Category Archives: Environment

Polylactic Acid – An Emerging Bioplastic

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During the last decade, the movement towards bio-based products has increased dramatically as a result of increasing environment awareness and high increase in fossil fuel prices. That is why companies like Polymer Chemistry Innovations must offer products based on new environmental trends. Polylactic Acid (PLA) is an eco-friendly bioplastic derived from lactic acid which can be produced by fermentation of renewable resources. It is a new type of biocompatible material produced from utilizing lactic acid as monomer. Since lactic acid is a non-toxic component, which exists in human metabolism, PLA is safe polyester for human-related applications. In comparison to traditional plastics, … Continue reading →

فيروس كورونا: فرصة لإعادة النظر

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لطالما اعتقدتُ أنّ ما من شيءٍ يحدثُ دون أن يحمل في طياته رسالة ما، إما أن تكون عامة لفئات كثيرة،  أو خاصة لأشخاصٍ معنيين بها، لعقودٍ طويلةٍ بقي الإنسانُ يؤدّي أعماله ومهامه بكفاءةٍ عالية، لكن هل فعلًا كان يبلي بلاءً حسنا في نهاية المطاف؟ بالرجوعِ للأثرِ البيئيّ لمختلفِ الممارسات التنمويّة في مختلفِ القطاعات نجدُ انتهاكًا كبيرًا للبيئة بوتيرة متسارعة، وعلى مر السنوات تكدّست كميات كبيرة من الملوّثات في بيئاتنا بكل مكوناتها، إضافة إلى استمرارنا غير المبرر في ظلّ هذا التطور الهائل الذي وصلنا إليه نكون قد وقّعنا وثيقة دمار كوكبنا بشكلٍ علنيّ وفي وقتٍ قريب جدًّا خاصة بعد التغيّر المناخيّ … Continue reading →

التغير المناخي وقمة باريس: الإجماع البيئي العالمي

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مما لا شك فيه أن قمة المناخ في باريس أظهرت جليا مدى قوة الخطاب البيئي ودبلوماسية البيئة  وقدرتها على توحيد الأمم وقادة العالم والمجتمع المدني لحماية الأمن الأنساني-البيئي.هذا الإتفاق يقتضي إالتزامات من كافة الدول مثل التكيف وتخفيف آثار التغير المناخي ودعم الدول النامية ونقل التقنية النظيفة للحد من حرارة الكوكب بما لا يزيد عن درجتين مئويتين أو أقل لغاية  (1.5  للعام 2050.  لكن هذا الإتفاق بحاجة إلى استثمار (100 بليون سنويا بحلول عام 2020) من دول الشمال الصناعي تجاه العالم النامي حيث أن ما نسبته عشرة بالمئة من الدول الصناعية تساهم بما قيمته خمسين بالمئة من إنبعاثات غاز ثاتي أكسيد … Continue reading →

بصمة خضراء… حكاية الكربون ٢/٤

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من الانبعاث إلى العزل: فهم التقاط الكربون في ظل تنامي التحديات المناخية، أصبحت مسألة خفض انبعاثات ثاني أكسيد الكربون أكثر إلحاحًا من أي وقت مضى. فالعالم اليوم يقف أمام معادلة معقّدة: الحاجة المستمرة للطاقة، والنمو الاقتصادي، مقابل ضرورة حماية المناخ والأنظمة البيئية. ورغم التوسع في استخدام الطاقة المتجددة، لا يزال الاعتماد على الوقود الأحفوري قائمًا في قطاعات واسعة مثل الصناعة الثقيلة، والطيران، والإسمنت، والبتروكيماويات. هذه القطاعات لا يمكن إزالة الكربون منها بسهولة أو بسرعة، ما يجعل الحلول التقليدية وحدها غير كافية. هنا برزت تقنية «التقاط الكربون» كأداة تصحيحية لإدارة الانبعاثات، لا كبديل عن التحول الطاقي، بل كمكمّل له. فبدل ترك … Continue reading →

