Agricultural Scenario in MENA

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Agriculture_MENAAgriculture plays an important role in the economies of most of the countries in the Middle East and North Africa. The contribution of the agricultural sector to the overall economy varies significantly among countries in the region, ranging from about 3.2 percent in Saudi Arabia to 13.4 percent in Egypt.  Large scale irrigation is expanding, enabling intensive production of high value cash and export crops, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, and sugar.

Egypt

Egypt is the 14th biggest rice producer in the world and the 8th biggest cotton producer in the world. Egypt produced about 5.67 million tons of rice and 635,000 tons of cotton in 2011. The area of cotton crop cultivation accounts for about 5% of the cultivated area in Egypt. The total amount of crop residues is about 16 million tons of dry matter per year. Cotton residues represent about 9% of the total amount of residues. These are materials comprising mainly cotton stalks, which present a disposal problem.

Saudi Arabia

Although the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is widely thought of as a desert, it has regions where the climate has favored agriculture. By implementing major irrigation projects and adopting large scale mechanization, Saudi Arabia has made great progress in developing agricultural sector.

The Kingdom has achieved self-sufficiency in the production of wheat, eggs, and milk, among other commodities, though it still imports the bulk of its food needs. Wheat is the primary cultivated grain, followed by sorghum and barley. Dates, melons, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, and squash are also important crops.

Mediterranean Region

Despite the fact that MENA is the most water-scarce and dry region worldwide, many countries across the region, especially those around the Mediterranean Sea, are highly dependent on agriculture.  For example, the Oum Er Rbia River basin contains half of Morocco’s public irrigated agriculture and produces 60 percent of its sugar beets, 40 percent of its olives, and 40 percent of its milk.

Tunisia is the world’s biggest producer of olive oil

Agricultural output is central to the Tunisian economy. Major crops are cereals and olive oil, with almost half of all the cultivated land sown with cereals and another third planted. Tunisia is one of the world’s biggest producers and exporters of olive oil, and it exports dates and citrus fruits that are grown mostly in the northern parts of the country.

Agriculture in Lebanon is the third most important sector in the country after the tertiary and industrial sectors. It contributes nearly 7% to GDP and employs around 15% of the active population. Main crops include cereals (mainly wheat and barley), fruits and vegetables, olives, grapes, and tobacco, along with sheep and goat herding.

Sustainable Agriculture: Perspectives for Jordan Valley

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agriculture-palestineSustainable agriculture development is one of the most important pillars of the EcoPeace Middle East’s Jordan Valley Master Plan as it provides livelihood and prosperity for all the people in the valley. The strategic agricultural objective for the study area is improving water use and irrigation efficiencies and economic outputs per unit of water used, and meanwhile stabilize, or even reduce the total water demands for the agricultural sector in the Jordan Valley. This will require adequate tariff policies on water used for irrigation, including enforcement, to stimulate more efficient use of water through for instance greenhouse drip irrigation. These are challenges specifically relevant for Jordan and Palestine.

Greenhouses are a very effective manner to improve water efficiencies and economic outputs in the agricultural sector, using greenhouses reduce the production related risks, provide for better quality crops and provide wider options for crop diversification. Finally, evapotranspiration from greenhouses is substantially less than from open field agriculture (and it does not cause soil salinity). However, greenhouses decrease open spaces, with negative visual impacts to rural landscapes and to wildlife corridors. Hence greenhouse development needs to be carefully planned and many farmers would require adequate and reliable micro-credits in order to invest in greenhouses.

Drip irrigation is another effective manner to improve water efficiencies in the open fields. The challenge is to set up sustainable drip irrigation systems in the Jordan Valley, including appropriate operations and maintenance and monitoring systems. This requires also financial facilities for farmers to invest, standardization of designs and manufacturing and provision of technical support services.

A related challenge is to maximize the reuse of treated wastewater, efficient use of pesticides and fertilizers, introduction or expansion of growing high yield crops, and improving extension services and post harvesting support to the farmers to enable them to create higher economic returns.

Pollution and mismanagement has severely damaged the Jordan River

Pollution and mismanagement has severely damaged the Jordan River

Another major challenge is to address the negative environmental impacts associated with the fish farms. These farms consume substantial amounts of water, due to high evaporation rates, which may be as much as 1-2 meter of water per year. In addition the ponds are flushed once or twice per year, releasing water into the Jordan River, which is polluted with excrements from the fishes, and anti-biotic medications that have to be added to the fish ponds. Due to the evaporation, the effluent is usually brackish as well. Consequently, discharging this wastewater into the environment has substantial impacts to surface water and groundwater quality.

