic conditions of the environs. As part of aquacultural activities (another term for fish farming), one needs to replenish fish stock preferably before the fish species dwindle to almost extinction.

The basic requirements for a healthy fish farm address a number of chemistry-related characteristics. There must be good water circulation which is achieved through tidal action resulting in water velocity in the range of 10-60 cm/sec.  The oxygen level needs to be maintained at the optimum level of  >5ppm while salinity level should approach 49,000ppm. Water temperatures vary with the season and with tidal levels. The range, therefore is between 12 oC  at lowest tide in winter up to 37oC in the peak of summer. Fish prefer alkaline water levels. This can vary with fish species.

For example, Shim (Bream) prefer the pH level to range within 8.2 -8.5. Wind and wave action should be minimal. This is best achieved by locating fish farms downwind of the dominant wind direction which means off the east coast of the island. GPIC is located on the right side of the island with a relatively sheltered site for the fish farm.

Fishes, such as bream, are released into the fish farm on reaching the juvenile stage (i.e when the body weight is around 70gm). The ideal fish weight, 210gm is achieved over the next 220+ days. Population density is very critical in fish farming with an ideal number of 7 fishes/m3. The fishes are fed a supplemental diet of dry food pellets.

The feeding rate is in the range of 3-7% of the fish’s body weight.  So careful monitoring of the fish is really important. This amount of food supplements is spread out over four feedings in one 24-hour period. Feeding amounts can also be influenced by climatic conditions, thermal properties of the water and the current flow rate.

artificial-fish-farming

The fishes are monitored and their growth rate and general performance are all recorded. The average fish body weight is assessed every 15 days. It has been observed that the maximum growth rate is achieved when the water temperatures are at 23oC.

As well as monitoring the fish themselves, the environs must also be kept in check. Submerged physical features need to be kept free of any buildup of rough, sharp materials that could harm or injure the young fish. Too many barnacles growing on a structure could cause the subsurface structures to break off.  The enclosure could be damaged resulting in an opening through which the farmed fish might escape prematurely out into the open ocean.

Farmed fish can easily catch diseases. This typically happens when or if the density of the stock gets too high.  Fish can get a variety of diseases so much care is taken to protect the whole project.

Fishes are harvested using such as a dragnet, sieving or a Gill net.  A dragnet is a seine method of fishing where the net hangs vertically in the water with weights holding the bottom down and floats keeping the top floating.  Gill nets are also vertical nets that trap fish via their gills being caught in the net.

Promising Initiative by GPIC

The Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) fish farming activities began in 1996 with a capacity of 10,000 fish. An area of 625 sq. meter forms part of the natural marine environment surrounding the industrial location, has been turned into a fish farming area. The three main species raised in the farm are Black Sea Bream (Shim), Mullet (Meid) and Rabbit Fish (Saffee).  By 2001, the capacity had increased to 30,000 fish. By 2012, capacity had reached 80,000 fish, and by 2015 100,000 fish.

The restocking of the surrounding waters has long been carried out by GPIC as part of their CSR initiatives. Each year, the company releases batches of sea bream into the local waters to replenish the fish stocks of the surrounding marine areas.  In August, 2008, 80,000 hamour and 20,000 subaiti bream, weighing between 80-100gm, were released into the sea. Today the capacity of fishes released to restock the surround marine waters stands at 100,000 fishes. (GPIC Sustainability Report, 2014, Building a Greener Future, 156pp).

Also Read: Dugongs in Local Bahrain Waters

Green Finance in the Middle East: An Overview

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Green finance is among the most important enablers that would boost innovation and increase the adoption of green solutions and practices across different industrial sectors. Green finance, which has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, provides public well-being and social equity while reducing environmental risks and improving ecological integrity.

green-finance

Middle East is making good progress towards green growth and low-carbon economy. “The latest regional trends highlight the need for green financing mechanisms to support transition to green economy”, said Ruba Al-Zu’bi, a well-known sustainability expert. “While green may be the obvious feasible and sustainable approach, access to finance makes it more appealing for small and medium enterprises and to individuals to promptly take the right decision”, she added.

Jordan is one of the earliest proponents of green finance in the Middle East. “Green finance in Jordan is being offered through public channels, such as the Jordan Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Fund (JREEEF), commercial banks, micro-finance institutions as well as International Financial Institutions”, said Ruba.  “Most of green finance mechanisms are supported by technical assistance, awareness-raising and targeted marketing activities, all of which are crucial to success of green projects”, she said.

green-finance

In the GCC, the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) is gearing up to launch a $500 million green bond, the first in the region. This green bond will provide a boost to renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors, and is expected to catalyze sustainable development projects in the GCC.

To sum up, green finance will act as a major enabler for local, regional and international financing needs of green projects. The regional interest in green technologies and project is expected to provide impetus to climate change mitigation and adaptation projects across the Middle East region. The key to success, according to Ruba Al-Zu’bi, will be market readiness, effective governance frameworks, capacity-building and technology transfer.