Environmental Challenges in Saudi Arabia’s Oil and Gas Industry

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Despite the efforts of global society and scientists to reduce the dependency on oil and gas as a main source of energy and find new green and renewable energy sources, the oil remains the most effective one. The oil production rate has increased incrementally from the 1970s to the 2020s, which is driven by the demand for oil. A Global Problem The main problem with the dependence on oil and gas as a primary source of energy lies in the huge pollution caused by the industry. For example, oil enterprises and petroleum companies currently release about 2000 tons of chemicals … Continue reading →

Food Waste, Ramadan and the Middle East

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With the holy month of Ramadan already underway, huge food wastage in the Middle East is again hogging limelight. It is a widely accepted fact that almost half of the municipal solid waste stream in the Middle East is comprised of food wastes and associated matter. The increasing amount of food wastage in Ramadan urgently demands a strong and holistic food management strategy to ensure its minimization, ethical utilization and eco-friendly disposal.   Food Waste in Ramadan Middle Eastern nations are acknowledged as being the world’s top food wasters, and during Ramadan the situation takes a turn for the worse. In the … Continue reading →

Mangroves in Qatar: Perspectives

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Mangroves are trees and shrubs that have adapted to life in a saltwater environment, usually found in the intertidal zone of a coastal or estuarine area. The halophyte characteristics of a mangrove tree allows it to grow in saline environments where no other tree can, thereby making significant contributions to the local ecosystem. Yet these reservoirs of “blue carbon” are seriously threatened. Across the globe, coastal ecosystems are currently being lost at a rate of about 2% a year – a staggering number when the carbon storage potential is considered. In a harsh desert environment such as Qatar, mangroves are one … Continue reading →

Benefits of Rotational Grazing + Creating A Herd Migration In Your Farm Pasture

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Rotational grazing is a concept that has similar benefits to rotating farm crops. When an area is constantly sucked of its nutrients, it can have a harder time naturally restoring itself. The same can be said for grazing fields. However, livestock prefer eating premature new crops instead of grazing in areas that haven’t been touched. That’s why rotational grazing and creating a herd migration in your farm pasture is a great idea. Free range is still a concept, but you may notice that the landscape has continued to change in pastures. When you drive by a farm now and see … Continue reading →

Sustainable Industry: Role of Eco-Friendly Crane Rail Clips

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Heavy industry rarely brings to mind images of lush green forests or pristine oceans. Foundries, ports, and manufacturing plants consume massive amounts of energy and raw materials. Yet, the push for environmental responsibility is changing how these facilities operate. Facility managers and engineers now look at every single component to find ways to reduce their carbon footprint. One component often overlooked is the crane rail clip. These small but mighty pieces of hardware secure heavy-duty crane tracks to their foundations. They keep overhead cranes, gantry cranes, and port cranes moving safely. Upgrading to eco-friendly crane rail clips offers a surprisingly … Continue reading →

Zero Emissions Day: Our Planet is Counting on Us

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The Zero Emissions Day (or ‘Ze Day’) aims to put the Global 24 hour Moratorium on the Combustion of Fossil Fuels. The day started on March 21, 2008 with the launch of a website calling for “A Global Moratorium on Fossil Fuel Combustion on September 21” in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The message, “Giving our planet one day off a year”, was simple yet profound and was translated into 12 languages for easy reach of people. The idea behind is of giving everything a ‘rest day’ so why not for emissions and environment. The notion behind the Zero Emissions Day is … Continue reading →

8 Factors How Home Building Impacts Our Environment

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More homeowners are electing to build their own homes instead of buying established properties. There are several reasons for this. Some people want to be in charge of the design and construction. They want the final say on what their house. New homes also tend to be less expensive in terms on maintenance costs. There’s no need to worry about renovation for a while. Many new homes are being built in newer neighborhoods that are relatively safe and free from crime. If you are considering building or renovating a home but don’t know where to start, there are plenty of … Continue reading →

#InspireMENA – Storytelling on Sustainable Development in MENA

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Over 350 million people live in MENA and share Arabic as a common language. To date, there is very little literature in Arabic about sustainable development in general and specifically on the United Nation’s new global goals and the associated agencies and initiatives. More than half of that population is below 25 and is currently going through a lot in terms of political, economic, and social change. Despite all of this, those young people are innovating and making positive change in their communities. It is of utmost importance to support such impact with credible information, more visibility for success stories, … Continue reading →