Category Archives: Sustainable Development

التصدي لأثار التغيرات المناخية بالمغرب

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يبدو أن الرجوع إلى فترة ما قبل الثورة الصناعية سيصبح شيئا حتميا لا مناص منه ان نحن أردنا أن ننقذ أنفسنا و أرضنا من عواقب الأزمات البيئية بسبب ما يسمى بالتغيرات المناخية. و لقد فطنت و تيقنت العديد من الدول إلى هذا الخطر الداهم و من بينهم المغرب الذي انخرط في مساعي الحد من التأثيرات المناخية بشكل ملحوظ رسميا و فعليا من خلال عدة مشاريع وطنية كمخططات المغرب الأخضر للنهوض بالقطاع ألفلاحي و سياسات النجاعة الطاقية كمشاريع إنتاج الطاقات المتجددة. و قد أصبح البلد بهذا رائدا في هذا المجال عربيا و إفريقيا. و تتجسد هذه الريادة كذلك من خلال استضافة … Continue reading →

Sustainable Drainage Systems in the Middle East: Benefits and Opportunities

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With changing weather patterns of frequent and intense rainfall, regions in the Middle East are struggling to cope with the influx of rain and stormwater runoff that often flood roads and residential areas. While a good network of surface drainage systems enforced with concrete, pipes and manholes may alleviate the situation, city planners can now adopt the use of more sustainable and environmentally beneficial methods to decrease urban flooding in the Middle East. This technique of utilising natural drainage systems to improve water management is also referred to as Sustainable Drainage Systems. Different types of SuDS: Detention ponds, green roofs, … Continue reading →

How MENA Sustainable Development Professionals Can Immigrate to the US on an EB-2 Visa

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In an era of climate change and environmental crises, professionals in sustainable development, ecology, and renewable energy are becoming increasingly important. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, which is grappling with challenges such as water scarcity and desertification, has developed a wealth of skilled professionals in these fields. As global demand for sustainability expertise grows, the United States offers significant opportunities for MENA professionals to contribute to its green initiatives through the EB-2 visa. This employment-based, second-preference visa provides a pathway to permanent residence for individuals with advanced degrees or extraordinary ability, with the National Interest Waiver (NIW) … Continue reading →

المرأة مفتاح الأمن الغذائي

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من المُسلَّم به أن الزراعة هي المُحرِّك الرئيسي للنمو في المجتمعات الريفية في جميع أرجاء العالم، وأن المرأة هي العمود الفقري للأسر خاصة الريفية منها  وغالبًا ما تعمل داخل المنزل وخارجه لتلبية احتياجات الاسرة .وعلى الرغم من أنهن يشاركن في عمل مدفوع الأجر –إلى حدّ أنهن يشكّلن، في المتوسط، أكثر من 40 % من القوى العاملة الزراعية في البلدان النامية،و حوالي  20 % في أمريكا اللاتينية  وحوالي 50 % أو أكثر في أجزاء من أفريقيا وآسيا – فانهن يتقاضين أجورًا أقل مقابل عملهن مقارنةً بالرجال. الجدير بالذكر ان معدل البطالة في الوطن العربي الذي بلغ نحو (11.5 %) في عام … Continue reading →

كيف يمكن للقطاع الزراعي أن يساعد قطاع الطاقة المتجددة؟

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أدى الارتفاع المستمر في أسعار الطاقة الأحفورية، بالإضافة إلى المخاوف المتعلقة بتغير المناخ والتقدم في قطاع الطاقة المتجددة، إلى تحفيز الاهتمام بأنظمة الطاقة النظيفة في منطقة الشرق الأوسط وشمال أفريقيا، وخاصة في منطقة البحر الأبيض المتوسط. تتمتع منطقة البحر الأبيض المتوسط بموارد متجددة وفيرة، مثل طاقة الرياح والطاقة الشمسية والكتلة الحيوية، مما يجعلها منطقة خصبة لتطوير الطاقة المتجددة. وقد لعب القطاع الزراعي دورًا رئيسيًا في تقدم قطاع الطاقة المتجددة في جميع أنحاء العالم حيث أنه يوفر مساحات كبيرة يتم فيها بناء مشاريع الطاقة المتجددة، كما أنه المصدر الرئيسي للمواد الأولية لمشاريع طاقة الكتلة الحيوية.  فعلى سبيل المثال، يمثل القطاع الزراعي … Continue reading →