أزمه المياه في مصر

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تعاني مصر في السنوات الاخيرة من شح شديد في المياه و يعد توزيع المياه غير المتكافئ و اساءه استخدام موارد المياه وتقنيات الري غير الفعاله بعض العوامل الرئيسيه التي تلعب دورا مدمرا للأمن المائي فيالبلاد.

يعد نهر النيل شريان الحياة في مصر حيث  يغطي متطلبا ت الزراعة و الصناعه و هو المصدر الرئيسيلمياه الشرب للسكان. ان ارتفاع معدلات النمو السكاني و التنمية الاقتصادية السريعة  في دول حوض النيل  بالإضافة الى التلوث و التدهور  البيئي آخذُ باستنزاف الموارد المائية في مصر.

water_problems_egypt

 و تواجه مصر   عجزا مائيا يقدر  بسبع بليون متر مكعب سنويا .وفي حقيقة الامر فإن الامم المتحدة قد حذرت من نفاذ المياه في مصر بحلول عام 2025.

دعونا نلقي نظره فاحصه على العوامل الرئيسيه التي تؤثر على الامن المائي في مصر.

الانفجار السكاني

ان العدد السكاني في مصر اّخذ بالتكاثر بمعدل ينذر بالخطر , ولقد زاد بنسبه 41 بالمئه منذ بداية التسعينيات. تشير التقارير الاخيرة من قبل الحكومة الى ان حوالي 4,700   حديثي الولادة تضاف الى عدد السكان كل أسبوع و تشير التوقعات المستقبليه  الى ان عدد السكان سيرتفع من 80 مليون الى 98.7 مليون بحلول عام 2025.

ان الزيادة السكانية السريعة من شأنها ان تضاعف الضغط على الامداد المائي من خلال زيادة الاحتياجات المائية  للاستهلاك المحلي و زيادة استخدام مياه الري  لتلبيه الطلب على الغذاء.

الري غير الفعال

تحصل مصر على نسبه اقل من 80 ملم من الهطول المطري سنويا,وتعد ما نسبته 6 بالمئه من اراضيها فقط صالحا للزراعة وما تبقى فهو صحراء.وهذا بدوره  يؤدي الى الافراط في الري واستخدام تقنيات الري المسرف كالري السطحي ( الري بالغمر) و هي طريقه قديمه للري حيث يتم اغراق القطعة الزراعيه بالمياه.

industrial-pollution-nile

Industrial pollution is wrecking havoc in Nile

في الوقت الحالي,فان شبكة الري تستمد بالكامل من سد اسوان العالي و هذا بدوره ينظم اكثر من 18,000 ميل من القنوات الرئيسية و القنوات الفرعيه التي تروي الاراضي الزراعيه المجاوره للنهر. يعد هذا النظام غير فعال , حيث يقدر معدل الفاقد من مياه النيل بفعل التبخر 3 مليارات متر مكعب سنويا . ان من شأن  انخفاض الامداد المائي  ان يقود الى انخفاض الاراضي الصالحة للزراعة و حيث ان قطاع الزراعه يشكل اكبر رب عمل للشباب فان شح المياه يمكن ان يقود الى زيادة معدلات البطالة.

التلوث

 اصبحت المخلفات الزراعية والنفايات الصناعية السائلة  و مياه الصرف الصحي ُتلقى بغير اهتمام في نهر النيل مما يجعلها تدريجيا غير صالحة للاستهلاك البشري. اضف الى ذلك فإن مياه الصرف الصحي القادمة من الاحياء الفقيرة ومناطق عديدة في القاهره اضحت تفرغ في نهر النيل وذلك لنقص  المحطات المعالجة لتلك المياه.

 تلك المخلفات الزراعية عاده ما تحتوي على ملوثات من مبيدات الحشرات و الاعشاب مما يؤثر سلبا على مياه النهر. كذلك النفايات الصناعية السائله غالبا ما تكون شديدة السميه وتحتوي على معادن ثقيلة و التي يمكن ان تتحد مع المواد الصلبه العالقة في مياه الصرف الصحي لتشكل الوحل. كل هذه العوامل مجتمعه معا من شأنها ان تلوث نهر النيل و تنذر بشؤم للأجيال القادمة.

الاضطرابات الاقليميه

تسيطر مصر على غالبيه الموارد المائية المستخرجه من نهر النيل بمقتضى معاهدة الحقبه الاستعمارية التي تضمن حصة  ما نسبته 90 بالمئه من نهر النيل و تمنع الدول المجاوره لها من الحصول ولو على قطره واحده من النيل من دون الحصول على إذنها .وعلى الرغم من ذلك فان هذا لا يمنع  البلدان الواقعه على نهر النيل  مثل بوروندي و اثيوبيا من استغلال الاضطرابات السياسيه التي تعصف بمصر وكسب المزيد من السيطرة على حقوق  النيل. ورغم ان نهر النيل يزود مصر بما نسبته 95 بالمئه من المياه العذبة   فإن فقدان بعض الامدادات المائية يمكن ان يشكل متاعب إضافيه لمصر.