Mitigating these impacts require investments in wastewater treatment facilities, and converting the process to a closed system. Without resolving these issues the future of this industry in the valley must be in doubt, despite any ecological benefits that the fish farms present for bird migration and associated tourism related to bird watching. The master plan sees the need to ensure that those communities relying currently on the fish ponds as their main source of income enjoy stability and that they be supported in the effort to move to closed systems.

A related challenge will be to strengthen the Extension Services for the farmers in the Jordan Valley. These services might be provided through the existing water user associations. In terms of rural economics, an important challenge is to improve the post-harvesting and marketing potentials of the farmers in the Jordan Valley, including setting up product organizations, better information about markets (nationally and internationally) and related product requirements and creating better access to export markets, with particular focus on eco-friendly and sustainable production techniques, regional labeling and fair-trade related markets.

Note: This is the third article in our special series on ‘Regional Integrated NGO Master Plan for the Jordan Valley.

The Advantages and Disadvantages of Gene Editing Technologies

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The use of biotechnology to genetically modify living organisms has garnered worldwide attention, as the application of biotechnology is linked to critical health, environmental, and commercial issues. One of the life sciences categories is molecular biology, which approaches the genetic information stored in DNA from a novel perspective.

Gene editing is a technique that aims to extract specific genes carrying desirable traits from an organism (human, plant, animal, or microbe) and artificially attach them to the genes of another organism to transfer that desired trait to the receiving organism. Biotechnology differs from traditional hybridization in that it transfers genes at the molecular level between different species using methods that do not occur in nature. Commercial GMOs are most common in the following products: tomatoes, potatoes, corn, cotton, rabbits, fish, cows, and birds.

GMO-biosafety

Life sciences advanced dramatically during the twentieth century, including the fields of molecular biology and genetic modification. It all began in 1935 when Russian scientist Belozersky succeeded in isolating pure DNA for the first time. Later, in 1973, biochemists Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen started the genetic modification revolution by transferring DNA from one bacterium to another and creating the first hybrid DNA (Recombinant DNA) in history. Boyer and Cohen’s success represented an advancement over Paul Berg’s original techniques developed in 1972.

Later, in 1975, at the Asilomar Conference, a group of biologists met with lawyers and physicians to discuss the potential biohazards of gene-editing technology and make recommendations to ensure the safe use of modified DNA. A timeline of the most significant events in the history of GM products provided below:

The FAO has recognized that GM products have potential benefits, including:

  1. Reduce the use of pesticides.
  2. Increase food production.
  3. Increase the nutritional value of food.
  4. Possess therapeutic and pharmacological benefits.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) negatively affect both human health and the environment. For instance, a genetic mutation with unforeseeable consequences could have an irreversible negative impact on the ecological balance. The following are the most significant scientifically proven and unintended environmental risks:

  1. Genetic pollution (interbreeding): This occurs when the natural genetic material of wild species contaminated with genetically engineered material via horizontal gene transfer (HGT). This type of pollution is impossible to eliminate, affects the entire food chain, and contributes to biodiversity loss; additionally, HGT may have the following potential consequences:
  • Contamination of the native microbial community genetic material with the transgenes of GM plants
  • Health and Environmental Effects: These include the emergence of a new disease, pest, or weed, as well as increased pathogenicity.
  • Unpredictable and unintended consequences, such as modifying the recipient organism’s ecological niche or ecological potential.
  • Super-weeds: HGT of pesticide-resistant genes from GM plants to wild weeds, resulting in super-weeds that grow fast and resist pesticides, which consequently leads to an increasing in the use of herbicides to eliminate them, increasing farmer costs, and endangering the ecosystem.
  1. Effects on non-target insects: Various proteinase inhibitors have been shown to have harm worker honeybee performance and behavior.
  2. GM species threaten wild species: GM organisms can grow two times faster and tens of times larger than natural species, giving them a competitive advantage in obtaining natural resources.
  3. Deforestation: some “Super-trees” can produce chemicals that kill natural insects and their surroundings, except for GM super-trees. Furthermore, no studies have been conducted to demonstrate that GM forests are safe for forest ecosystems.
  4. Endangering fertile lands: It is discovered, for example, that GM Klebsiella planticola bacteria were used to convert plant wastes into fertilizer, depleted natural soil nitrogen, and produce ethanol. Even after these microbes’ activity was inhibited, the pollution remained in the soil for eight months.
  5. Loss of genetic purity: Scientists predict that the rapid growth of GM foods will result in a loss of purity in seeds within the next 50 years or less.