The Remarkable Water Lifting Noria

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One of the challenges humans have faced for centuries is raising water to reach farm fields or communities. One of the most impressive, yet little known, solutions is the noria (Arabic: نواعير حماة, Spanish: azud). The noria is properly pronounced na’ura (singular) and nawa’ir (plural). Noria literally means “the growler” referring to the sounds made as the wheel turns. The wooden bearings, falling water, and stresses on the wheel create a symphony of noise and musical notes. The deepest notes are in the range of 120–170 Hertz. These remarkable machines are undershot water wheels with paddles on the rim pushed … Continue reading →

How Small Companies Can Influence Environment Protection

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A business can have a tremendous impact on the environment despite its size. As a small business, you have a key role to play on how to decrease pollution and green your business. Depending on the size of your business you can change how goods are procured or manufactured. Moreover, technology can decrease the use of non-renewable sources of energy. Every effort, no matter how small can have a positive impact on the environment. Nowadays, there are many sustainable ways of manufacturing goods. If this is incorporated into business ideas, it could have an immense impact on the environment. Pollution … Continue reading →

A Message on Earth Day

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Earth Day has now grown into a global environmental tradition making it the largest civic observance in the world and is widely celebrated event in which over one billion people from over 190 countries will participate by taking suitable actions for saving our mother Earth. The Earth Day was first organized in 1970 to promote respect for life on the planet and to encourage awareness on air, water and soil pollution. Each year a different theme or topic is selected. The theme of Earth Day 2018 is ‘End Plastic Pollution’. Plastic pollution is poisoning our oceans and lands, injuring marine life … Continue reading →

Yakhchal Ice Maker from Iran and Modern Use For Radiant Sky Cooling

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The cooling potential of the night sky was recognized by societies many centuries ago. In Iran, night sky radiant cooling was used to produce ice even when ambient air temperatures fail to drop below freezing. The tall walls of the yakhchal ran from east to west to fully shade shallow troughs of water throughout the day. These walls could be 10 m tall and 40 m across. In the winter the shade extends out 15 m, but only 7 m in August. The yakhchals came in different styles. Some had multiple shade walls, others curvilinear walls and walls of different … Continue reading →

Natural Cooling with Evaporation and Night Sky Radiation

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Nowadays, architects, engineers and designers are ignoring the potential value of the most basic principles of natural cooling: Solar control (shade) Convective cooling Conductive cooling Evaporative cooling Radiant cooling In the first part of the article, solar control, convective cooling and conductive cooling were discussed in detail. When they cannot provide enough cooling then we may have to make use of evaporation. Evaporative Cooling The hottest areas tend to be dry and are ideally suited for evaporative cooling if water is available. When water is limited it can be used sparingly for just personal cooling. In general, direct evaporative cooling … Continue reading →

Staying Cool with Natural Cooling – Traditional Natural Cooling Techniques

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Natural cooling is particularly important as an economical method of keeping people comfortable and safe from extreme heat even in areas where there is no electricity or when the power grid fails. It also helps reduce peak loads and lowers the stress on generation and distribution systems. Natural cooling has been utilized for centuries and has only recently been ignored, most obviously since 1950, as mechanical air conditioning and electricity became artificially cheap. As a result architects, engineers and designers began to ignore the potential value of even the most basic principles of natural cooling. The traditional cooling methods are: … Continue reading →

Sustainable Urban Development in Texas: Lessons for the Middle East

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Are you seeking sustainable urban solutions for Middle Eastern cities? Look at Texas, where sustainability initiatives are transforming urban landscapes. These cities offer practical blueprints, addressing waste reduction challenges with innovative strategies that could inspire your region’s sustainability goals. In this article, you will explore the proven methods Texas cities employ, from sustainable urban planning to community-driven clean energy initiatives.  You’ll find actionable insights to tackle urban development issues, ensuring cleaner, greener cities. These models can directly address the environmental hurdles Middle Eastern urban centers face today. Moreover, if you’re in Texas and considering a property move to align with … Continue reading →