الختام

إن قضيه المياه في مصر تتصاعد بنسبه مثيره للقلق. بحلول عام 2020 ,سوف تستهلك مصر بما يقدَر 20 بالمئه اكثر  من المياه مما كانت عليه. مع فقدان قبضتها على النيل  فان شح المياه في مصر  من شأنه ان يهدد استقرار البلاد و الهيمنة الاقليميه. و هذا يحتم على الحكومة المصريه و جميع السكان التحرك بسرعة وبشكل حاسم للتخفيف من شح المياه  وتطبيق اساليب و تقنيات اكثر فاعليه للمحافظة على المياه و منع تلوثها  ووضع وتطوير خطط من شأنها السيطرة على تلوث المياه وجعل تقنيات الري اكثر فاعليه و كفاءة و ذلك لتجنب وقوع كارثة.

ترجمة

سلام عبدالكريم عبابنه

مهندسه مدنية في شركة المسار المتحده للمقاولات – مهتمه في مجال البيئه و الطاقة المتجدده

Islamic Perspectives on Overpopulation, Overconsumption and Climate Change

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Overpopulation – and incipient overconsumption – are the twin products of the capitalist system. Consumerism is characterized by the desire for material goods. It is the dominant ideology of our times and holds responsibility for the Climate Crisis. This is as consumerism is intimately linked with anthropocentrism, environmental destruction and global inequality Moreover, Islam can provide a thoroughgoing critique of the prevailing socio-economic system.  As such, it is necessary to develop a strong Islamic platform in order to work towards economic justice and sustainability.

indigenous-communities-deforestation

Overpopulation can be better understood through analysis of overconsumption and resource depletion. The scale of the problem can be evidenced by high birth rates in the developing world as well as the global increase in life expectancy. Indeed, capitalism and development have fueled medical advances and raised the average standard of living. Nonetheless, the notion of continuous development and human progress raises serious ethical concerns.

Hence, the necessity of challenging, “the premise of perpetual growth in consumption, which puts it on a collision course with the natural world”. [1] Consequently, Islamic thought and practice can help shift the status quo. This is especially pertinent in the developed world. Therefore, much of blame goes to, “those in rich countries currently responsible of overconsumption”. [2] Also, this relates to Islamic practice. More specifically, “the focus will be on the individual’s spirituality…rather than working solely on the outer material world”. [3] Thus, Islam can mitigate the worst effects of resource depletion by emphasizing moderation and self-reflection.

In the long-term, restructuring individual behavior can influence the outcome of the Climate Crisis. This is as Islamic teachings can encourage good citizenship and motivate people to be less materialistic. On the whole, such individual transformation can curb overconsumption and reduce the effects of Climate Change.

food-overconsumption

In addition, overpopulation and overconsumption link with Islamic concerns around environmental sustainability. Environmental sustainability relates to, whether environmental resources will be protected and maintained for future generations. As a result, “any transition towards a sustainable world can only be effective if societal changes complement technological advancements”. [4] Islam is well equipped to lead the way. Islamic teachings can act as a revolutionary tool for social transformation and cut the cycle of overpopulation and overconsumption.

As the Qur’an stresses individual accountability, Islam has, “no conceptual difficulty in addressing questions of regulating population in the light of available resources”. [5] On the whole, such social concern is also reflected in the Islamic response to Climate Change. Sustainability must be embedded within the wider Islamic framework in order to raise consciousness of Climate Change. Hence, Muslim scholars (ulama) are obligated to, “issue fatwas on the environment”. [6] Taking decisive action is also an educational requirement.

Therefore, “governments could introduce curriculums in schools highlighting themes found in the Quran such as the importance of nature, treating animals compassionately and the prohibition on wastefulness”.  [6] If this advice is heeded, then young people will be better prepared to deal with the long-term consequences of Climate Change. On the whole, new Islamic initiatives are necessary to inspire eco-consciousness and encourage systemic change.

Moreover, overpopulation and overconsumption link with Islamic concerns about inequality and poverty. To a certain extent, this discourse also relates to Climate Change. Although, “average living standards have risen… the gap between the very rich and the very poor has broadened”. [7] Hence, citizens of low income countries are ill equipped to face the challenges to come. This is as, “poverty and environmental issues are interrelated”. [7] Furthermore, environmental problems are more severe among the poor and marginalized in the Global South.

Environmental degradation is fueled by overconsumption in the Global North and adds to structural problems in the developing world. Meanwhile, a growing population in the Global South- and the prevalence of large families- puts strain on natural resources and negatively impacts quality of life.  Subsequently, the Climate Crisis “increases the impact of floods and other environmental catastrophes” [7]. Islamic teachings offer a powerful alternative. Consequently, “Islamic microfinance holds tremendous potential to tap into … Islamic donor streams – zakat, sadaqat, and waqf – and channel them toward strategic, impact-oriented goals” [8].

To conclude, Islamic teachings offer a practical approach to overpopulation and overconsumption. By providing a visionary perspective on socio-economic problems, Islam is useful for engaging with the Climate Crisis.

Bibliography

[1] Lent, J., 2018. What Will It Really Take To Avoid Collapse? | MAHB. [online] MAHB. Available at: <https://mahb.stanford.edu/blog/avoid-collapse/> [Accessed 10 August 2020].

