Category Archives: Climate Change

Green Sukuk: A Shariah-Compliant Green Financing Instrument

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Is it possible to sustain eco-friendly projects without incurring the violation of shari’ah principles of Islamic finance? The answer is positive, and the sustainable instrument which allows to do it is the green sukuk. Sukuk is the plural form of the Arabic word “sakk”. Since the Umayyad period, the sakk represented a payment tool to remunerate state-salaried officials as military forces and government bureaucrats. It functioned as a trustee certificate that entitled the holders to redeem a specific and determined-in-advance number of commodities from the state treasury at a precise time.[1] In its contemporary meaning, according to the Accounting and … Continue reading →

Water Scarcity in MENA

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The MENA region is the most water scarce region of the world. The region is home to 6.3 percent of world’s population but has access to measly 1.4 percent of the world’s renewable fresh water. The average water availability per person in other geographical regions is about 7,000 m3/year, whereas water availability is merely 1,200 m3/person/year in the MENA region. The region has the highest per capita rates of freshwater extraction in the world (804 m3/year) and currently exploits over 75 percent of its renewable water resources. Due to burgeoning population and rapid economic growth, the per capita water availability … Continue reading →

Climate Change Mitigation in Tunisia: Challenges and Progress

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Climate change has become a reality in Tunisia, which is struggling to cope with the problems of desertification, water scarcity and the degradation of natural resources. Despite its limited carbon footprint, the risks of climate change may be high. The fourth Arab country to have published its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, Tunisia has put climate change on the top of its political and economic agenda. It is also the first country in the region to include in its new Constitution recognition of climate change: “A sound and balanced environment while contributing to … Continue reading →

The Islamic Discourse on Climate Change

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Global ecological trends show that we face the risk of tipping points and irreversible changes in the environment and in its capacity to support and sustain human life in all its dimensions.  This state of imbalance and pollution is referred to as “fassad” in Islam which is attributed to human-made actions. Transforming society and the world’s economy to a sustainable basis presents the most significant challenge to the 21st century. It is inspiring to harness local knowledge and culture to inform sustainability. Islam as a worldview and a way of life can provide a fresh outlook to human-environmental in a … Continue reading →

All You Need to Know About Ocean Acidification and its Impacts

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The relentless rise in the percentage of atmospheric carbon dioxide since the Industrial Revolution is a well-known fact. Carbon dioxide is considered as one of the key players among the greenhouse gases that has contributed the most towards global warming, the current hot topic among environmentalists, scientists and even politicians. Another key issue is increasing being discussed nowadays is Ocean Acidification. Ocean acidification is an ongoing change in the chemistry of the ocean caused primarily by the ocean’s absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. What is Ocean Acidification Around 1/4th of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere via … Continue reading →

مكافحة تغير المناخ: كيف يمكنك المساعدة؟

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بعد استغلال موارد الأرض واستنزافها لمئات السنين، أصبحنا الآن في مواجهة الواقع الصعب والقاسي المتمثل في تغير المناخ.  بدأت درجة حرارة كوكب الأرض في الارتفاع ببطء، الأمر الذي أدى إلى المزيد من حالات الطقس المتقلبة الى جانب ان العقد الماضي هو الأشد حرارة على الإطلاق. لقد حان وقت العمل الآن.  لقد حاول فنانين اثنين أن ينقلا إلى الناس مدى أهمية وعجلة هذه الرسالة من خلال انشاء  “ساعة المناخ”  في ميدان يونيون في مانهاتن.  يحذر هذا العد التنازلي من أنه إذا لم تتراجع الانبعاثات الحالية من الغازات المسببة للانحباس الحراري العالمي قبل الموعد النهائي فإن الضرر الحاصل سوف يكون لا رجعة … Continue reading →

