The Health Impacts of Drinking Contaminated Water

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Drinking dirty or contaminated water causes numerous health problems, all of which one should be aware of. The contamination of water sources can start from the main water sources such as city water supplies, rivers, streams, and lakes, or well water supplies. Moreover, the main water source such as groundwater might get contaminated from toxic chemicals found underground, such as fluoride or arsenic, if the water is not filtered properly. Furthermore, contamination can occur from something as dangerous as a badly designed hazardous waste site or industrial site, exposing the water to numerous dangerous chemicals.

As previously mentioned, contaminated water has several health effects on its consumers. Here are a few effects that occur due to drinking contaminated water.

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Effects of Drinking Contaminated Water

Unfortunately, the health effects of drinking contaminated water can’t be detected or seen immediately. Additionally, components such as age, health, and physical conditions of those affected define the extent of the effects experienced. Some of the physical effects experienced due to consuming contaminated water include:

  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea
  • Intestinal cramps
  • Stomach pains
  • Dehydration
  • Irritation of the eyes, nose, and skin

These are the immediate effects that can be experienced in the short term. But, as previously mentioned, not all people experience effects right away.

In addition, some long-term effects can be experienced that don’t show until later on. These include, but are not limited to:

  • E. coli bacterial infections
  • Coliform bacterial infections
  • Lead poisoning
  • Arsenic poisoning
  • Radium poisoning
  • Exposure to unwanted pharmaceuticals
  • Exposure to herbicides
  • Infections caused by microbial pathogens

All of the above mentioned water contaminants can enter water supplies through different means. The chemicals can be absorbed into the ground, broken pipes can cause the entrance of unwanted pathogens into the water, and the dumping of waste into water sources can do the same. Some of these contaminants can be avoided through the use of a quality sediment filter. But, what are some other steps we can take to reduce water contamination?

clean-water-for-home

How to Control Water Contamination?

  • Do not throw any household chemicals or cleaning agents down the sink or toilet. The chemicals can directly affect water supply in the case of a leakage or pipe breakage. Instead, dispose of the chemicals in a nearby hazardous waste facility.
  • Do not flush pills, powder medications, or any other medical waste down the toilet or throw it down the drain. As aforementioned, medical wastes in water can be a serious issue. What you should do is search proper disposal methods for different types of medical waste and follow through with them.
  • Avoid usage of garbage disposals. Garbage disposals can be a main component of water pollution. Keep your solid wastes as they are. Don’t throw vegetables down the garbage disposal, but instead make a compost pile from your vegetable scraps.
  • Install water efficient apparatuses in your home. For instance, invest in a water-efficient toilet or sink in order to reduce water usage. This can actually help reduce water contamination issues. With an impressive 3:1 drain ratio, tankless RO system G3P800 can meet the needs of clean water drinking and water saving at the same time.

Summary

Water contamination can be brought about by several means; all equally dangerous. Through doing the steps mentioned above, you don’t only ensure your own safety from water contamination, but the safety of others as well. Keep yourself and others free from the effects of water contamination and spread the word!

Ten Tips for Green Living

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Green living is an attempt to reduce an individual’s or society’s use of the Earth’s natural resources by altering methods of transportation, energy consumption, water usage etc. Green living aims to meet present ecological, societal, and economical needs without compromising these factors for coming generations.

Also Read: How to Start Off-the-Grid Living

Reduction in the size of ecological or carbon footprint is the natural outcome of sustainable living. Water pollution, soil contamination, air pollution, waste disposal, resource conservation, wildlife protection are the major environment challenges facing the mankind.

tips for green living

When it comes to sustainability, every individual has a role to play. Any individual can adopt a green lifestyle. Here are few green living tips that may help in creating a healthy environment for you and your family, as well as for the Earth:

upcycling

  1. Follow the hierarchy of 3Rs – Reduce consumption, Reuse what you buy and Recycle the rest
  2. Practice upcycling – Convert waste materials into new materials or products of higher quality or value than the original, e.g. transforming a plastic bag into a bin liner or a plastic bottle into a seed propagator or a coconut shell into eating bowl.
  3. Compost organics – Making compost for your garden is an easy way to add nutrients to your soil while also reducing your household waste.
  4. Reuse water – Water is an invaluable but finite resource. Use sink water to flush toilets, use greywater for irrigating garden and harvest rainwater.
  5. Conserve energy – Energy is the driving force of development. Conserve it by turning-off computers at night, making a switch from incandescent to CFLs or LEDs and avoid putting appliances on standby.
  6. Rethink bottled water – Plastic water bottles take thousands of years to decompose. Buy a reusable container and fill it with purified water.
  7. Recycle old cellphones –Tens of millions of cellphones are retired each year introducing toxic substances into the environment if they go into landfills. There are plenty of reputable programs where you can recycle your phone, many which benefit noble causes.
  8. Recycle aluminium and glass – Twenty recycled aluminium cans can be made with the energy it takes to manufacture one brand new one. Likewise, every ton of glass recycled saves the equivalent of nine gallons of fuel oil needed to make glass from virgin materials.
  9. Avoid plastic bags – Around 1 trillion such bags are consumed worldwide every year which cause big interference in natural ecosystems. Some of the alternatives are cloth-based bags, such as jute and cotton, which are biodegradable as well as reusable.
  10. Plant an idea – Sustainable living is not an improbable task. Simple things, like planting a tree, can make a meaningful difference.

4 Things Every Muslim Should Do For The Planet

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When it comes to our responsibilities as Muslims in protecting the planet, there are no blurred lines. As citizens of this planet, it is our obligation to do our part, both as individuals and as a community. This means, that we look environmental sustainability in the eye – that we begin to introspect our lifestyles, and make choices that are compatible with the well being of our home and the teachings of our faith.

If you’re new to this conversation, then here’s my invitation for you: continue reading. Here are some of my top tips to help every Muslim embark on a green and eco-friendly journey.

green-muslims

1. Practice your faith

Islam teaches us to live with compassion and grace, and this includes our treatment of the planet. As Salman Zafar, Founder of EcoMENA, says: “The Holy Qur’an has a number of specific references to ecology and also contains some important principles for environmental conservation.”

Click here to learn more about the environmental teachings of Islam. Treading softly and with the planet in mind is undoubtedly part of our faith.

2. Learn the facts

We’ve all heard the terms “Climate Change” and “Global Warming.” But how many of us actually know the science behind it. When it comes to living more sustainably, we need to learn the facts. Think about it, we live in a world where the president of the most powerful country denies Climate Change.

If we want to do our part in protecting the planet, we need to know the details. One of my favourite reads has to be This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein. There are loads of resources out there. Seek them.

3. Action time

Once we become more aware of environmental issues, we are able to make better choices in our own lives. The more we know, the more we can implement positive habits into our day to day. When we talk about sustainability, we have to recognize that the choices we make matter.

We also have to believe in our own power – as individuals and as a community – for creating change. Often, government leaders, businesses and organizations make us feel helpless. In reality, what we pay for, is one of the most effective ways of voting for the world we want.

Let’s break it down now: what do we mean when we say our daily actions matter? Anything from what you wear, to what you eat, how you get from one place to another matters. When we talk about sustainability, we have to think about the amount of waste and trash we produce. There are so many ways for you to get involved, but don’t get overwhelmed.

4. Spread the word

And finally: spread the word. Who said you can’t be an eco-warrior? Climate Change is the most urgent issue we face as a global community. The finite nature of it means that the clock is ticking. We need all hands on deck.

Lead by example, and show those around you how you can live a beautifully sustainable life – one that is aligned with the teachings of our faith, the well being of our planet and our own health and wellness. It’s a win-win if you ask me.

5 Benefits of Remote Monitoring Systems

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Remote monitoring systems are fueling the proliferation of industrial revolution 4.0, partly thanks to the advancement in the Internet of Things (IoT) and data logger technologies. These systems allow organizations to have a clear, continuous, and holistic view of their processes, personnel, and equipment, as well as monitor environmental conditions that may impact their products and occupational safety.

In today’s highly competitive and regulated business environment, organizations must efficiently and consistently monitor conditions, assets and proactively detect problems. The ability to know when conditions are about to go out of range or to have early warning of a potential equipment breakdown can have substantial positive financial, reputational, and organizational implications.