Recommendations

The controversial use of biotechnologies to produce GM foods that have infiltrated the global market has raised many ethical, social, and religious concerns, particularly those related to consumer dilemmas. Although these products are still considered safe, scientists admit that there are gaps in knowledge regarding long-term health, economic, and environmental risks.

biosafety

Furthermore, genetically modified foods may have significant unintended consequences. As a result, some steps must be taken, the most important of which are as follows:

  1. Biosafety: The assessment, monitoring, and management of potential risks associated with genetically modified (GM) products.
  2. Legislation: There is an urgent need to enact laws governing transparency, the right of consumers, and the right of the state to obtain complete information about these products.
  3. Consumer rights protection: According to the UN, the consumers have a basic right to know the type of food they consume, its safety, and its method of production, which leads us to the Label.
  4. Product labeling enables consumers to practice their moral, religious, personal, or health preferences, as knowing the ingredients of a product is the best guide for consumers to buy or not buy it. Muslims and Jews, for example, do not consume pork, whereas Hindus do not consume beef.
  5. Public Awareness: There is an urgent need to develop educational materials based on objective scientific evidence. The source of information must also be considered because it will influence the information presented to officials and consumers. As a result, biologists have a responsibility to their community to educate consumers and legislators on the alleged benefits of genetic engineering, as well as the risks and ethical quandaries that it presents, in collaboration with various media channels.

النفايات الصلبة في قطاع غزة

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لم تكن التحذيرات التي أطلقها منسق الشئون الإنسانية  بالأمم المتحدة "ماكسويل جيلارد" بالأمر المفاجئ أو الغريب على أكثر من مليون و نصف غزّي يسكنون في تلك البقعة من العالم. هذه التحذيرات بنيت على دراسة تابعة للأمم المتحدة صدرت في شهر أغسطس 2012 و أشارت إلى أن قطاع غزة لن يكون "ملائماً للحياة" بحلول عام 2020. فقطاع غزة يعاني من مشكلات كثيرة منذ أكثر من عقد من الزمان مع بدء الانتفاضة الثانية عام 2001 و ما تلاه من حصار خانق بعد فوز حركة المقاومة الإسلامية حماس في الانتخابات التشريعية عام 2006.

في أيامنا هذه و مع وصول أول سفينة فضائية لكوكب المريخ، ما زال قطاع غزة يعاني الكثير من المشاكل البيئية بسبب الوضع السياسي، الاجتماعي، الاقتصادي، التنظيمي ، و التقني السائد في مدن القطاع. خلال الأسطر القادمة، سأصطحبكم لكي نلقي الضوء على إحدى المشاكل التي نعيشها منذ عقود من الزمان. و قبل البدء أريد أن أوضح بأني لا أملك العصا السحرية لتغيير الحال بين عشية و ضحاها و لست بالدبلوماسي لأقوم بإلقاء التهم على جهة معينة أو فرد بعينه ولكن المقصد هو إلقاء الضوء على هذه القضية عسى أن تصل رسالتي كمواطن لأصحاب القرار.

يعاني قطاع غزة من مشكلة متفاقمة في ادارة النفايات الصلبة، نتيجة لوصول مكبات النفايات إلى الحد الاستيعابي الأقصى، و غياب الاهتمام من قبل الجهات المعنية على العمل لحل الأزمة. ففي عام 2010، قدرت وزارة التخطيط كمية النفايات التي نتجت من قطاع غزة ب 1300 طن/يومياً على أن تتضاعف هذه الكمية لتصل إلى 2350 طن/يومياً بعد عشرين عاماً. فهذه الأرقام، مصحوبة بتصريحات السيد "ماكسويل جيلارد" بأن عدد السكان في قطاع غزة سيزيد إلى 2.1 مليون في عام 2020، جعلت من الأهمية أن أتطرق لهذا الموضوع و نطرحه على الطاولة للنقاش. فالمشكلة كبيرة  و أسبابها عديدة و لكن و من باب الانصاف يجدر القول أن إدارة المخلفات الصلبة قد شهدت تحسنا ملحوظا في السنوات الأخيرة بفضل المشاريع الدولية التي نفذت في هذا المجال و الشعور بخطورة ما وصل إليه الحال في مناطق القطاع المختلفة.

أسباب وجود هذه المشكلة

و في بداية الحديث عن حلول قد تساعد على التخفيف من هذه المشكلة المتفاقمة، يجدر بنا أن ندرس الأسباب التي أحدثت هذه القضية . فمن خلال البحث و التدقيق، توصلت إلى أن الأسباب هي كالتالي:

أولاً: عدم كفاءة النظام الحالي بسبب غياب الدراسات التفصيلية و عدم وجود الرؤية الموحدة بين الجهات المعنية بإدارة الملف. فعلي سبيل المثال، قانون البيئة رقم (7) لعام 1999 غير مطبق حتى الآن مما يفقد الجهات المختصة السلطة و القوة لفرض سيطرتها من أجل تحسين الوضع العام.