[2] Russell, R., 2017. Let’s Talk About Overpopulation… | DW | 10.02.2017. [online] DW.COM. Available at: <https://www.dw.com/en/lets-talk-about-overpopulation/a-37481009> [Accessed 10 August 2020].

[3] Samsudi, S., 2017. Islam And Sustainable Consumption. [online] The Star Online. Available at: <https://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/ikim-views/2017/05/09/islam-and-sustainable-consumption-if-we-recognise-that-the-ecological-crisis-is-a-reflection-of-a-sp> [Accessed 10 August 2020].

[4] Koop, Fermin. 2020. “Overconsumption Is The Bane Of Sustainability, New Study Concludes”. ZME Science. https://www.zmescience.com/science/overconsumption-is-the-bane-of-sustainability-new-study-concludes/.

[5] Baig, Naeem. 2014. “Climate Change: A Muslim Perspective | Islamic Circle Of North America (ICNA)”. Icna.Org. https://www.icna.org/climate-change-a-muslim-perspective/.

[6] Casey, Michael, and Karl Ritter. 2012. “Some Wish Islam Would Inform Climate Talks”. News.Yahoo.Com. https://news.yahoo.com/wish-islam-inform-climate-debate-064710450.html.

[7] Bharadwaj, Niranjan. 2016. “The Relationship Between Poverty And The Environment”. Voices Of Youth. https://www.voicesofyouth.org/blog/relationship-between-poverty-and-environment.

[8] Kustin, Bridget. 2015. “Does Islamic Finance Reduce Poverty?”. World Economic Forum. https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/10/does-islamic-finance-reduce-poverty/.

عِقْد العمل: المدن وأنسنة أهداف التنمية المستدامة

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بقي أمامنا 10 سنوات على إنجاز ما التزمنا به ضمن الأجندة العالمية للتنمية المستدامة 2030. إلا أن وتيرة التقدم في تحقيق أهداف التنمية المستدامة أبطأ من المطلوب. في كانون الثاني/يناير 2020، وفي محاولة لتسريع التقدم وتكثيف الجهود، أطلق الأمين العام للأمم المتحدة أنطونيو غوتيريش “عِقْد العمل والإنجاز من أجل التنمية المستدامة”. ويستند العِقْد إلى ثلاثة مستويات من العمل: العمل العالمي، والعمل المحلي، والعمل الشعبي.

وعقب أسابيع من الإعلان، ضرب وباء “كوفيد-19” الكرة الأرضية وفاقم التحديات أمام جهود تحقيق أهداف التنمية المستدامة حول العالم. وفي حين أن رفاه الإنسان يقع في صميم التنمية المستدامة، إلا أن التوقعات تشير إلى ارتفاع معدل الفقر المدقع العالمي إلى 8.4 – 8.8 % في العام 2020، وهو ما يقارب معدلاته في العام 2017. وهذا يعني أن ما يقدر بنحو 40 إلى 60 مليون شخص قد يُدفعون إلى براثن الفقر المدقع، مما يتسبب في أول زيادة في الفقر العالمي منذ أكثر من 20 عاماً. وهذا وحده كفيل بتهديد معظم أهداف التنمية المستدامة في جميع أنحاء العالم إن لم يكن كلها.

cities-sustainable-development-goals

Achieving low-carbon, sustainable growth in Arab cities is a complex task.

وبينما يشير الخبراء والمنظمات إلى هذه الزيادة الملحوظة في الفقر، تبرز الظواهر الوخيمة التالية كأولويات نحتاج جميعاً إلى فهمها ومعالجتها كونها في قلب الأهداف التنموية: تعتبر النساء والفتيات من أكبر المتأثرين بالصدمة الاقتصادية، كما يتأثر 90% من الأطفال حول العالم بإغلاق المدارس وبما يرتبط بذلك من توقف تزويد المكملات الغذائية واللقاحات. ومن الملاحظ أيضا ازدياد مستويات عدم العدالة والفروقات الاجتماعية بأنواعها، وتصاعد معدلات الجوع، مع التلويح بعدم القدرة على الالتزام بمستويات خفض الانبعاثات اللازمة للتصدي للتغير المناخي.

لقد حان الوقت لتحديد من تركنا خلفنا من فئات هشة ولحشد وتمكين الجهود المحلية للأخذ بزمام المبادرة نحو تحقيق انتعاش عالمي مستدام.