Keep reading to learn more about remote monitoring and its five most significant benefits.

benefits of remote monitoring

What is Remote Monitoring?

Remote monitoring entails the use of advanced, web-connected devices placed inside target environments or equipment. In this way, the devices continuously measure, record, and transmit collected data to a centralized location, most often a server database or cloud storage service.

The beauty of remote monitoring is that it provides the ability to track, visualize, and control facilities, assets, and environmental conditions without requiring personnel to be physically on-site. That’s all thanks to various technologies that work in tandem to monitor data from a distance. These include data loggers, transmitters, wireless networks, cloud storage, data processing, and analytics.

Remote monitoring systems offer organizations heightened visibility into environmental data, asset performance, and equipment health. As a result, they can reduce operating costs, predict equipment issues, and minimize the consumption of resources.

Even better, monitoring systems can work almost autonomously with little to no input from personnel once they are up and running. They can also act as alert systems, warning personnel of impending device failure or when conditions are about to go out of the recommended range.

Which Industries Can Implement Remote Monitoring?

Previously, remote monitoring was a preserve of the manufacturing industry that used Supervisory, Control, and Data Acquisitions (SCADA) systems. In this case, it was more justifiably called remote machine monitoring: a series of sensors was installed in machines to log and report on equipment health.

More recently, however, the application of remote monitoring has extended to a variety of other industries, including:

  • Commercial building management
  • Material refining and fabrication
  • Healthcare, medical devices, and pharmaceutical
  • Food and beverage production and distribution
  • Cold chain logistics
  • Oil and gas operations
  • Aerospace
  • Wastewater management
  • Agriculture

As Dickson notes, cloud-based and IoT-based remote monitoring systems can play a crucial role in industries where timeliness and accuracy are critical. And they do offer many  benefits over monitoring systems that lack remote capabilities.

What are the Benefits of Remote Monitoring Systems?

1. Helps improve asset protection

Remote monitoring systems can be hugely advantageous for safeguarding critical assets, such as facilities like clean rooms, fragile equipment like medical devices, and environmentally sensitive products like vaccines and drugs.

With remote monitoring capability, these systems make it easy to reliably and consistently monitor environmental conditions and the health of equipment. That’s not always possible with on-site monitoring systems that are greatly limited by personnel ability and size. Remote monitoring is particularly useful night shifts where fielding an entire staff can prove to be challenging.

The benefits of this scalable and centralized remote visibility become more and more apparent as critical variables expand and become more complex. Because they will require more attention and scrutiny, remote monitoring enables companies to more efficiently assess conditions and track them with  a high level of efficiency needed to ensure regulatory compliance.

For instance, recently approved Covid-19 inoculations like the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine must be kept at ultra-low temperature during both storage and transportation. These conditions are essential to ensuring vaccine safety and efficacy. If the temperatures go out of range, the vaccines may deteriorate and lead to asset loss (for example, vaccine spoilage and wastage, accounting for up to 50% of global shipment).

Organizations can tap the power of cloud-based or IoT-based remote monitoring systems to efficiently identify and correct any conditions that may compromise assets, such as batches of shipped vaccines. Let’s not forget: lapses in temperature and other conditions can have considerable logistical and financial  consequences.

2. Helps lower operating costs

Cloud-based remote monitoring solutions provide organizations with intelligent insights that they can leverage to optimize asset productivity and lower operational costs. For example, the ability to monitor and control facilities and conditions remotely means that organizations require fewer on-premise personnel, which to reduced costs of operations and an improved bottom line.

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3. Facilitates regulatory and audit compliances

Various regulatory, accreditation, and certification bodies call for consistent monitoring of environmental conditions and equipment. Continuous remote monitoring and cloud-based logs can help an organization easily meet regulatory requirements and pass audits.

More importantly, the availability of ongoing and verifiable data minimizes the chances of failing audits and non-compliance. After all, your organization will have a constant stream of documented monitoring data that will show consistency in conditions and serve as evidence that you addressed issues like temperature excursions.

4. Ensures product quality

This benefit is more amplified in highly regulated sectors like manufacturing, pharmaceutical, and medical devices. Companies need to ensure that products are uncontaminated and remain efficacious throughout the manufacturing and transportation process.

A good example is medications. Remote monitoring helps pharma companies stay on top of every bit of their drug supply chain, from the manufacturing point to the physician’s office where they are prescribed or administered. These systems allow pharma firms to easily and quickly detect temperature deviations that can degrade the efficacy of their vaccines.

5. Provides long-term return on investment (ROI)

Upgrading to a remote monitoring solution can save organizations money in the long term. These solutions usually diminish the possibility of human error and offer real-time alerts, thus preventing costly loss of assets and freeing up staff to take care of other critical tasks. The automation and long-term savings provided by remote monitoring solutions can help organizations gain increased ROI.

CSP-Powered Desalination: Prospects in MENA

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Conventional large-scale desalination is cost-prohibitive and energy-intensive, and not viable for poor countries in the MENA region due to increasing costs of fossil fuels. In addition, the environmental impacts of desalination are considered critical on account of GHG emissions from energy consumption and discharge of brine into the sea. The negative effects of desalination can be minimized, to some extent, by using renewable energy to power the plants.

What is Concentrated Solar Power

The core element of Concentrated Solar Power Plant is a field of large mirrors reflecting captured rays of sun to a small receiver element, thus concentrating the solar radiation intensity by several 100 times and generating very high temperature (more than 1000 °C). This resultant heat can be either used directly in a thermal power cycle based on steam turbines, gas turbines or Stirling engines, or stored in molten salt, concrete or phase-change material to be delivered later to the power cycle for night-time operation.

CSP plants also have the capability alternative hybrid operation with fossil fuels, allowing them to provide firm power capacity on demand. The capacity of CSP plants can range from 5 MW to several hundred MW.

Three types of solar collectors are utilized for large-scale CSP power generation – Parabolic Trough, Fresnel and Central Receiver Systems. Parabolic trough systems use parabolic mirrors to concentrate solar radiation on linear receivers which moves with the parabolic mirror to track the sun from east to west.

In a Fresnel system, the parabolic shape of the trough is split into several smaller, relatively flat mirror segments which are connected at different angles to a rod-bar that moves them simultaneously to track the sun. Central Receiver Systems consists of two-axis tracking mirrors, or heliostats, which reflect direct solar radiation onto a receiver located at the top of a tower.

Schematic of a typical Parabolic Trough-based CSP Plant

Theoretically, all CSP systems can be used to generate electricity and heat.  All are suited to be combined with membrane and thermal desalination systems. However, the only commercially available CSP plants today are linear concentrating parabolic trough systems because of lower cost, simple construction, and high efficiency

CSP-Powered Desalination in MENA

A recent study by International Energy Agency found that the six biggest users of desalination in MENA––Algeria, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates––use approximately 10 percent of the primary energy for desalination. Infact, desalination accounted for more than 4 percent of the total electricity generated in the MENA region in 2010. With growing desalination demand, the major impact will be on those countries that currently use only a small proportion of their energy for desalination, such as Jordan and Algeria.

The MENA region has tremendous wind and solar energy potential which can be effectively utilized in desalination processes. Concentrating solar power (CSP) offers an attractive option to power industrial-scale desalination plants that require both high temperature fluids and electricity.

CSP can provide stable energy supply for continuous operation of desalination plants based on thermal or membrane processes. Infact, several countries in the region, such as Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco are already developing large CSP solar power projects.

Concentrated solar power offers an attractive option to run industrial-scale desalination plants that require both high temperature fluids and electricity.  Such plants can provide stable energy supply for continuous operation of desalination plants based on thermal or membrane processes.

The MENA region has tremendous solar energy potential that can facilitate generation of energy required to offset the alarming freshwater deficit. The virtually unlimited solar irradiance in the region will ensure large-scale deployment of eco-friendly desalination systems, thereby saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

CSP plants can provide stable energy supply for continuous operation of desalination plants

Several countries in the MENA region – Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia – have joined together to expedite the deployment of concentrated solar power (CSP) and exploit the region’s vast solar energy resources.