ثانياً: الزيادة المفرطة في عدد السكان في القطاع مصحوباً بزيادة كميات المخلفات و عدم وجود الأماكن المناسبة لطمر المخلفات بطرق سليمة.

ثالثاً: عدم إدراك عامة الشعب بحساسية الموضوع و ضرورة التعاون مع الجهات المختصة لحل الأزمة.  مما سبق، يمكن أن نستنتج الآلية التي أرى أنها قد تساعد على أن تغير الحال الحالي.

أولى هذه الخطوات هي توفر سياسة و رؤية موحدة  ما بين كل الجهات الحكومية المعنية في هذا الشأن بالإضافة إلى البلديات من أجل وضع خطة شاملة تعمل على تحسين الوضع العام لنظام إدارة النفايات الصلبة في قطاع غزة.

هذا المبدأ لابد أن يقوم أساساً على نموذج 3R الأكثر اتباعاً في أيامنا هذه و يشمل ثلاث مقترحات لإدارة الأزمة بطريقة صحيحة و هي (تقليل كمية النفايات الناتجة Reduce ، إعادة استخدام Reuse، إعادة التدوير Recycle) و فيما يلي توضيح لهذه الخطوات:

أولا: تقليل النفايات Reduce

بالغالب تزيد كمية النفايات الناتجة من أي مجتمع بزيادة عدد أفراده. فخلال السنوات الماضية، شهدت الكميات الناتجة ارتفاعاً ملحوظاً دون إدراك عامة الشعب لخطورة الأزمة. و لهذا وجب علينا أن نركز على هذه القضية و نعمل على تغيير ما بأنفس الناس و دعوتهم أن يكونوا على قدر المسئولية و أن يقوموا بدورهم في هذا الملف عن طريق العمل على تقليل المخلفات الصادرة من منازلهم. كما أنه يجب على البلديات إعداد برامج خاصة لإدارة النفايات الصلبة للقطاع التجاري وفرض قيود على أصحاب الأعمال للتقليل من كميات المخلفات الناتجة من أنشطتهم التجارية.

ثانيا: إعادة الاستخدام Reuse

إعادة استخدام المخلفات ليس حل لمشكلة المخلفات و حسب، بل إنه من الأمور التي قد تدفع العجلة الاقتصادية إلى الأمام  من خلال تقليص ميزانية شراء المواد الخام لبعض الصناعات,  و زيادة رأس المال لصناعات الأخرى. فمن خلال هذه الطريقة، يمكن لأصحاب الصناعات بيع كل ما يزيد عن أنشطتهم التجارية لجهات أخرى و جني دخل إضافي للمؤسسة التجارية.

و كمثال آخر، يمكن لهذا المبدأ أن يستخدم كأداة للعديد من المؤسسات غير الربحية عن طريق بيع ما يتبرع به المواطنون من أدوات ليسوا بحاجة لها فيما يعرف بمحلات " الأدوات المستعملة"  و لكن النظرة المجتمعية لهذه الفكرة سلبية و غير مرحب بها لاعتبارات اجتماعية و لكن يجدر الإشارة إلى فوائد هذا النوع من المشاريع و منها:

  • زيادة نسبة المواد المعاد استخدامها بين المواطنين ( أثاث، كتب، أدوات كهربائية).
  • زيادة الدخل المالي لهذه المؤسسات مما يزيد من أنشطتها الميدانية للمواطنين.
  • تغيير بعض العادات السلوكية بين المواطنين و تشجيع الاندماج و التعاون بين كافة أفراد المجتمع.

ثالثا: إعادة التدوير Recycle  

أشارت دراسات إلى أن نسبة إعادة التدوير في قطاع غزه 4.2 % لعام 2002 بمعدل 9 طن/يومياً يتم إعادة تدويرها بمبادرة فردية لبعض الصناعات المحلية. ترجع النسبة الضئيلة هذه إلى عدة عوامل منها:

 أولاً: غياب الدعم الحكومي لمشاريع إعادة التدوير.

ثانياً: عدم اهتمام عامة الشعب لهذه المشاريع و تقدير القيمة الاقتصادية لها. ففي حقيقة الأمر، و نتيجة لزيادة أسعار المواد الخام في الأسواق العالمية، فقد زادت أسعار بعض الأنواع من المخلفات لتصل إلى أكثر من 100دولار/ طن      ( فعلى سبيل المثال: سعر طن البلاستيك PET  250-300   دولار/طن، و سعر الورق المقوى (كرتون) يتراوح بين 240-260  دولار/طن)

و من هنا تنبع ضرورة الاهتمام بهذا النوع من المشاريع من أجل دفع العجلة الاقتصادية للقطاع. و من ناحية عملية يمكن أن يتم البدء بهذه المشاريع بإدارة عليا من البلديات و لكن عن طريق انشاء عدد من الشركات و خصخصتها من أجل تحقيق التنمية الاقتصادية و البيئية في آن واحد. 