لماذا المدن؟

المدن هي محركات حيوية للنمو الاقتصادي والرفاه الاجتماعي. فالمدن التي تخطط وتدير وتديم خدمات البنية التحتية والتنمية البشرية بشكل كفؤ توفر فرصا هائلة للحد من الفقر وتحقيق الرفاه الاجتماعي. وفي إطار التنمية المستدامة، يمكن للمدن أن تقود عملية التحول اللازمة لتحقيق أهداف التنمية المستدامة، والأهم من ذلك أن تحفز العمل المحلي من أجل مجتمعات منعة وصحية وعادلة

SDGs-Cities-Arab-World

إطار أهداف التنمية المستدامة – لماذا؟

تؤدي المخاطر والتحديات المتنامية والمرتبطة بالبنى التحتية والتنمية البشرية والتماسك والسلامة المجتمعية، علاوة على تغير المناخ والهجرات البشرية؛ إلى تعقيدات إضافية في مهام الحكومات المحلية. وقد يشكل الإطار العام لأهداف التنمية المستدامة اللغة المشتركة والإطار الشامل لفهم تلك التحديات والتعقيدات والتصدي لها. ففي حين أن المبادئ والأهداف الشاملة للتنمية المستدامة موحدة في جميع أنحاء العالم، إلا أنها تتيح المجال للكثير من المواءمة والابتكار من قبل المدن للاستجابة لاحتياجاتها المحلية الفريدة والمعقدة. وتعد الروابط والتداخلات المتعددة بين مختلف أهداف التنمية المستدامة أحد أهم محفزات الابتكار لتطوير الحلول التي تعالج أكثر من أولوية وتحقق أكثر من هدف. ومن جانب آخر، فإن المحددات المالية التي تواجهها معظم المدن تعتبر أيضا محفزات للابتكار ولتطوير ونشر التكنولوجيا التي من شأنها أن تساهم في الانتعاش الاقتصادي والعدالة الاجتماعية.

الاستعراضات المحلية الطوعية (Voluntary Local Reviews)

الاستعراض المحلي الطوعي هو أداة تستخدمها الحكومات المحلية للإبلاغ عن التقدم المحرز في تحقيق أهداف التنمية المستدامة. في العام 2018، أطلقت مدينة نيويورك أول مراجعة محلية طوعية كوسيلة لمأسسة عملية إعداد التقارير حول التقدم المحرز في تحقيق التنمية المستدامة. ومن الممكن تعريف الاستعراض المحلي الطوعي على أنه منتج ملموس لإشراك المواطنين، والشركاء، والمدن النظيرة، والمجتمع العالمي في تحقيق أهداف التنمية المستدامة.

ومع الوقت، تبين أن القيمة المضافة من الرحلة لا تقل أهمية عن الوجهة أو المخرج النهائي. فقد ساهمت عملية المراجعة وإعداد التقرير الطوعي في تحفيز التعاون بين مختلف المؤسسات المعنية في المدينة من خلال جمع البيانات وتحليلها، وتحديد وتقييم التقدم المحرز من مختلف الأوجه، علاوة على تعزيز الوعي وبناء القدرات بين الموظفين المعنيين. واستمر هذا الزخم والتعاون إلى ما بعد الانتهاء من إعداد التقرير، مما يبرز مخرجا هاما آخر من عملية المراجعة المحلية. كما أثبتت الاستعراضات المحلية أهميتها كمنصات لنشر المعرفة وتعزيز مبادئ الشفافية والمساءلة كقيم جوهرية للتنمية المستدامة الحقيقية.

المدن تقود التغيير

على خلاف الاستعراض الوطني الطوعي (Voluntary National Review) ، فإن الاستعراض المحلي الطوعي لا يتمتع بأي صفة رسمية في الأمم المتحدة. لذا، لا توجد إجراءات أو معايير معتمدة لإعداده، مما يترك الباب مفتوحا أمام كل مدينة لتصميم وإعداد المراجعة التي توائم احتياجاتها وأولوياتها.

تقود بعض المدن مثل نيويورك وهلسنكي المسيرة في متابعة تحقيق أهداف التنمية المستدامة. وينضم تباعا العديد من المدن من جميع أنحاء العالم من خلال شبكات ومنصات مختلفة.  ويشمل ذلك عددا من المدن الصغيرة ذات الموارد المحدودة التي تقوم بخطوات صغيرة ولكنها ملموسة على نفس المسار.

في حين توفر الاستعراضات الطوعية معلومات موثقة حول التقدم المحرز، فهي توفر أيضا السياق الصحيح للحوار المشترك والاتفاق بين مختلف الجهات المعنية على الأولويات والأهداف ومؤشرات الأداء الرئيسية. ومن بين بعض الالتزامات التي أعلنتها مدينة نيويورك في استعراضها الطوعي: الوصول إلى الحياد الكربوني بحلول عام 2050 من خلال السعي إلى تنفيذ إجراءات صارمة لتخفيف انبعاثات غازات الاحتباس الحراري من المباني، والاعتماد على مصادر نظيفة للكهرباء بنسبة 100٪، بالتوازي مع خلق فرص عمل خضراء وتحميل الملوثين الكلف المتعلقة بالتغير المناخي؛ بالإضافة إلى إيجاد طرق لإعادة الاستخدام النافع لكافة المخلفات الحيوية للمدينة بحلول عام 2030، حيث ستساهم هذه الاستثمارات  في تحقيق أهداف الطاقة المتجددة وتقليل نسبة النفايات الذاهبة إلى المكبات إلى الصفر؛ كما تضمنت المراجعة العديد من الالتزامات الأخرى المتعلقة بالبيئة والصحة والشمولية المالية. وحدد الاستعراض المحلي الطوعي لمدينة نيويورك 10 مؤشرات أداء رئيسية لتتبع التقدم المحرز على أهداف التنمية المستدامة.