One of those projects is a series of massive solar farms spanning the Middle East and North Africa. Two projects under this Desertec umbrella are Morocco’s Ouarzazate Concentrated Solar Power plant, which was approved in late 2011, and Tunisia’s TuNur Concentrated Solar Power Plant, which was approved in January 2012. The Moroccan plant will have a 500-MW capacity, while the Tunisia plant will have a 2 GW capacity. Jordan is also making rapid strides with several mega CSP projects under development in Maa’n Development Area.

Conclusion

Solar-powered desalination offers an attractive opportunity for MENA countries to ensure affordable, sustainable and secure freshwater supply. The growing water deficit in the MENA region is fuelling regional conflicts, political instability and environmental degradation. It is expected that the energy demand for seawater desalination for urban centres and mega-cities will be met by ensuring mass deployment of CSP-powered systems across the region.

Considering the severe consequence of looming water crisis in the MENA region it is responsibility of all regional governments to devise a forward-looking regional water policy to facilitate rapid deployment and expansion of CSP and other clean energy resources for seawater desalination.

اتفاق باريس وأهمية الحوكمة في التصدي بفاعلية لتغيرالمناخ

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climate-change-jordanافتتحت قبل أيام مراسم التوقيع على اتفاق باريس بشأن تغير المناخ والذي تم الاجماع عليه العام الماضي في باريس من قبل 195 دولة ضمن مؤتمر الاطراف الواحد والعشرون وسيبقى باب التوقيع مفتوحا لغاية نيسان 2017.بينما يرى الكثيرون أن الاتفاق يعتبر تاريخياً من حيث إجماع كل من الدول الصناعية والدول النامية لأول مرة على سياسة إطارية موحدة بشأن تغير المناخ، ينذر البعض الآخر أن نجاح الاتفاق مقترن بخطط التنفيذ وآليات المراجعة الخاصة به.

وعلى كل الاحوال فإن الاتفاق والعملية التي صاحبت تحضيره يعتبر انموذجا يحتذى به في الحوكمة الدولية وفي حشد التأييد على مستوى السياسات. والقضية المهمة حالياً متعلقة بمدى قدرة دول العالم على تبني مثل هذا النموذج على الصعيدين الوطني والمحلي كما ويتعلق بقدرة الدول ان تكون بحجم المسؤولية لدعم تنفيذ الاتفاق من حيث التحرك بفاعلية مستغلة الزخم الكبير الحاصل حول قضية تغير المناخ ومستغلة الموارد المتنوعة والمتاحة.

اتفاق باريس : نهج تشاركي في سبيل التصدي لتغير المناخ (Bottom-Up Approach)

يدعم اتفاق باريس التعهدات وآليات التقييم المُقرة بأسلوب تشاركي ضمن ما يعرف بالمساهمات المحددة وطنياً NDCs ويعترف بالأهداف المعلنة للتخفيض من الانبعاثات- الناتجة من تدابير التخفيف- ولكن لا يعتبرها ملزمة قانونياً. ويلزم اتفاق باريس الدول مجتمعة بوضع اهداف محلية متعلقة بتخفيض الانبعاثات كما ويلزم الدول بوضع سياسات لتحقيقها الا ان الأهداف بحد ذاتها توضع بشكل منفصل عن الاتفاق في ما يعرف ب"السجل العام".

تعتمد المساهمات المحددة وطنيا على السياسات والتدابير الموجودة أصلاً في البلدان الا أن التحدي الرئيسي يكمن في  ترسيخ هذه المساهمات الوطنية وتعزيز تكاملها ضمن برامج واستراتيجيات القطاعات المختلفة (في ما يعرف بالتناغم ما بين السياسات) وإدماجها مع استراتيجيات النمو الأخضر المستقبلية.

وتمثل المساهمات المحددة وطنياً (NDCs)  فرصة كبيرة لربط جهود التصدي لتغير المناخ بالتنمية من حيث تطوير مساقات تنموية مرنة وتتسم بكونها منخفضة الكربون.

وجدير بالذكر انه ولغاية شباط 2016 قد تم تقديم ما مجموعه 161 مساهمة محددة وطنيا 2016 تمثل 188 دولة وتغطي ما مجموعه 98.7٪ من الانبعاثات العالمية.

آلية المراجعة Review Mechanism

يؤسس اتفاق باريس لإجراءات مراجعة دورية للمعلومات المقدمة من الدول المختلفة حول جهودها الوطنية في التصدي لتغير المناخ وفق ارشادات سيصار إلى اعتمادها من قبل مؤتمر الأطراف العامل بوصفه "اجتماع الاطراف في مؤتمر باريس" وينص الاتفاق بعمل المراجعة على مستويين: مستوى فردي (على مستوى الدول) يتبعه مستوى كلي عالمي.

ويؤسس الاتفاق ايضاً لآلية التزام compliance قائمة على رأي اصحاب الخبرة والاختصاص. وتبقى تفاصيل آلية المراجعة والالتزام مرهونة بالجهة التي ستسند اليها اجراءات "دخول الاتفاق حيز التنفيذ".

وبهذا فان اتفاق باريس يتسم بدعم الالتزامات المعلنة من قبل الدول ويضع الية موحدة مقارنة لمراجعة الانجاز وتعزيزه عند الحاجة.

نهج الشفافية وتحمل المسؤولية والمساءلة (Accountability and Transparency)

إن أحد أهم التغييرات التاريخية التي ساهم اتفاق باريس في خلقها هي التحول من مرحلة تبادل اللوم بين الجهات المختلفة بخصوص عدم النجاح في تحقيق الالتزامات القانونية تجاه اتفاقية الامم المتحدة الإطارية، الى التنافس الفاعل في جهود التصدي لتغير المناخ لمواجهة هذا التحدي المشترك.

ومن جانب آخر تعزز آلية الشفافية المذكورة في الاتفاق هذا التحول من خلال السماح للصحفيين والنشطاء والعلماء والمواطنين المعنيين والشركات الخضراء بالمشاركة في مناظرات ونقاشات ونشر قصص النجاح والدروس المستفادة، اضافة الى تبادل المساعدة والمشورة بين البلدان. كما ويضع الاتفاق لأول مرة آلية مراجعة للتعهدات المالية المحددة من قبل للبلدان الصناعية والمتقدمة.

أما فيما يخص المساءلة، فينص الاتفاق على تطبيق المساءلة على تنفيذ المساهمات المحددة وطنياً وسيقاس الانجاز في حالة الحكومات من خلال بنود اتفاقية الامم المتحدة الإطارية بشأن تغير المناخ والآليات المرتبطة بها. اما في حالة جهود شركات الاعمال، فرغم كون المسؤولية موزعة بين جهات عدة الا ان هذا لا يجعل المساءلة أقل قوة حيث أن على الشركات أن تتوقع ان تكون عرضة للمساءلة من قبل السلطات الحكومية المحلية ومن قبل منظمات المجتمع المدني ومن قبل عملائهم الذين يزداد وعيهم حول اثار التغير المناخي مع الوقت اضافة الى موظفيهم والمستثمرين.

أدوات التمويل (Climate Finance)

يُعظّم اتفاق باريس من خلال اهدافه والالتزامات التي يفرضها دور التمويل ويركز على حشد الموارد المالية والقدرات الفنية لدعم أهداف الاتفاق الاستراتيجية الهادفة لتخفيض الانبعاثات.

من الأمثلة على نوافذ التمويل العالمية في مجال تغير المناخ: صندوق المناخ الأخضر، صندوق التكيف، صندوق التكنولوجيا النظيفة، مرفق البيئة العالمي (Global Environment Facility) ومرفق اجراءات التخفيف الملائمة وطنياً (NAMA Facility)  وعدد من ادوات التمويل الثنائية. و من المتوقع أن يكون القطاع الخاص أكبر مساهم في استثمارات التصدي لتغير المناخ . كما من المتوقع مستقبلياً ان تكون معظم مصادر الاستثمار في مجال التغير المناخي من القطاع الخاص.

أما في الأردن، فتشمل أدوات التمويل الوطنية الصندوق الأردني للطاقة المتجددة وكفاءة الطاقة تحت مظلة وزارة الطاقة والثروة المعدنية بالإضافة إلى عدد من أدوات التمويل الخضراء التي تنفذ من قبل البنوك التجارية ومؤسسات تمويل المشاريع الصغيرة.