وعي المواطن ومسؤوليته تجاه تحدي تغير المناخ

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لئن تتحمل الدول النامية، ومن بينها تونس، المسؤولية الأقل في انبعاثات غازات الدفيئة المسببة للاحتباس الحراري والتغير المناخي، فهي تتحمل الآثار السلبية الأكبر لهذه الظاهرة العالمية، خاصة مع الصعوبات الكثيرة التي تواجهها في التخفيف منها والتكيف معها. فتطوير المشاريع التي يمكن أن تحد من آثار تغير المناخ، وإيصالها إلى وجهتها المنشودة يتطلب الكثير من المال والقدرات، وهو أبرز تحدي يواجه تونس في هذا المجال. البحث عن التمويل لمجابهة خطر التغيرات المناخية شرعت البلاد التونسية، في هذا الإطار، في إحداث هيئة وطنية معتمدة لدى الصندوق الأخضر تعمل على الإحاطة بحاملي المشاريع المتعلقة بمجال التأقلم مع التغير المناخي والحد من آثاره السلبية … Continue reading →

EcoMENA – Vision and Mission

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The MENA region is plagued by a host of issues including water scarcity, waste disposal, food security, industrial pollution and desertification. Providing free access to quality information and knowledge-based resources motivates youngsters in a big way. EcoMENA provides encouragement to masses in tackling major environmental challenges by empowering them with knowledge and by providing them a solid platform to share their views with the outside world. Salman Zafar, Founder of EcoMENA, talks to the Florentine Association of International Relations (FAIR) about the vision, aims, objectives and rationale behind the creation of EcoMENA.  FAIR: What is EcoMENA and what is its primary … Continue reading →

التأثيرات الإجتماعية والإقتصادية للتغير المناخي على الصحة الإنجابية للإناث

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تواجه ملايين الإناث حول العالم ضغوطاً هائلة بسبب الانتهاكات المختلفة  لحقهن الإنساني في الرعاية الصحية خاصة الجوانب المتعلقة بالخصوبة والإنجاب منها, ويثقل تغير المناخ هذا العبء بطرق مأساوية كما يحدث في العديد من بلدان العالم من زيادة الفيضانات في بنغلاديش, إلى الأعاصير في موزمبيق, إلى التصحرفي نيجيريا وغيرها الكثير. آثار التغير المناخي الإجتماعية على الصحة الإنجابية تندرج الموضوعات المتعلقة بالخصوبة وصحة الأم وطفلها ضمن مصطلح الخصوبة والصحة الإنجابية (FRH). تؤدي الأزمات إلى استفحال عدم المساواة بين الجنسين القائمة أساساً من قبل خاصة بين الفئات الأقل حظاً, مما يؤدي إلى ارتفاع مستويات الوفيات والمرض لدى الإناث وذلك لعدم المساواة في الحصول … Continue reading →

Jordan’s Journey Towards Climate Action

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Jordan has the distinction of being the third Arab country to submit its Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs) prior to Paris COP21, in addition to being the first Arab country to address climate change and its implications on vital sectors through a national policy (2013 – 2020). Moreover, Jordan is taking serious steps to mainstream climate change into development policies and strategies starting with the National Women Strategy (2012) and the National Poverty Reduction strategy (2013), the Jordan Vision 2025 which is considered to be the overall developmental blueprint for the country (2015) to the recently launched National Water Strategy … Continue reading →

Green Finance: Powering a Sustainable Tomorrow

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Green finance provides linkage between the financial industry, protection of the environment and economic growth. Simply speaking, green finance refers to use of financial products and services, such as loans, insurance, stocks, private equity and bonds in green (or eco-friendly) projects. 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. For example, global interest in green energy finance is increasing at a rapid pace – in 2024, investments in green energy technologies and infrastructure reached the figure of US$ 2 trillion, which underscores … Continue reading →

Environmental Allergies – Common Causes and Remedies

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In recent years, anthropogenic climate change has led to proliferation of environment-related diseases. The allergies caused by environmental factors are a major health problem for tens of millions of people all over the world. Environmental allergies involve an immune response to something in your surroundings, including home, workplace and outdoor. In contrast to food allergies, environmental allergies are an immune overreaction to triggers you come into contact in the daily life. Many people with perennial allergies also show signs of mood disorders and anxiety. BetterHelp has more information on how to find a free therapist online. The most common environmental allergens … Continue reading →