من ناحية أخرى، تعترف مدينة هلسنكي بأهمية الاستدامة في جعلها مركزًا عالميًا للابتكار.  وتضع هلسنكي التعليم الجيد والعمل اللائق والنمو الاقتصادي على رأس الأهداف التي تسعى إلى تحقيقها ضمن رؤية المدينة.

وبنظرة أكثر قربا، تيرز في منطقتنا العربية، وتحديدا في الأردن، مجموعة من المبادرات التي تقودها المدن والسلطات المحلية. فقد انضمت العاصمة الأردنية عمّان إلى العديد من الشبكات والمنصات لتعزيز تبنيها لاستراتيجيات الطاقة النظيفة، والانبعاثات الكربونية المنخفضة، والمدن المنعة. كما تعمل جهات أخرى هامة، مثل بنك تنمية المدن والقرى، على تبني برامج خاصة لدعم الاستدامة وتمكين البلديات المحلية من تنفيذ مشاريع استراتيجية في هذا المجال.

amman-sustainability

وعلى نطاق أصغر، تُظهر مدينة سحاب قيادة وريادة حقيقية في التحول نحو التنمية المستدامة. وتعاني سحاب من نسبة  فقر تصل إلى  54%، وتبلغ مساحتها الإجمالية 12 كم2 يقطن فيها حوالي  75  ألف مواطن أردني بالإضافة إلى 40,000 لاجئ سوري. تواجه سحاب العديد من التحديات البيئية، وتضم المدينة اثنتين من أكبر المناطق الصناعية في المملكة. وعلى الرغم من محدودية الموارد المتاحة لمدن مثل سحاب، إلا أنها تبرز كنموذج يحتذى في تصميم والبدء بتنفيذ استراتيجية خاصة بالطاقة النظيفة (كفاءة الطاقة والطاقة المتجددة).  كما انضمت سحاب، مدفوعة بشغف فريقها والتزامه، إلى ميثاق رؤساء المدن والمحليات العالمي للمناخ والطاقة (Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy) والذي يهدف إلى دعم وإشراك المدن والبلدات في تحقيق أهداف الطاقة والمناخ.

المدن – كبيرة كانت أم صغيرة – هي الحمض النووي المتكامل لأهداف التنمية المستدامة. ومن خلال وضع المدن وتفاعلاتها في الصف الأمامي، فإننا نضفي الطابع الإنساني على أهداف التنمية المستدامة ونقربها من القضايا المحلية والجهات الفاعلة. ولا يمكن أن يكون الوقت أكثر ملاءمة للاستفادة من إطار أهداف التنمية المستدامة لإنشاء وتعزيز الشراكات والتعاون بين الأفراد والمؤسسات للعمل معا على وضع وتنفيذ خطط مشتركة لانتعاش اقتصادي مستدام.  

How COVID-19 Shifted Public Attention Towards Sustainable Living

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Since the COVID-19 disease outbreak, it hasn’t been particularly easy to track down good news, especially on a global level. Due to huge decreases in travel, however, emissions dropped drastically and gave Mother Nature a long overdue chance to catch her breath. For the most part, globally speaking, the pandemic has also been a catalyst for people and communities working together in the fight against COVID-19.

Parts of this increase in working together involve more sustainable practices in a world full of factory shutdowns and increased difficulties in getting food. This sustainability silver lining is widespread, and here are some acts of sustainability during the pandemic that are getting a lot of attention in the public eye.

Gardening

Gardening has been gaining a lot of popularity since the beginning of the pandemic, and for many good reasons. Not only is the time spent outside very good for stress and anxiety relief, but the final product is (if all goes well) some healthy food. Both personal gardens and community gardens have been gaining popularity since city lockdowns, and the latter is also helping shrink the amount of food deserts found in urban areas.

This positive spiral effect of gardening makes it a hopeful pick for a trend. Gardening helps the mind while creating products that help the body, and the very existence of the food also helps with financial issues and overcoming burdens to healthy food options.

backyard-garden

Communication

Sustainability is a popular trend in travel, with things like electric cars increasing their sales quarter after quarter, and for good reason! The vehicles legitimately help save the planet, and with gas prices so high, not paying for fuel makes the vehicle an investment that slowly-but-surely pays for itself. But the only thing better than clean travel, is no travel, and the coronavirus pandemic has been a catalyst for many innovations caused by the inability to travel and gather.

Most businesses that have moved to the remote work settings have continued similar levels of output from a business standpoint… all while their employees’ only commute was from the bedroom to the kitchen table. Take into account the energy saved at empty office buildings, and a wonderful byproduct of remote work has been drastic reductions in energy use.

As many businesses weigh the pros and cons of a life remote, there is reason to be hopeful that many will consider these sustainable practices and allow willing employees to continue working hard while minimizing their work-related carbon footprints.