وصف اتفاق باريس من قبل مستثمري القطاع الخاص بانه غيّر القواعد المعمول بها من حيث دعمه للاستثمارات ذات الأثر الكربوني المنخفض، حيث شدد الاتفاق على اهميه هذه الاستثمارات وعلى اهمية تحديد سعر الكربون كعوامل فاعلة وحيوية  في تمويل المشاريع والبرامج الوطنية. وأسس الاتفاق لنموذجين للإتجار بالكربون حيث سيتم تحديد قواعد مفصلة لكل نموذج خلال الخمس سنوات القادمة.

من الجدير بالذكر أن التمويل العالمي لمشاريع التغير المناخي ازداد بنسبة 18% في عام 2014 ليرتفع إلى 391 مليار دولار. منهم 9 مليار دولار استثمرت في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال افريقيا وكانت حصة القطاع الخاص منها حوالي 44% أي ما يعادل  2 مليار دولار. حازت مشاريع الطاقة المتجددة وكفاءة الطاقة والنقل المستدام على معظم التمويل المتعلق بالتخفيف من الانبعاثات، في حين حازت قطاعات إدارة المياه والمياه العادمة الجزء الأكبر من التمويل المتعلق بالتكيف مع تغير المناخ.

دور الجهات غير الحكومية (Role of Non-State Actors

تضم الجهات غير الحكومية بشكل رئيسي المنظمات والجمعيات غير الحكومية والمدن والأقاليم، إضافة إلى شركات الاعمال. يعتبر اتفاق باريس نقطة تحول مهمة للتأكيد على الدور القيادي للجهات غير الحكومية وخصوصاً دور القطاع الخاص إلى جانب الحكومات. وتحتوي الاتفاقية على رسالة واضحة للقطاع الخاص ومجتمع الأعمال من خلال دعوتهم للمشاركة في جهود التصدي لتغير المناخ وتنفيذ مشاريع طويلة وقصيرة الأمد تهدف للتقليل من الانبعاثات.

ان للجهود الريادية في مجال التصدي لتغير المناخ أثر إيجابي  يظهر من خلال ما يعرف بسلسلة القيمة (وهي سلسلة النشاطات التي تساهم بقيمة المنتج):  فتقليل الانبعاثات سيساهم في تقليل الكلفة وتعزيز الشراكة مع أصحاب العلاقة ويفضي الى سمعة إيجابية  للأعمال.

يدعو الاتفاق أصحاب العلاقة لتعزيز جهودهم وابرازها على موقع الاتفاقية الاطارية بشأن تغير المناخ UNFCCC ، ويؤكد أهمية السياسات المحلية والاتجار بالكربون كأدوات تنفيذية.

وجدير بالذكر أن أكثر من 11000 التزام من 4000 شركة وسلطة محلية قد تم تسجيلها لحد الان على موقع UNFCCC http://climateaction.unfccc.int ومن المتوقع آن يزداد هذا العدد في السنوات القادمة.

 

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*بعض المعلومات المتضمنة في هذا المقال تم بناؤها على محتوى تم تطويره من قبل الكاتب في فبراير 2016 خلال مشروع نفذ من قبل الوكالة الألمانية للتنمية –GIZ  في الأردن بالشراكة مع وزارة البيئة يتعلق بالتحليل المقارن للمساهمات المحددة وطنياً.

 

 ترجمة

 ربى عجور – مختص دراسات بيئية في مركز البيئة والمياه /الجمعية العلمية الملكية-الاردن

دور المعرفة الأصيلة والابتكار في إدارة المياه

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أنشأ أسلافنا أنظمة وتطبيقات مدهشة لإدارة المياه ساعدتهم على مكافحة المناخ القاسي والموارد الطبيعية الشحيحة في أجزاء كثيرة من هذا الكون. في هذا المقال، نستعرض كيف استخدمت الحضارات القديمة المعرفة الأصيلة في إدارة المياه، وكيف يمكن للابتكار والريادة أن يجنبوا منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال افريقيا أزمة المياه التي تعصف بها.

الماضي الذهبي

استطاعت الحضارات القوية البقاء والاستمرار في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال افريقيا منذ القرن الرابع قبل الميلاد، على الرغم من الظروف الجافة والقاحلة، بسبب اعتمادها على التكنولوجيات المائية المحكمة والهندسة الهيدروليكية. في القرن الرابع عشر، أشارت مداولات عالم الاجتماع الكبير المولود في تونس ابن خلدون إلى أن السلالات المنِعة الصامدة كانت مدعومة بتأسيس المدن. وسلط ابن خلدون الضوء أيضا على توفير المياه العذبة باعتباره واحدا من المتطلبات الحرجة لترسيخ المدن واستدامة الحضارات.

الأنباط

البتراء، عاصمة المملكة النبطية التي يبلغ عمرها 2000 عام (جنوب الأردن في الوقت الحاضر)، تحتوي على أدلة لا تقدر بثمن على مثل هذه الابتكارات المحلية. باستخدام تكنولوجيا المياه المتطورة، تمكن الأنباط من ضمان استمرار إمدادات المياه على مدار العام والتخفيف في الوقت نفسه من الآثار الخطيرة للفيضانات. لقد ركزوا على الفهم العميق لجميع مصادر المياه المتاحة وعلى تبني تقنيات لرصد هذه الموارد وتسخيرها وصونها واستخدامها بالشكل الأمثل. كما وازن الأنباط ما بين السعة المتوفرة لتخزين المياه وبين نظام خطوط أنابيب المياه، واستخدموا أحواض ترسيب الجسيمات لتنقية المياه لأغراض الشرب.

water management in petra

تمكن الأنباط بسبب فهمهم الشامل للمحددات ونقاط القوة الموجودة لديهم من إنشاء نظام يعمل على زيادة معدلات تدفق المياه مع تقليل التسرب وبالتالي مكنوا شعبهم من العيش المزدهر لسنوات عديدة.

سلطنة عمان

الابتكار لا يتعلق بالهندسة والعلوم فقط؛ حيث تعتبر أسواق المياه والإدارة اللامركزية لموارد المياه جوانبا مهمة في الأوقات التي تناضل فيها الهيئات التنظيمية وجمعيات مستخدمي المياه من أجل السيطرة عليها. تتمتع عُمان بأحد أقدم أنظمة إدارة المياه القائمة على المجتمع والتي استندت إلى حقوق المياه والمؤسسات والأسواق.

وقد قام العمانيون بتعديل أسعار المياه للاستجابة للتغيرات في العرض والطلب. كانت حقوق المياه الراسخة والإدارة الشفافة والسماح بالمتاجرة بالمياه من العوامل الرئيسية المساهمة في تحسين إدارة مياه الري في ذلك الوقت.

المستقبل هنا

في حين أن إمكانيات الابتكار في قطاع المياه لا حدود لها، إلا أنها لا تزال غير مستغلة بالشكل الأمثل في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا. تخلق تكنولوجيا المعلومات وإدارة البيانات والاتصالات والذكاء الاصطناعي والعديد من الأدوات الأخرى فرصًا للابتكار والمساهمة في تعزيز حلول إدارة المياه والتنمية الاجتماعية والاقتصادية.

water-energy-nexus

في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا، لم يكن يوما الابتكار وريادة الأعمال عاملا محوريًا في خطط التنمية كما هو الحال اليوم. إن خلق بيئة ممكنة للشركات التقنية الناشئة التي من شأنها جذب الاستثمار وخلق فرص العمل وتعزيز التنمية الاجتماعية والاقتصادية، هو هدف مشترك في جميع أنحاء المنطقة. فيما يتعلق بالمياه، وعلى الرغم من الأهمية الاستراتيجية لهذا القطاع، فإن الابتكارات المائية التي يمكن أن تدخل السوق وتجد طريقها داخل المنطقة وخارجها قليلة جدًا.

في الآونة الأخيرة، أعادت المفاهيم الشائعة للنمو الأخضر والحلول الذكية للمناخ إشعال شرارة الابتكار المحلي للمساعدة في التخفيف من الضغوط الاقتصادية والاجتماعية المرتبطة بندرة المياه وأنظمة الإدارة غير الفعالة. في موازاة ذلك، أصبح الاستثمار المؤثر أكثر شيوعًا، ويبحث المستثمرون اليوم عن الشركات التي تهتم بإطار الاستدامة (البيئة والمجتمع والحوكمة) للاستثمار فيها.