في الختام و من خلال التحليل السابق يتضح أن قضية إدارة النفايات الصلبة تتطلب خطوة  مشتركة بين الدولة و الشعب عن طريق وضع أهداف واضحة و محددة المعالم و من ثم العمل على النهوض بالوضع البيئي في قطاع غزة.

How Climate Change is Impacting the MENA Countries

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The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is known for being one of the hottest places on Earth, and highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. In an IPCC special report on regional climate change, models projected that average temperatures in the region will increase by 1-2˚C by 2030-2050. Decision makers and citizens in all 21 countries realize that they are faced with an immediate need to reshape energy, agriculture, water and environmental policy to adapt to changing climate conditions.

climate change in MENA

Steep Rise in Temperature

Satellite data provided by Climate Engine from 1979 to present shows the mean max (average maximum) temperatures throughout the region ranged from 25˚C in the winter to 35˚C in the summer, and temperatures from 1900-96 increased by 0.7˚C for the whole region.

MENA is getting so hot that even in the most conservative IPCC warming scenarios climate change may cause extreme heat to spread across more of the land for longer periods of time, making some regions unlivable and reducing growing areas for agriculture.

Cities will feel an increasing heat island effect and most capital cities in the Middle East could face four months of exceedingly hot days every year. Rising temperatures will put intense pressure on crops and already scarce water resources, potentially increasing migration and the risk of conflict.

These rising temperatures will increase the occurrence of extreme weather events. The Maghreb has been subject to droughts, while Cyclone Phet, the second strongest on record, hit Oman in June, 2010, killing 44 and causing $700 million in damages.

The following paragraphs explores the immediate and potential sectoral impacts of climate change on the environment, energy, agriculture, water, and social well-being in MENA as reported by the World Bank.

Environment

Vegetation models project the impacts may be greater in the semi-arid lands of the region than in the arid lands, especially in composition and distribution of vegetation types. Management options, such as better stock management and more integrated agro-ecosystems, could improve land conditions and counteract pressures arising from climate change.

Energy

MENA countries have some of the highest wind and solar energy potentials in the world. Exploiting the tremendous renewable energy potential would strongly help Arab countries, enabling them to decrease the vulnerability of their existing energy systems.

Using wind and solar energy will also increase electricity production, which is important as demand in the majority of the countries is expected to increase steeply in coming decades due to demographic and economic development as well as to the increasing need for space cooling as temperatures rise.

Agriculture

Land degradation problems and limited water supplies constrain present agricultural productivity and threaten the food security of some countries. Impacts in a 2 °C world include annual water discharge, already critically low, is projected to drop by another 15–45% (75% in a 4 °C world) and unusual heat extremes projected to affect local food production. As a consequence, deteriorating rural livelihoods will continue to contribute to migration flows, often to urban areas.

Islam-Climate-Change

Though there are few projections of the impacts of climate change on food and fiber production for the region, studies also projected increases of some crops. Implementation of more flexible risk-management strategies along with the use of a wider variety of domestic animals, game ranching, and multiple production systems-would provide greater food security to the region.

Water

The Middle East and North Africa is the most water stressed region in the world. Water shortages have already been described as a crisis in many countries of this predominantly arid region, and are unlikely to be reduced and may be exacerbated by climate change. In a region with the lowest freshwater endowment in the world, it is estimated that 80-100 million people will be exposed to water stress by 2025, as groundwater is used up faster than changing precipitation patterns can replenish it.

MENA is world’s most stressed region

The region could be heavily challenged by both rising food and water demand given its projected increase in population that may double by 2070. As a result of severe and sustained pressure on resources, further social unrest is likely in the already unstable political environment that currently characterizes parts of the region.

The combination of rapid population growth and urbanization will put increased pressure on already scarce natural water resources. With rainfall projected to decline by 20 to 40% in a 2°C hotter world, and up to 60% in a 4°C world, the region’s capacity to provide water to its people and economies will be harshly tested.

Rapid development is threatening some water supplies through salinization and pollution, and expanding populations are increasing the demand for water. Adaptation strategies might include more efficient organization of water supply, treatment, and delivery systems for urban areas and, in arid Asia, increased use of groundwater.

Measures to conserve or reuse water already have been implemented in some countries; such strategies may overcome some shortages, especially if they are adopted widely throughout the region. Changes in cropping practices and improved irrigation practices could reduce water usage significantly in some countries.