Education

With schools also moving to digital platforms, opportunities for sustainability assessments are aplenty. Many colleges are utilizing downtime to plan out better sustainability initiatives to undertake when campuses open back up. Renewable energy has long been part of most universities’ growth plans, and with empty campuses (and minimal dips in tuition), construction on renewable plans can get underway.

online-education

Educating students on these initiatives and the reasons they are important leaves a lasting effect on sustainability as well. Students share their knowledge, and sustainable ideas spread.

Also Read: Digital Literacy – Empowering Sustainable Development

Post-COVID

Whether it be a sustainability movement listed here, or one of the many other ones, continuing to implement these changes and educate about the reasons they are important must last long after COVID lockdowns cease. It’s understandable and expected that the first few months after a vaccine is readily available will result in surpluses of travel and overuse, but reminding ourselves and others that one of the few silver linings of COVID-19 pandemic was the positive effect on the environment can help ensure changes continue for the good.

Guidelines for An Eco-Friendly Eidul Fitr

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The culmination of the holy month of Ramadan is with the festival of Eidul Fitr or Feast of Breaking the Fast. Eid is considered as a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide and to show a common goal of unity. The main aspects of Eid are congregational prayers in mosques, open areas and parks, get to gather of families and friends at home or restaurants, making and eating special dishes and wearing ceremonial dresses.

Eidul Fitr, like other local, national and religious festivals often have a major impact on the environmental resources. Extra food, drinks and clothing are made, used and consumed. People spend a fortune on these items. The cost and environmental consideration is often being neglected, not considered and forgotten.

ecofriendly-eid

The celebrations and festivity are often extravagant and cause pollution and harm to the environmental resources. The day starts with the special prayers whereby men, women and children gather to offer prayers. The site of praying after the ritual is often plagued by litter, rubbish and waste scattered all over the place and even blowing in the air and migrating to nearby safe havens for unaesthetic accumulations.

Special food is prepared in houses which are visited by the relatives and neighbours. This causes great food wastage often due to under utilization as food is prepared more than the number of visitors and with a feeling that it should not be finished. On the other hand, people also eat limited quantity of special food less than expected or prepared which goes waste quickly. This includes special breakfast, lavish snacks, sumptuous lunches and extravagant dinners during the festival days.

To supply the population with the required quantity of food, government makes huge efforts in procuring or rather over-procuring food stuff for local consumption. It includes meat, poultry, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, cereals, grains, packaged food etc. Meat and poultry is lavishly eaten during the Eid holidays. The demand of beef, mutton, chicken etc increases to around 50% of the normal demand, which in itself is very high.

Eidul Fitr also prompts extra and panic buying of food items and eatables, which are out of shelves quickly in the super markets and cold stores during the last days of Ramadan. This trend again leads to more wastage as the food items bought are not being fully and efficiently utilized and ultimately end up in garbage bins.

Over the period of years, the festivities are increasing with more buying of items and eatables per head. Consumption of eatables has increased many folds in the Middle East  and people have become more wasteful due to rise in income, living standards and affordability. But affordability does not mean that wastage should increase.

While planning for Eidul Fitr celebrations, it is now imperative that we need to think twice before buying, procuring any food items, clothing etc and taking environment into consideration.

Let us change our attitude towards festivity and wastage and celebrate a Sustainable Eid.

sustainable eid

How to Make Your Eidul Fitr Eco-friendly

  • Buying clothes and dressings with minimum packaging.
  • Buy food items in calculated quantities based on the actual requirements and number of guests to be served.
  • It is better to serve food in limited quantities rather than extravagantly in large dishes and quantities.
  • Educating guests in avoiding leftovers and wasting food.
  • Serving drinks in small glasses
  • Avoid using disposables such as cutlery, plates, napkins, tissues etc.
  • Giving leftover food to the less privileged and poor people in the neighbourhood

Let us endeavor to celebrate the Eid in an environment-friendly and sustainable manner.

Sustainability In Tourism: How To Choose Energy-Efficient Hotel Lighting

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With sustainability becoming today’s main concern, the tourism industry must learn to prioritize sustainable practices, including the thoughtful use of lighting solutions.

Often overlooked, hotel lighting is a subtle source of unmanaged energy consumption and carbon emissions. As eco-consciousness increasingly influences travelers’ decision-making, balancing aesthetics, functionality, and consumption has never been more critical.

tips to choose ecofriendly hotel lighting

This article explores the contribution power-saving lighting has to sustainability in the tourism sector. By carefully selecting lighting solutions, hotels can reduce their carbon footprint and enhance their overall sustainability profile.

The article also highlights the multifaceted benefits of resource-efficient alternatives. You’ll find practical pointers for choosing eco-friendly hotel lighting. By the end of this post, you will gain valuable insights into navigating its intricacies. These benefit the environment while contributing to a hotel’s long-term success and marketability.

What Makes It Great?

Energy-efficient hotel lighting provides many advantages for hotels and guests. First, it reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions, allowing hotels to cut emissions while enjoying cost savings. Second, most eco-friendly options’ extended lifespans (in the case of LEDs) also lessen the need for frequent maintenance. Again, that leads to less waste generation and enhanced sustainability.