وإذا رغب أحدنا في البحث عن جانب إيجابي لجائحة COVID-19، فسيكون ذلك الجانب هو إعادة التركيز على الإنتاج المحلي والاعتماد على الذات. سواء في الغذاء أو الطاقة أو المياه؛ لا يمكن تعريض الوفرة ولا القدرة على تحمل التكاليف للخطر في هذه القطاعات الأساسية. منذ العام 2019، بدأت البرامج التي تستهدف الابتكارات والريادة والشركات الناشئة في مجال الأمن الغذائي والتكنولوجيا الزراعية في التوسع. وأطلقت مؤخرا منصات خاصة للابتكار، ومسرعات أعمال، وحاضنات، ومسابقات لدعم الروابط ما بين المياه والطاقة والغذاء والتركيز على العلاقة القوية بتغير المناخ والشمول الاجتماعي.

ومن الأمثلة على ذلك مركز الابتكار الإقليمي للشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا (WE4F) الذي يدعم المبتكرين المتقدمين بحلول مثبتة وناجعة تعالج قضايا المياه و/أو الطاقة في مجال الإنتاج الغذائي في المناطق الحضرية أو الريفية لتمكينهم من التوسع من خلال أدوات متعددة مالية وغير مالية. ومع اكتساب هذه الجهود زخما أكبر، بدأت الاحتياجات المحلية تظهر بما في ذلك الحاجة إلى تعزيز المهارات وإدارة المعرفة. ربما يحمل الخريجون الشباب معلومات نظرية كافية نسبياً عن موضوع/تخصص واحد، ومع ذلك فإن معظم خريجي الهندسة والعلوم والأعمال يفتقرون إلى المهارات العملية وفهم الصلة والترابط بين المياه والغذاء والطاقة والمجتمع والبيئة. وشجع ذلك على تصميم العديد من برامج رفع المهارات والتدريب لسد الفجوة المعرفية وتعريف جيل الشباب بالمستقبل.

water conservation tips

ومن الأمثلة الواعدة على برامج تطوير المهارات تلك التي تم تنفيذها من خلال الشراكة ما بين مشروع صحارى فورست وجامعة الحسين التقنية في الأردن. ويتم تنفيذ المرحلة التجريبية من برنامج رفع المهارات للمهندسات في مجال التكنولوجيا الزراعية والأمن الغذائي على 30 شابة من مختلف المحافظات الأردنية تم اختيارهن من خلال عملية تنافسية ومعايير محددة مسبقًا. تتلقى المتدربات تدريبًا ميدانيًا في موقع مشروع صحارى فورست في العقبة، ومحاضرات وندوات فنية من قبل الخبراء الممارسين، وإرشاد من قبل قيادات نسائية، وحوارات ملهمة مع خبراء من القطاع الخاص.

لا ينبغي أن يكون الهدف من مثل هذه البرامج هو مساعدة الشباب المتعطلين عن العمل في العثور على وظائف فحسب، بل يجب توسيع منظورهم ليكونوا قادرين على خلق فرص لأنفسهم ولأقرانهم وللمجتمعات المحلية. إن إعادة ترسيخ القيمة الفريدة والهامة للزراعة والمياه والطاقة والطبيعة هي بحد ذاتها حافز للتحول في مستقبل العمل في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا.

ترجمته من الإنجليزية الى العربية

تقوى حاجي متفقد مصالح مالية بوزارة المالية والاقتصاد والاستثمار بتونس، متطوعة ومهتمة بالقضايا البيئية والتغير المناخي والتنمية المستدامة

Sustainability in the MENA Cement Industry: Perspectives

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The population in the MENA countries has doubled during the last 30 years (from ca. 110m in 1980 to almost 484m in 2018). As per conservative estimates, the rate of urbanisation in the MENA countries will exceed 70% five years from today (average for all developing countries: 54%). The proceeding urbanisation and the population increase involve several problems and challenges for the national governments and also for the cement industry. The cement production of countries in the MENA region has almost tripled during the last 15 years up to approximately 500m tons. Since the start of national revolts and demonstrations in MENA countries in 2011 the problems of especially young Arabs have attracted the attention worldwide.

cement industry in MENA

Environmental problems that accompany a fast-growing population and increasing urbanisation are, among others, increasing consumption of energy and raw materials, increasing land use in order to satisfy the increasing food demand, infrastructure development, disposal of increasing amounts of waste and development of sewage systems. Solving these generation spanning problems is a challenging task for the national governments.

Naturally, such high growth rates also affect the cement industry. In the MENA countries it consists of various companies, part of them listed on the stock exchange. A number of cement companies has, partly for cost aspects, responded to the negative consequences of the rapid population growth. The following paragraphs describe the cement industry’s approaches to push a sustainable development in certain sectors. They are partly driven by own responsibility and partly by regulations of the national governments. In this context it should be mentioned that the growth of the cement industry is already partly limited by factors that are directly connected with sustainability and raw material supply.

Although the factors differ from country to country and cannot be generalised, there are a few major concerns, for example:

  • Fuel shortage
  • Dependence on oil
  • Lack of investment in innovations

Let’s have a closer look on the limiting factors and innovation potential based on practical examples.

Saudi Arabia

In many industrialised countries the continuous and tailored supply of the industry with fossil fuels is only a question of price.  But the fact that of all countries, it was cement plants in the own country that repeatedly reported shortages of fossil fuel supply (heavy fuel oil), was certainly an important reason for the government to get closely involved in this matter.

Cement producers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia obtain state-subsidised natural gas at a price of US$ 0.75/mmbtu from the state-owned oil company “Saudi Aramco”. Formerly, the cement production costs resulting thereof were on average US$ 28.8/ton of cement (costs in neighbouring countries: Kuwait US$ 59.2/ton, UAE US$ 47.8/ton, Oman US$ 37.0/ton) which made it redundant to deal with the topic of energy. In India, a country with one of the highest energy costs in the world, the production of one ton of cement costs US$ 70.0/ton in 2010.

Cement_Saudi_Arabia

Reduction of clinker portion can be an attractive route to reduce energy consumption in cement industry

Due to such low energy prices and a steadily growing demand the production capacities grew constantly. Currently, the industry accounts for approximately 40% of the overall energy demand of the country. Analysts estimate that this demand will even double within the next 15 years. However, it is planned to reduce this disproportionate energy demand of the industry.

Under the patronage of HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, the state-owned oil company “Saudi Aramco” is developing a so-called “Mandatory Energy Efficiancy Program” (MEEP) for the entire Saudi-Arabian industry. The plan of MEEP is to “establish mandatory policies and regulations with the objective of reducing existing and future energy consumption levels in the industrial sector”.

For the national cement industry this approach implies investments in energy-saving measures. Key points for an energy-efficient cement industry are identified as

  • Use of alternative raw materials
  • Use of alternative fuels
  • Training and education in energy efficiency

As the use of alternative fuels and raw materials is not yet common in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, guidelines and a regulatory framework have to be defined which set standards for the use of alternative or waste-derived fuels like municipal solid wastes, dried sewage sludge, drilling wastes and others. It has to include:

  • Types of wastes and alternative fuels that may be used by the cement industry
  • Standards for the production of waste-derived fuels
  • Emission standards and control mechanisms while using alternative fuels
  • Standards for permitting procedures

Appropriate standards also need to be established for alternative raw materials that are to be used for clinker and cement production. In order to achieve an energy-efficient production special education, further training and workshops for the involved staff have to be carried out.

Egypt

The current political developments in Egypt influence the local cement industry significantly. The government expects additional sources of revenue on the one hand from selling licences for the construction of new cement plants and on the other hand from a reduction of subsidies for fossil fuels. Since these news are not a surprise for the local cement plants, they started to invest in the implementation of alternative – mostly biomass-derived fuels.

Cement_Sewage

Several European countries use sewage sludge as alternative fuel in cement industry

One of them is CemexAssiut that not only started using different kinds of biomass, but also, most notably and exemplary, established plantations for the production of biomass (here: “Casuarina”) that are irrigated with pretreated sewage water from the city Assiut.