Social Well-being

Human health in the region is variable, reflecting the economies of the countries. Some countries, where poverty is high, have high infant mortality rates and low life expectancy. The impacts of climate change are likely to be detrimental to the health of the population, mainly through heat stress and possible increases in vector-borne and waterborne diseases. Decreases in water availability and food production (especially if there is a shortage of water for irrigation) would lead to indirect impacts on human health associated with nutritional and hygiene issues.

alexa-arab

MENA has been witnessing extreme weather events in recent years

In certain areas, where drought-parched grounds are unable to absorb rains, flash floods can make roads impassable, preventing students from reaching schools. The floods of June 2009 in Yemen are an example of this. Disruptions to electricity, a potential side effect, can force schools to suspend activity, while in extreme cases, severe weather can actually damage infrastructure. While the cumulative effect of these disturbances on students’ education performance is not well known, it is certain that interruptions in attendance can only have detrimental consequences for learning outcomes.

Over the longer term, it is expected that climate change, along with other confounding factors such as the high poverty rate in the region, will combine to create environmental degradation, a subsequent deterioration in livelihoods, and put pressure on populations to migrate. Research suggests that in all instances such effects are likely to disproportionately affect children, their well-being and care, and their ability to participate in good quality, equitable education.

Conclusions

Climate change is a serious threat and leaders have not hesitated to take action. Adaptation strategies being implemented by countries in MENA are likely to provide some significant “win-win” opportunities for the conservation of resources, as well as offset the impacts of climate change.

An efficient and effective environmental governance framework is essential for more productive and measurable interaction amongst various stakeholders and across key sectors. National, regional and international linkages within targeted sectors are essential to coordinate climate action in MENA. Proactive involvement of public and private sectors, civil society organizations as well as research and academia in climate change mitigation is also a crucial issue.

A Message on World Water Day

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world-water-dayWater is the major driving force of sustainable development. World Water Day aims to increase people’s awareness of the water’s importance in all aspects of life and focus on its judicious use and sustainable management. In 1993, the United Nations General Assembly designated 22 March as the first World Water Day (WWD). Since then the WWD is celebrated to draw wider public attention to the importance of water for mankind. Globally the day is celebrated to focus attention on water conservation, carrying out appropriate concrete measures and implementing the UN recommendations at individual, local and national level. WWD is a global day creating awareness on the subject and urging people to take appropriate actions for its conservation and avoiding its misuse.

The theme for World Water Day 2018 is ‘Nature for Water’ which aims to explore nature-based solutions to the water challenges faced in the 21st century. Water is essential to our survival, it is essential to human health. The human body can last weeks without food, but only days without water. Water is at the core of sustainable development. From food and energy security to human and environmental health, water contributes to improvements in social well-being and growth, affecting the livelihoods of billions.

Globally, 768 million people lack access to improved water sources and 2.5 billion people have no improved sanitation. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 7.5 liters per capita per day to meet domestic demands. Around 20 liters per capita per day will take care of basic hygiene needs and basic food hygiene. Poor water quality and absence of appropriate sanitation facilities are detrimental to public health and more than 5 million people die each year due to polluted drinking water. The WHO estimates that providing safe water could prevent 1.4 million child deaths from diarrhea each year.

Water-Partnership

Water is essential for our survival

It is ironical that a large number of people in the Middle East are still consuming excess water and are ignorant or careless about the looming water shortages. With the threat of dwindling water and energy resources becoming increasingly real and with each passing day, it is important for every person in the Arab world to contribute to the conservation of water.

Celebrating World Water Day means that we need to conserve and reduce our water use as excessive water use will generate more wastewater which is also to be collected, transported, treated and disposed. We need to understand that 60% of total household water supply is used inside the home in three main areas – the kitchen, the bathroom and the laundry room – and which is collectively known as greywater

Saving water is easy for everyone to do. Let us try to implement the following basic water conservation tips at home:

  • Turn off the water tap while tooth brushing, shaving and face washing.
  • Clean vegetables, fruits, dishes and utensils with minimum water. Don’t let the water run while rinsing.
  • Run washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full.
  • Using water-efficient showerheads and taking shorter showers.
  • Learning to turn off faucets tightly after each use.
  • Repair and fix any water leaks.

The World Water Day implores us to respect our water resources. Act Now and Do Your Part.

Will Fully Electric Cars Survive in Rural Areas?

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Electric cars are predicted to account for 81% of all the EVs sold by 2030. This is about 25.3 million cars which is far beyond their counterparts – PHEVs. With a third of all these EVs expected to find their ways to the remote areas and even permanently be assigned for use in such areas, shall they survive?

Driving the newest Ford Everest model- All-New Jazz 1.5 Luxe Hybrid ECVT down the dusty paths in your rural area may is good. It adapts to every region as it uses a motor to charge its battery. But thinking of Volkswagen e-Up for your next trip may not be a good idea.

