Category Archives: Sustainable Development

The Decade of Action: Cities Humanizing SDGs

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We are 10 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 →

The Pandemic is Shifting 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 →

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 →

The Reuse of Greywater: Insights

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Greywater includes water from showers, bathtubs, sinks, kitchen, dishwashers, laundry tubs, and washing machines. The major ingredients of greywater are soap, shampoo, grease, toothpaste, food residuals, cooking oils, detergents, hair etc. In terms of volume, greywater is the largest constituent of total wastewater flow from households. In a typical household, 50-80% of wastewater is greywater, out of which laundry washing accounts for as much as 30% of the average household water use. The key difference between greywater and sewage (or black water) is the organic loading. Sewage has a much larger organic loading compared to greywater. Importance of Reuse of Greywater … Continue reading →

الاقتصاد الاخضر في الأردن..حاجة وخيار استراتيجي

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أثار الركود المالي العالمي نقاشا جادا بين العديد من البلدان حول الكشف عن أسباب الفشل وابتكار حلول معقولة. لقد بات البحث عن نمو اقتصادي “تحولي” أمرا مألوفا جدا في الوقت الحاضر، حيث الطاقة النظيفة والاستثمارات الخضراء تتصدران الواجهة كحل لمستقبل أفضل. وفي البلدان التي توجد في قلب التغيير بالعالم العربي، جلب “الربيع” الشهير نكهة مختلفة إلى التغيير والإصلاح المنشودين. ففي الأردن، يشكل الاهتمام بقضية الاستدامة (سواء بيئية أو اجتماعية) حاجة وأيضا خيارا استراتيجيا. ولأن الموارد الطبيعية محدودة جدا والطلب متزايد، فإن استجابة الدولة لاحتياجات المواطنين والبيئة ليست مجرد التزام سياسي، بل علامة فارقة لم تستغل بعد من شأنها أن تجعل … Continue reading →

Energy Outlook for the Middle East

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There are several problems confronting the world with respect to its fossil fuels-based energy supply. The first problem relates to the ever-increasing use of fast-depleting conventional sources of energy, like petroleum, coal and natural gas. The contribution of fossil fuels in global energy supplies is above 80 percent. Energy demand will certainly increase manifolds during this century due to industrial and developmental activities as burgeoning world population. Global Trends in Energy Sector The concentration of greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere is rising rapidly with use of fossil fuels leading to increasing emission of carbon dioxide which is having a … Continue reading →

Greenwashing Unveiled: Deception in the Name of Sustainability

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Greenwashing, the practice of misleading consumers through deceptive environmental claims, has become alarmingly prevalent in today’s marketplace. With companies eager to capitalise on the growing demand for sustainable products and services, they often resort to misleading tactics that undermine genuine sustainability efforts. As companies continue to employ vague and misleading labels, it is essential for the media to maintain its commitment to investigative reporting and consumer education. By providing accurate and reliable information, media outlets can empower consumers to make informed choices and encourage companies to adopt genuine sustainable practices. Continued media efforts are crucial in ensuring that greenwashing is … Continue reading →

Things You Should Know About Wood Wool Cement Board

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Wood Wool Cement Board (WWCB) is a versatile building material made from wood wool and cement where each fiber is coated with a thin film of Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) that, when cured, partly petrifies the wood. In that way the fiber will last indefinitely as long as the cement film is not damaged. Environmentally speaking, cement has a negative CO2 signature and therefore both the wood and cement, when decomposed, are harmless to nature and as a result all homogeneous Wood wood cement board products have green labels in Europe. It combines the advantages of both wood and concrete … Continue reading →

Industrial Symbiosis Prospects in Jordan

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In a developing country, such as Jordan, with a relatively emerging economy and limited natural resources, the industrial sector expends more effort than developed countries and even more than developing countries that are rich in natural resources. In such a situation, industries should look into finding solutions to sustain their existence, which is not confined to keeping their production lines running and making profit, but it goes beyond that, it goes to a whole way of thinking a way that integrates the surrounding environment and that confirms on the industrial sector responsibility toward the environment, the home of its raw … Continue reading →

A Message on International Youth Day 2016

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The theme of International Youth Day 2016 is ‘The Road to 2030: Eradicating Poverty and Achieving Sustainable Consumption and Production’. Globally the governments and organizations are making efforts in involving the youth in environmental conservation and preservation and assisting them in improving the environmental situation and public health in their own areas, cities and countries. The International Youth Day is also meant to recognize efforts of the world’s youth in enhancing global society. It also aims to promote ways to engage them in becoming more actively involved in making positive contributions to their communities. The involvement in environmental conservation and … Continue reading →

Circular Economy: How to Create Sustainability and Active Presence for Companies?

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Patagonia, an American company, has launched a program called “Worn Wear” to promote its sustainable approach. The initiative encourages customers to repair or reuse their clothing instead of buying new pieces, by providing spare parts for clothes that need repair. Additionally, the company offers a special program for customers through its website, where they can send in their used Patagonia clothing and exchange it for points that can be used to purchase new items. The company also provides important tips for caring for and repairing clothes, as well as offering some used products for sale. Of course, there are several … Continue reading →