Egypt is the 14th biggest rice producer in the world and the 8th biggest cotton producer in the world. Egypt produced about 5.67 million tons of rice and 635,000 tons of cotton in 2011. The area of cotton crop cultivation accounts for about 5% of the cultivated area in Egypt. The total amount of crop residues is about 16 million tons of dry matter per year. Cotton residues represent about 9% of the total amount of residues. Such high production rates should be welcomed by the cement industry since these materials comprise cotton stalks, rice husks and rice straw which serve ideally as alternative fuels.

The use of waste-derived alternative fuels is, however, more complicated. Although for example Cairo produces some 15,000 tons of waste each day, it is not easy for the cement plants to obtain this waste since they are in direct competition with the informal sector that controls approx. 60% of the local waste total. So-called Zabbaleen or scavengers – mostly young people who do not have other options – make their living by collecting and selling waste-derived recyclables.

Tunisia

Some years ago, Tunisia already invested in the establishment of an organised waste management system in form of a state-owned agency named “ANGED”. Funded by the national German KfW development bank, numerous waste collection points as well as organised landfills have been built. Additionally, a special collection centre for hazardous waste was erected in Jradou. This centre was operated by MVW Lechtenberg’s Partner Nehlsen AG, the German Waste Management Group, collecting and processing wastes like used oils and solvents. Such wastes are ideal alternative fuels. A fact that is also known to the local cement companies that planned to use them in their plants. Unfortunately, due to public opposition the centre was closed and the projects for the processing of alternative fuels have been suspended since then.

Tunisia is one of the biggest producers and exporters of olive oil in the world. It also exports dates and citrus fruits that are grown mostly in the northern parts of the country. It seems paradox that for example olive kernels – the waste from Tunisian olive production – is exported to European power plants in order to save fossil fuel-derived CO2 emissions there, while Tunisia imports approximately 90% of its energy demand, consisting of fossil fuel.

Morocco

The Moroccan cement industry has already achieved a greater success regarding the use of alternative fuels. Cement plants, mostly owned by the international companies Lafarge, Cimpor, Holcim and Italcimenti, already invested years ago in the environmentally friendly use of alternative fuels and alternative raw materials due to the development of world market prices. Also the only local competitor, CIMAT, has started preparing for the implementation of alternative fuels immediately after completion of its new plant (a 5-stage double string calciner from Polysius) in Ben Ahmed, near Casablanca.

Alternative Fuels in Cement Industry

Drilling muds can be used in cement industry as a source of energy

In the year 2003 an agreement on the use and import of alternative fuels (used tyres at the time) was made between the Association Professionelle de Ciment and Moroccan government. Since last year attempts are being made to agree on an industry regulation that sets standards for the use of all appropriate special waste available in Morocco.

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates, represented by Dr. Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water, recently issued a decision streamlining the activities of cement plants all over the country. The resolution will affect all existing and new cement factories across the country. Its provisions obligate the industry to prepare a report assessing the impact of cement plants on the environment.

According to the decision, this report has to be prepared by a consulting firm having expert knowledge regarding environmental protection in the cement industry. This is certainly the first step to evaluate the current situation which will be followed by an investigation of alternatives towards a sustainable development. Interest in the implementation of alternative fuels already exists among the national cement industry which is proven not least by the numerous planned investment projects.

Conclusions

The cement industry in the MENA region will change significantly within the next years. This change will focus on the improvement of energy efficiency and on the increased use of alternative raw materials and alternative fuels. This will include high investments in technology and in the human resources sector where the creation of new jobs, especially in the field of environmentally friendly and sustainable development, provides a perspective for the growing, young population of the MENA countries.

Mobile Agriculture in Egypt: Food for Thought

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The phenomenal spread of smartphones and the fact that they are practically hand-sized computers, have opened way to the creation of countless ‘mobile applications’ or simply ‘apps’. The first apps that came to light were as expected, for social media and different entertainment channels. They were followed by ‘modern life’ apps in the areas of health, education, agriculture and many more. Almost every area imaginable in our life now has a mobile app that caters to it.

Mobile Agriculture in Africa

During the course of my work at Orange Egypt, I’ve seen a great amount of interest in mobile agriculture by every mobile operator in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. The combined portfolio offered by the operators is so versatile, I doubt if there is even any room for improvement.

Taking the Orange group as an example; there are apps that send timed text messages about planting, fertilizers, weather forecasts and crop prices. There are other apps that help farmers conduct financial transactions safely and easily. In several countries, the group avails a hotline where callers can get ‘live’ expert advice and discussions.

Mobile Agriculture in Egypt

In Egypt, the mobile agriculture market is more challenging for several reasons mainly due to bureaucracy, national security considerations and culture. Nevertheless, Egypt is an excellent candidate for a sustainable m-Agri application that benefits a lot of people and does well to the overall farming sector.

The agricultural sector in Egypt accounts for 15% of GDP. It employs over 8 Million people or 32% of the total workforce. One third of the Egyptian people are related somehow to someone in the agricultural sector.

We are fortunate that Orange Labs has one of its head offices based in Cairo. When it comes to m-Agri, there is no shortage of ideas; Orange Labs have developed several mobile solutions; most notably:

  1. Agricultural Wallet: Enables users to keep track of their fertilizer and seed rations. It organizes and records transactions between farmers and government cooperative societies thus eliminating confusion, waste and possibility of corruption.
  2. Smart Agriculture Probes: A B2B application that measures water levels in canals and sends them to a central unit; all part of an efficient water management system

Both apps address a pressing need and offer a solution to persistent problems, potentially saving the government significant amounts of money and effort. Unfortunately, and in all frankness, they never went past the point of a working pilot. Governmental authorities were uncooperative, unwilling and even afraid to get involved; and so nothing happened ever since.

Then, there were the B2C applications

  1. Bashaier Developed by Knowledge Economy Foundation. It is a market platform where users – farmers and wholesale merchants – log in for spot prices. It also includes a hotline where callers get expert advice on farming issues.

Bashaier is a good idea, however it needs much work and expense to keep it updated and of value, and that’s probably the reason it’s currently dormant; however I invite to visit the Knowledge Foundation’s site or download the application from Google Play.

  1. RAMIS: Stands for “Rural Agricultural Management Information System”. Collaboration between UN’s FAO, Orange Egypt, AUC’s Research Institute for Sustainable Development and a local NGO specializing in farming.

The project idea was to send text messages to participating farmers guiding them throughout the planting season. A hotline to receive live calls was also contemplated but was not launched due to budgetary reasons. This was a free service, sponsored by the 3 main partners.

The project also required extensive ‘ground work’ to ensure it is well accepted and understood by the community.

I was heavily involved in RAMIS and based on the feedback we got, the participants appreciated the idea, found the information innovative and useful although we’re not sure if they would be willing to pay a recurrent subscription fee for it.

  1. Kenana Online Part of the ‘Social Development Portal’ and developed by the Egyptian Fund for Information Technology. Kenana is a free service that is full useful information about agriculture but so far it’s only a web service with plans to turn it to a mobile app soon.

There you have it, the top mobile agriculture application in Egypt.

The Ideal Project Plan

Having that said; I see that the most practical approach for a project that

  1. Employs technology, particularly mobile
  2. Creates sustainable improvement in the lives of people working in agriculture, and
  3. Capitalizes on Public Private Partnerships, should be along these lines.

A simple mobile app; USSD based, to fit all type mobiles. This app would be an advisory tool that disseminates specific, verified and timed information to subscribers.

Moreover, this application would be supported by a helpline, say a hotline where callers can get expert advice either instantly or within 48 hours, depending on the complexity of the question.

At the start, these text messages can be free of charge. The cost of the call would be nominal, until we get the needed buy in.

Another option for project funding is corporate sponsors, typically food processing companies interested in seeing a better crop. These companies will be willing to pay a little more for a win-win situation. Tomatoes, potatoes, jasmine and sugar beet are all crops that would fit this scenario perfectly.

A final and essential task, a key element of success, is field work. Similar to what was done in RAMIS. Egyptian farmers are not highly educated, so having someone reach out to them physically will make a great difference.