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With the UK having already drafted a law that’s likely to see a ban on new sales for petrol and diesel cars by 2035, are they prepared to counter the challenge in rural areas? And like many other countries in Europe, how will the fully electric cars survive in rural areas?

Undeniably, urban centres are always the pioneers of most technologies. Equally, they usually get the lion’s share in all goodies. This is likened to the number of electric car charging stations in the urban centres versus the rural areas.

Countries like the US, Iceland, UK, Denmark, Norway and Sweden have the most electric vehicles on their roads. The US currently has over 100,000 electric car charging outlets with California alone having 32,000. China is leading in the number of electric charging stations. But like the other nations, the charging outlets and charging stations are concentrated in the big cities.

A research conducted by Technavio projects the electric vehicle charger market growth rate for the period 2020 – 2025 to be at a CAGR of 29%. China is taking the lead with Europe and North America trailing behind.

electric car charging market

On the positive note, a more rapid growth is being witnessed in the residential segment which comprises of multi-dwelling buildings, homes and office buildings. This mean more electric vehicle chargers are going to be installed in rural. Penetration of EVs in the rural areas where travel distances are shorter is likely to grow at a higher rate than anticipated.

Most countries with large uptake on EVs have already laid down massive public electric charging infrastructure. If they adopt the Chinese infrastructural system, ideologies and offer incentives to investors, every EV owner will be covered.

Not many nations are thinking of robust electric charging infrastructure covering both rural and urban centres as the only way to attract a considerable uptake on EVs. It’s this factor that hinders many potential customers living in rural from buying one.

electric-car

This scenario may change sooner than is expected if charging stations are installed in new buildings and charger points in busy streets and car parks as directed by the UK government.

With companies like Charge My Street taking the charging challenge to the villages by installing charging units on village halls and market centres, electric car enthusiasts are a happy lot. Again, as individuals and companies like Chargepoint continue to install electric charging stations in cottages and houses in remote areas, fully electric cars are likely to survive in rural areas.

And with countries supporting the use of electric vehicles due to their eco-friendliness and efficiency, we are likely to see the same happening to the charging infrastructures. The process may be slow in the remote villages for a short while.

But as the policies and regulations to end the sale of diesel and petrol cars approaches and competition among the electric vehicle charging station companies races up, charging points will definitely increase in the local villages.

Are Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles Really Environmentally Friendly?

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There has been a great conflict between fuel efficiency and eco-friendliness in cars. Even though plug-in hybrid vehicles have for long been thought of as environmentally friendly because they use electricity, in the real world they are the opposite. As countries grapple with the issue of carbon emissions, the PHEVs global market growth shall be a shock if all indications are correct.

Comparing carbon emission rates between eco-friendly cars like Honda Jazz that rely on petrol and plug-in hybrid vehicles, Greenpeace was correct by terming PHEVs as “Wolf in sheep’s clothing”. Contrary to automakers official tests figures of 44g of carbon dioxide emissions, PHEVs emit almost three times. This is according to real-world test results from Transport and Environment and Greenpeace.

plug-in hybrid

Researchers from Fraunhofer ISI and International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) conducted research on 100,000 PHEVs and found them to emit two-four times CO2 and consume an average 2-4 times fuel. This research conducted in China, Netherlands, Germany, US, Norway and Canada represented real “Real-world usage of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles”.

Different regions showed slight differences in fuel consumption rates and carbon emission rates but important thing stood out – PHEVs actual rating was too low compared to the real findings. They are not as fuel economical and environmentally friendly as many think.

car fuel consumption

Without a doubt, there will be more plug-in hybrid vehicles on the roads this year and in subsequent years equipped with higher capacity batteries. And despite retailing at a higher purchase price, their efficiency, comfort of driving and ease of use are likely to balloon sales.

If all projections on global electric cars remain constant, they shall dominate all the roads around the world by 2030. Within the period of 2021-2026, the EV market is expected to grow at a CAGR rate of 29%. With these positive projections, shall the environment be safer and vehicles extra efficient?

As faster and efficient PHEV charge stations continue to be launched in many countries, the environmental impact posed by the long-range batteries is a real threat. And equally is the extraction of the raw materials used to manufacture the batteries.

It’s a fact that plug-in hybrid vehicles emit less carbon than traditional or conventional vehicles only if drivers adapt to new driving technologies and charge the battery as often as possible. If drivers of these hybrid vehicles could stop driving aggressively which results in to use of diesel or petrol lesser emissions would be evident.

By all standards, these vehicles whether small or large are more efficient than their traditional counterparts. With new models like BMW X5 xDrive45e estimated to run 50-54 miles on electricity and Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid 39 miles, their efficiency is evident.

