Category Archives: Sustainable Development

Science Diplomacy in the Age of Climate Change

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Climate change is the defining transboundary challenge of the twenty-first century. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, sea-level rise, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and water scarcity transcend political boundaries, making unilateral action insufficient. Although climate change is fundamentally a scientific issue, its solutions depend on international cooperation, political negotiation, financial solidarity, and technological innovation. At the intersection of these dimensions lies science diplomacy, an approach that integrates scientific knowledge into diplomatic processes while simultaneously using diplomacy to foster scientific cooperation. Science diplomacy has evolved from a complementary policy tool into a central mechanism for addressing climate change because it enables governments … Continue reading →

Urban Integration of Waste-to-Energy Facilities: A Comparative Case Study and Framework for Sustainable Neighborhoods

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The paper addresses the global and local shift towards the circular economy as a tool to achieve environmental sustainability and reduce climate impacts, given the global challenges of converting waste into energy. Through an analysis of global studies, the trend towards the circular economy and successful global standards, specifically the Danish model (Copenhill WTE plant) and Singapore (Tuas One WTE Plant), and how we utilize waste and achieve sustainability, this study discusses global strategies in the local context in Jordan, where it identifies current infrastructure challenges and proposes a sustainable local framework aimed at improving waste management and supporting the … Continue reading →

Beyond the Blue Economy: The Rise of Integrated Circular Coastal Systems

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For decades, the Blue Economy has inspired governments, industries, and researchers to rethink humanity’s relationship with the oceans. By promoting sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, maritime transport, offshore renewable energy, coastal tourism, and marine biotechnology, it has demonstrated that economic growth and environmental stewardship can coexist [1–3]. Today, the Blue Economy contributes significantly to global development while supporting millions of jobs and generating substantial economic value across coastal regions. Yet, despite its remarkable achievements, the concept is reaching a new crossroads. The environmental challenges of the twenty-first century extend well beyond the sustainable exploitation of marine resources. They now encompass water scarcity, … Continue reading →

The Rationale for Making a Switch to Circular Economy

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All forms of wealth and security, including climate stability, biodiversity, resource availability, soil fertility, air and water purity and health, are depleted by the systemic error of running a linear economy. Linear economics consumes the basis for future growth so what is now growing fastest is unproductive activity, inactivity and instabilities. The credit crunch marks the withdrawal of faith in growth-as-usual and any reliable revival of growth and prosperity requires a switch of vision. Circular Economics The future for growth is circular economics where more economic activity would mean a faster pace of change away from waste-making and towards looking … Continue reading →

Food Security in the Middle East: Perspectives

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Despite the fact that the Middle East is blessed with a rich geological inheritance of hydrocarbons and mineral resources, it is a water-scarce and arid region that has its share of demographic and socio-economic problems. It is difficult to grow food crops in the Middle East due to scarcity of water supply and limited availability of arable land. The region is highly vulnerable to fluctuations in international commodity markets because of heavy dependence on imported grains and food items. According to a report by the World Bank, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the International Fund for … Continue reading →

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. Overpopulation can be better understood through analysis of overconsumption and resource depletion. The scale of the … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

The Decade of Action: Cities Humanizing SDGs

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We are 4 years away from delivering the 2030 sustainable development Agenda. Yet, the pace of progress on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is slower than sought. In January 2020 and in an attempt to expedite progress, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres inaugurated the ‘Decade of Action’. The Decade is built on three levels of action: global action, local action, and people action. Weeks after, the COVID-19 Pandemic hit the globe and magnified pressure on achieving all SDGs across borders. While human well-being lies at the heart of the sustainable development Agenda, the global extreme poverty rate is projected … Continue reading →

Food Security in Lebanon

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Lebanon is clubbed with middle range countries in food security. According to an ESCWA report, 49 percent of Lebanese are reportedly worried about their ability to access enough food, and 31 percent of them stating that they were unable to eat healthy and nutritious food over the course of a year. There is scary statistics related to food security in Lebanon especially after the flow of Syrian refugees. Syria used to be an important route for agriculture activities in Lebanon.  There was an agriculture trade through Syria and with Syria. The bilateral agreement has declined from 2011-2012, which led to the increase … Continue reading →

How to Write a Sustainability Report That Doesn’t Sound Like Every Other Company

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Every sustainability report reads the same. Same buzzwords. Same stock photos of wind turbines. Same vague promises about “driving positive change” and “empowering communities.” If your company’s report reads like every other PDF gathering dust in a downloads folder, you’re not just boring your stakeholders. You’re wasting a real chance to build trust. Good sustainability report writing isn’t about copying the format everyone else uses. It’s about making choices that reflect what your company actually does, in language that sounds like a human wrote it. This guide walks you through how to approach sustainability report writing so your document stands … Continue reading →

Islam, Economics and a Blueprint for Sustainable Development

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Islamic economic thought is heavily based on the concepts of fairness and justice. Trade is encouraged- but only within the guidelines of the Shariah (Islamic law). As a result, the Islamic economic system is largely value-driven and fits within the principles of sustainability. A key Islamic principle concerns how “everything belongs to God, and wealth is held by people in trust”. [1] This means that human beings have a God-given duty to care for the Earth. In turn, this links with the idea of Khilafa (stewardship).  The Holy Qur’an states, “Corruption has appeared in the land and the sea on … Continue reading →