شح المياه في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا: محفز للمنَعة والابتكار

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لقد كان الماء – وسيظل – عاملًا رئيسيًا في تشكيل الحياة على الأرض. فهو محرك رئيسي لنهوض الحضارات وتفككها وتهجيرها. أظهر التاريخ أن الماء يمكن أن يكون سببًا للسلام والصراع بين الأمم. ومن منظور عملي أكثر، تقع المياه في قلب برامج التنمية الاجتماعية والاقتصادية والبيئية. تعد منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا المنطقة الأكثر ندرة في المياه في العالم، وهو وضع يتفاقم بسبب تغير المناخ وعدم الاستقرار السياسي. في حين أن تأثيرات هذا التحدي المائي المتضخم أضحت أكثر وضوحًا، فمن المتوقع أن تتسارع شدة ووتيرة التأثيرات غير المباشرة وغير المقاسة على الأمن والاستقرار في المنطقة في السنوات القادمة.

water scarcity

تتميز معظم الموارد المائية الموجودة في الشرق الأوسط بأنها عابرة للحدود، ويبدو التعاون المائي الشامل والمتكامل على المستوى الإقليمي وكأنه حلم بعيد المنال. علاوة على ذلك، من المتوقع أن تؤدي البؤر الساخنة للمياه الداخلية (على مستوى الدولة) والتي تستمر في النمو والتوسع بمعدل ينذر بالخطر، إلى إثارة الاضطرابات الاجتماعية وزيادة التحديات المتعلقة بالهجرات.

ومن الأمثلة على البلدان والمناطق التي أدت فيها النقاط الساخنة للمياه الداخلية إلى تضخيم التحديات السياسية والبشرية والإنمائية، اليمن والأردن والأراضي الفلسطينية والجزء الجنوبي من العراق.

المياه في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا – حقائق وأرقام

  1. يعيش ما يقارب من 4.5٪ من سكان العالم في الشرق الأوسط ولكن لديهم 1٪ فقط من الموارد المائية المتوفرة في العالم.
  2. يعيش 60٪ من السكان في مناطق متأثرة بنقص المياه ويتم انتاج 71٪ من الناتج المحلي الإجمالي في هذه المناطق.
  3. تقع 12 دولة من أصل 17 دولة تعاني من الإجهاد المائي في العالم في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا.
  4. تقع18 من أصل 22 دولة عربية تحت العتبة السنوية لندرة موارد المياه المتجددة البالغة 1000 متر مكعب للفرد ، و 13 دولة تحت عتبة ندرة المياه المطلقة البالغة 500 متر مكعب للفرد في السنة.
  5. يعيش 60٪ من سكانها حاليًا في مناطق تعاني من إجهاد مائي مرتفع، مقارنة بالمتوسط ​​العالمي البالغ 35٪.

الجانب الإيجابي لندرة المياه

عندما يتم طرح مفهوم دبلوماسية المياه على الطاولة، فإن منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا تشكل منصة مثالية متعددة الأبعاد لتطبيق هذا المفهوم حيث أنها تحتضن العديد من الأمثلة على موارد المياه المشتركة. يمكن للتعاون في مجال المياه أن يجمع البلدان معًا، ويبني الجسور بين الناس، ويتجنب النزاعات.

water energy food nexus

يتمثل الجانب الإيجابي للنقص الحاد في المياه في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا في الإمكانات اللانهائية لمزيد من الابتكار والتعاون من أجل المنَعة والتكيف ضمن مختلف القطاعات المستخدمة للمياه. تعترف منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا بأن العلاقة بين المياه والطاقة والغذاء هي العامل الرئيسي المحدد لرفاهية المنطقة وازدهارها. ولا يؤدي وباء COVID-19 إلا إلى تأكيد ذلك والتعجيل بالعمل على اتباع نهج أكثر تآزراً لمعالجة تحديات أمن الطاقة والمياه والأمن الغذائي.

عاد المورد الذي اعتبرته الحضارات القديمة مقدسًا مرة أخرى إلى المشهد مع مزيد من التركيز على قيمته كحق من حقوق الإنسان، وممكّن اقتصادي، وصانع سلام. على عكس العديد من أهداف التنمية الأخرى التي قد تختلف بين البلدان المنتجة للنفط والبلدان غير المنتجة للنفط، يبدو أن الأمن المائي هو العامل المشترك عبر منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا.

مما لا شك فيه أن مثل هذه الإمكانات للابتكار والتكيف تتطلب وجود العديد من العوامل الممكنة، بما في ذلك الإصلاحات على مستوى السياسات وتواؤمها، وإدارة البيانات والمعرفة، وتطوير القدرات، واستثمارات البنية التحتية، وإشراك القطاع الخاص، ومشاركة المجتمع المحلي. وفي خضم كل ذلك، تظل العلوم قاعدتنا الصلبة التي من شأنها أن تثري جميع الممكنات وأن تحفز العمل، على أمل أن يتم تبني وتعظيم نهج شمولي مترابط ومتعدد التخصصات.

ترجمته من الإنجليزية الى العربية

 تقوى حاجي متفقد مصالح مالية بوزارة المالية والاقتصاد والاستثمار بتونس، متطوعة ومهتمة بالقضايا البيئية والتغير المناخي والتنمية المستدامة

Hydroponic Gardening – 5 Easy Ways to Get Started

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Have you ever wondered if you could grow a plant without using any soil? Well, now you can, thanks to an existing system of gardening called Hydroponic Gardening.

Instead of using soil, this system allows you to grow plants and vegetables in a solution of nutrients and water! It doesn’t end there, this method can grow plants much faster, can be used all year round, requires less space, and yields more than conventional gardening.

Some of the easiest and most common plants, herbs, fruits you can grow are lettuce, oregano, tomatoes, and some other kinds. This is great for those who do not have a gardening plot or a yard of their own.

So, if this piqued your interest, then you’re in the right place. Here are 5 easy steps to get started with your hydroponic gardening!

how to get started with hydroponic farming

1. The Wick System

Let’s start with the simplest system (mechanically speaking) indoor hydroponics system – the wick system. It’s the simplest because there’s no need for any electrical components or moving parts at all.

Even though this system isn’t ideal for water-hungry plants like tomatoes or lettuce, as they tend to use nutrients faster than the wicks can supply. However, it works perfectly for herbs, peppers, and microgreens.

Setting Up a Water Reservoir

To begin with, you have to create a reservoir filled with nutrients and water. This reservoir will need to sit right beneath the tray that’s holding your plant and growing medium.

Connect Wicks to the Growing Tray

Next, connect one or two wicks through the hole in the bottom of your tray. The wicks will start soaking up the water from the reservoir and get the water to the wicks that are connected with the growing medium in the tray. If you need to make more holes, use a drill or screwdriver.

Growing Tray

The growing medium, which contains the seedlings, will need to be placed above the water reservoir. It’s best to use a medium that won’t drain water too fast. Instead, it should utilize the capillary action of the wick most productively, such as perlite, soilless mixes, and vermiculite.

Light Fixture

If your growing tray is getting natural light, then you can skip this step. But if it isn’t, then install a light fixture above the tray. For incandescent light bulbs, you’ll need to set them at a distance of 24 inches from the plants.

In the case of LED grow lights and fluorescent lights, since they don’t get as hot, you can place them 6-12 inches from the plants. This can be implemented for all the systems that we’ll be discussing in this article.

2. The Lettuce Raft or Water Culture System

A lettuce raft system, aka a water culture system, is another simple method that’s super easy to set up. Start by placing the plants in a styrofoam platform. Then make sure it floats on top of the reservoir that’s filled with nutrient-rich water.

Unlike the wick system, you’ll have to aerate the water by incorporating a raft system. This system is perfect for growing leaf lettuce, but other plants won’t grow quite as well.

Water Reservoir

Same as the previous two systems, fill the reservoir with nutrients and water. Get yourself an opaque container at least 12 inches deep. Avoid using unclear or translucent containers.

Aerate the Water

The most usual and economical aeration is by using an air stone and a pump. Found in most home aquariums, the air stone can be placed in the water and then connected to an air pump placed outside the reservoir.

The pump will assist in pushing air through the stone, which will then release tiny bubbles into the water to disperse oxygen. Simple and easy, right?

Growing Raft

Cut a floating styrofoam platform to fit inside the reservoir’s top for your expanding raft. After that, you’ll require net pots.

Seedlings with a growing media, such as perlite, mud balls, or coconut fibers, are held in these plastic containers with perforated bottoms. Because the roots need to be in contact with the reservoir water, you’ll need to make holes to insert the net pots.