Add to that how such lighting enhances guests’ experiences by expertly creating the desired ambiance, and you have an excellent option for illuminating accommodations.

As you can see, embracing eco-friendly lighting solutions, like hospitality LED lighting, allows hotels to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability while receiving tons of benefits.

The Impact Of Lighting On Sustainability

The impact of lighting on sustainability can’t be understated. Traditional lighting systems used in hotels often have adverse environmental consequences, such as excessive energy consumption and increased carbon emissions. Conventional technologies like incandescent or halogen bulbs are known for their waste, contributing to higher electricity usage and a larger carbon footprint.

In contrast, energy-efficient lighting options, such as LEDs and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL), consume significantly less energy while delivering equal or better illumination.

By adopting eco-friendly hotel lighting, the tourism industry can substantially cut its overall energy consumption and environmental impact, contributing to global conservation goals. 

Assessing Lighting Needs And Identifying Areas For Upgrades

When choosing energy-efficient hotel lighting, these are the first steps you should take.

Take a comprehensive look at different hotel spaces, considering functionality, aesthetics, safety, and specific requirements or regulations. Then, tailor power-saving lighting choices to each area, ensuring optimal illumination while minimizing waste.

This assessment forms a solid foundation for informed decisions when selecting suitable eco-friendly lighting solutions.

Likewise, determine specific areas requiring upgrades by evaluating lighting intensity, color temperature, and desired ambiance. This targeted approach maximizes energy efficiency and sustainability improvements throughout the hotel, focusing on resources with the highest potential for savings. 

Research And Evaluate Options

When choosing energy-efficient hotel lighting, conducting thorough research on available options and evaluating their efficiency and performance is crucial.

Begin by exploring lighting technologies such as LED, CFL, and intelligent lighting systems. Understand their benefits, energy efficiency ratings, lifespan, and cost-effectiveness to see if they align with your hotel’s requirements and environmental goals.

Aside from that, evaluate their energy efficiency. Look for lighting products with indicators for high resource efficiency ratings, such as ENERGY STAR certification. Also, consider factors like lumens per watt, color temperature, and color rendering index (CRI) to ensure optimal lighting quality and cost-effectiveness.

Monitor and compare the energy consumption of different lighting systems over time; that lets you know if you’re getting ongoing energy savings and maintaining a well-lit and resource-efficient environment.

By combining thorough research with vigilance, hotels can stay on track with their sustainability goals.

Consider Ambiance, Function, And Aesthetics

As mentioned, it’s crucial to consider each space’s desired ambiance, functionality, and aesthetics.

Consider the unique atmosphere you wish to create in guest rooms, lobbies, and restaurants. Assess the specific lighting requirements for functional purposes, such as task lighting for workspaces or accent lighting to highlight architectural features.

For the aesthetic part, ensure that the lighting choices align with each space’s overall design and theme.

By carefully considering these subtle yet crucial components, you can select eco-friendly lighting solutions that enhance each area’s visual appeal and functionality. 

Seek Expert Advice

If you want hands-on guidance, lighting experts can provide valuable insights and recommendations tailored to your hotel’s needs.

They assess your current lighting setup, analyze power usage, and propose customized solutions to optimize energy efficiency. You can then work with electricians and other contractors to ensure proper installation and compatibility with existing infrastructure.

By engaging with these professionals, you tap into their expertise and industry knowledge, making well-informed decisions that align with your conservation goals. Their guidance will help you navigate the complexities of eco-friendly lighting and ensure a successful implementation that maximizes savings and enhances the overall lighting experience for guests.

Getting Staff And Guests On Board

Educating staff and guests about energy-efficient hotel lighting is crucial for maximizing its impact.

By providing training and awareness programs, hotel staff can understand the importance of energy conservation and their role in optimizing lighting efficiency. They learn how to operate lighting controls effectively, such as dimmers or occupancy sensors, and implement best practices for energy-saving lighting usage.

In the same vein, educating guests about the hotel’s commitment to sustainability and providing information on energy-efficient lighting can encourage them to be conscious of their energy use during their stay.

By promoting a culture of sustainability and actively involving staff and guests, hotels can foster a collaborative effort towards achieving greater energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

environmentally-friendly hotel lighting

Evaluate And Track Your Hotel’s Consumption

To ensure the effectiveness of your energy-efficient hotel lighting, it’s crucial to continuously evaluate and track your hotel’s performance.

Regularly assess energy consumption and compare it with pre-upgraded levels to gauge the impact of your lighting initiatives. Look at key performance indicators such as carbon emission rates and cost savings to know if the solutions work.

Additionally, gather feedback from guests and staff regarding the lighting quality, comfort, and overall satisfaction.

By evaluating and tracking your hotel’s performance, you can identify areas for improvement, make necessary adjustments, and maintain a sustainable and efficient lighting system that meets the needs of your guests, staff, and conservation goals.

Take The Shift

By embracing energy efficiency in lighting choices, hotels can contribute to a greener future while creating a welcoming and eco-conscious environment for guests. It’s time to illuminate hotels responsibly and pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable tourism industry.