3. The Ebb and Flow System

The ebb and flow system, sometimes known as the flood and drain system, may appear complicated in design, yet it is extremely adaptable. This technique operates by flooding the growing medium with a water-nutrient solution, which is subsequently drained back into the water reservoir.

Water Reservoir Connected to a Fill and Drain Tube

You’ll need to place the water reservoir directly below the flood tray container filled with nutrients and water. Thankfully, the same water can be used for about a week at a time. Just make sure to add the nutrients every time you change the water.

Next, use a drain or fill tube to connect the water reservoir to the tray. The fill tube connects to a timed submersible pump, which regulates the flow of water back into the food tray.

A submersible pump with a timer allows a lot of control to this system. You also have the power to customize the length and frequency of watering based on your plant’s requirements!

On the other hand, the drain tube uses the power of gravity to pull the water back into the reservoir after flooding it, so that the water can be reused.

Setting Up the Flood Tray

To stand tall, the plant tray must be a deep container. Plant your seedlings in vented planters filled with perlite or other growing material.

Remember to make the seedling pots twice as shallow as the flood tray.

4. Nutrient Film Technique

Our 4th system is called the nutrient film technique, and it works best with fast-growing, shallow-rooted plants like spinach, lettuce, radishes, and herbs.
benefits of hydroponic farming

This system uses a water-nutrient solution that continuously flows in a loop for a reservoir through the help of a growing tray. It’s beneficial for the plant roots that are suspended in the growing tray, which enables the plants to absorb the nutrients from the solution.

This technique reinforces the idea that the ebb and flow system is on a continuous stream that never stops.

Setting Up the Water Reservoir and Aeration

Fill the water reservoir with nutrients and water and place it directly under the flood tray stand. You’ll also need to add an aeration bubbler in the reservoir to help oxygenate the water.

Join the Drain Tube, Fill Tube, and Pump

Then, using a fill and drain tube, attach the reservoir to the tray. The fill tube, which is connected to a submersible pump, will regulate the water flow returning to the flood tray. After flooding, the drain tube will allow gravity to suck the water back into the reservoir, allowing you to reuse the water.

And unlike the ebb and flow system, you won’t be needing a timer, since this system is already constantly pumping the water.

To Set Up the Growing Tray

Finally, instead of a flat tray, utilize tubes or channels to set up the growing tray. Using a tube allows you to put it at an angle that ensures the fertilizer solution reaches the roots directly. You can also use a PVC pipe or a round tub with holes punched in it to accommodate the seedlings or net pots!

5. The Aeroponic System

Finally, for our last system – the aeroponic system. This is another complex hydroponic method that requires the plants to be suspended in air and misted every few minutes with a water and nutrient solution.

This is a particularly effective method and requires sophisticated misters and pumps. If for some reason your equipment or tools malfunctions, then the plant roots can dry out and die rapidly.

Set Up a Water Reservoir with Aeration

Fill a container with nutrient-rich water and place it beneath the growing chamber. Then, to assist oxygenate the water, put an aeration bubbler in the reservoir. This water reservoir can also serve as a catch basin for the solution’s misted droplets.

Connect a Submersible Pump

Next, connect a pump to a sprayer or mister. This will allow the solution in the reservoir to be pumped to the sprayer or mister via tubing from a submersible pump tube in the reservoir.

All you have to do is make sure the sprayer or mister is aimed at the plant’s root in the growing chamber, and that is all!

For the Growing Chamber

To set up the growing chamber, you can follow the same procedure as used in the nutrition film technique. You’ll need to set up channels or tubes to evenly suspend each seedling’s roots.

hydroponic farming

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, we’d like to say that we hope our article on hydroponics for beginners helps you to learn a little more about hydroponic plants and how wonderfully great they are. We hope the 5 systems mentioned here will inspire you to set up your hydroponic garden and grow some nice plants and herbs.

It can look challenging or complex, but the result is worth it. Let us know in the comments if you have your very own hydroponic garden going, and don’t forget to share it with your gardening enthusiast friends. Happy gardening!

Water Woes in Palestine

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Water crisis in the West Bank and Gaza is largely overshadowed by the overall political tension between Palestine and Israel. However, the ever-growing water conflict between the two sides is a major impediment to reaching a just and peaceful resolution to the Palestine-Israel conflict, and an essential component for the creation of an independent Palestinian state.

Ever since the Nakbah (Day of Catastrophe) in 1948, Israel has sought to control the main sources of water, and after the 1967 conflict Israel has managed to control all of the major water sources it shares with Palestine and other neighboring countries such as Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. These sources include the Jordan River, Yarmouk River and the underground water reservoirs underneath the West Bank.

Let us take a close look at water crisis in the Palestine:

water scarcity in palestine

West Bank

The rampant discrimination in utilization of water resources is evident with Palestinian farms relying on inconsistent rainwater to irrigate their crops, and illegal Israeli settlement farms using state-of-the-art irrigation systems. Despite controlling 100% of the water flowing from the Jordan River, Israel is using 85% of the water from the aquifers within West Bank territory while  Palestinians are receiving a pitiful 15%.

Though theoretically Palestinians could drill more wells to help sustain their crops, they are forbidden to do so without acquiring permits from the Israeli occupation forces. These permits are difficult, if not impossible, to obtain forcing Palestinians to rely on Israeli authorities for access to their own water. This has lead to per capita water consumption in the West Bank to be approximately 73 liters, whereas Israel’s per capita water consumption is approximately 242 liters. In other words, per capita use in Israel is three and a half times higher than in the West Bank.

Responding to reports reflecting the injustice in water resource distribution, the Israeli government states that it has responded to the needs of the Palestinians and has increased the quantity of water provided to them far beyond that specified in the Interim Agreement. However, what it fails to mention is that 60% of the water it provides is sold to the Palestinians at inflated prices, which most civilians cannot afford.

Of the water available from West Bank aquifers, Israel uses 73%, West Bank Palestinians use 17%, and illegal Jewish settlers use 10%. Another shocking fact is that each Israeli consumes as much water as four Palestinians. Under international law it is illegal for Israel to expropriate the water of the Occupied Palestinian Territories for use by its own citizens, and doubly illegal to expropriate it for use by illegal Israeli settlers

Gaza Strip

Since the blockade imposed on Gaza in 2006, it has been dealing with constant raids, bombardment, and attacks from the Israeli occupation forces, hindering any kind of development that might be possible. One of the greatest sectors affected by continuous Israeli aggression is water supply and sanitation.

palestine-water

Water supply and sewage infrastructure are often damaged leaving the area without proper sanitation and without a reliable water source. This has a large effect on Gaza’s only source of water – the coastal aquifer underneath the Mediterranean Sea coast shared by Gaza, Israel and Egypt. Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip has pushed the already ailing water and sewage system to a “crisis point”.

Reports published by the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that 95% of this water is unfit for consumption due to the lack of proper sanitation, and that Gaza could become unlivable as early as the year 2016. The good news is that World Bank and Islamic Development Bank have recently approved $6.4 million and $11.14 million respectively for the development of the Gaza’s water and sewage infrastructure to improve extensively damaged sanitation facilities and highly contaminated water supply.

Major Hurdles

Financial assistance from Arab world and international agencies can provide a big boost to improve living conditions in Palestinian areas but do not represent a sustainable solution to the problems at hand. The first problem requiring immediate attention is the unjust distribution in water resource use. To ensure peaceful resolution to the conflict between Palestine and Israel, there must be an equal distribution of water allowing enough water for development and basic human needs of the Palestinians.

Another major hurdle is the Israeli policy of stifling development activities in Palestinian areas. The inhuman blockade of Gaza and construction of the “separation barrier” around the West Bank give Israel full control over the resources entering and exiting Palestinian territories. Much of the land cut off by the West Bank barrier is land with good access to a major aquifer. This greatly restricts any plans for the development and construction of proper sanitation and water storage/extraction facilities that may allow Palestinian cities and villages to communities to flourish.

A recent report by Amnesty International says that on average Palestinian daily water consumption reaches 70 litres a day, compared with 300 litres for the Israelis. Many Palestinians barely get 20 litres a day – the minimum recommended even in humanitarian emergencies. To conclude, the problem at hand is not the lack of water in the region, but the uneven distribution of water resources between Palestine and Israel.