Comparing the ballooning fuel costs in almost every country around the world with the cost of charging electric cars, the latter is economical. But with PHEVs, it’s how you balance between using the electric motor and fuel that determines how efficient the vehicle is.

With powertrain being another concern in plug-in hybrid vehicles, they can be the least efficient if petrol or diesel becomes their source of power. It’s for this reason these vehicles are a worry to every nation. The desire to cover long distances in a short period makes many drivers forget to charge the batteries and thus use fuel.

This emits more carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxides which are among the worst enemies to the environment. How the used batteries from PHEVs are disposed of is another worry. Even though they are recyclable, how much dangerous emissions are we likely to see from the industries years to come?

Why Automakers Should Be Cautious Of Future EU Policies On PHEV?

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Suppose the EURO ambitions of attaining zero emission for all new cars by 2035 become a reality? Shall all the big auto brands trying to position themselves as leaders in PHEV stand the CO2 and nitrogen dioxide emission tests?

It’s very simple for any automaker to rivet a PHEV emblem at the rear of their new models. But with the roadmap already drafted for up to 2040, the leading automakers planning for mass production of plug-in hybrid vehicles should be cautious.

PHEV

EU policies on emission rates are real. When time for the enforcement of these policies shall come knocking, just as witnessed before, many of the so called PHEVs shall have to be terminated from the governed markets.

Withdrawal of any vehicle from the market is a big loss considering the amount of investment made the manufacturer. It’s for this reason automakers should be cautious of future EU policies.

It all started with EURO 1 rules, then EURO 2 and now auto manufacturers are racing to catch up with EURO 7 rules. With each enactment of the EURO rules and policies, both small and renowned auto brands had to drop some of their brands.

They had to be declared “not good for the environment” and faced out of the market. With the rules being tightened year after year, automakers should be cautious of future EU policies on PHEV. If the trend continues for the next 5-10 years, the billions of dollars these automakers are invested in will never be recouped.

Most of the auto manufacturers are focusing on technologies meant to enhance driver’s experience, fuel economies and entertainment. But with the tightened EU new rules on co2 emissions standards and nitrogen dioxide emission levels, the majority of the models labelled PHEV are likely to be prohibited from terming them as ““sustainable investments”.

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Low pricing, safety, fuel efficiency and elegant design as seen in Myvi gt have dominated auto engineers. It’s for this reason some plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) were found to emit more carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide compared to its conventional counterparts.

Even though some countries are reluctant in being part of the countries willing to end the production of internal combustion engines that are responsible for polluting the environment, the majority are willing to jump on the bandwagon. This follows after certain EU countries like Denmark, Belgium, Netherlands and Ireland showed an interest in writing to end the internal combustion engine.

The new Euro 7 emission standards are likely to be announced later this year with the enforcement also likely to start in 2025.

Looking at the rate at which EURO emission standards have evolved, how the currently being manufactured PHEV’s will be in compliance with future EU policies on pollutant emission remains hard to guess. Or, will they cheat on emission rates as Volkswagen did?

Already, this fact was revealed by Transport and Environment (T&E) after they found models like Volvo XC60, BMW X5 and Mitsubishi Outlander to emit between 28%-89% more carbon dioxide than is stated in their advertisement. How exact on details automakers are on pollutant emission are should be treated cautiously.

Due to suspicions, EURO 7 option three suggests automatic real-world monitoring of emissions for the entire vehicle’s lifetime. This is likely to put automakers in an awkward position. If rules such as this are brought to life, most models labelled PHEV shall stand the risk of penalties.

Conclusion

Come 2025, if EU policies on PHEV become enforceable, automakers racing to dominate car markets with their PHEV models shall become a worried lot. Especially with lifetime emission monitoring, finding a car fully compliant will be really hard.

Preventive Air Conditioning Maintenance: Why It Matters?

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The lack of maintenance and cleaning in the air conditioner can cause a lot of problems. These can affect since the operation of the equipment and imply in a greater consumption of energy, and even favor the occurrence of health problems like migraines and irritation in the mucous membranes.

Preventive maintenance and proper AC cleaning helps reduce the emission of pollutants in the environment, decreases the energy consumption of the appliance, increasing its life.

air conditioner efficiency

Why Preventive AC Maintenance is Important?

In order to have a good functioning of the air conditioning system, it is important to carry out a regular air conditioner repair program. Preventive maintenance adjusts air conditioners as well as reducing the level of pollutants in an air-conditioned environment, while also increasing the life of equipment and reducing energy consumption.

Some maintenance can be carried out by the owner, such as cleaning the air filters, which are easy to remove and clean. This cleaning can be done by running water and neutral soap. To replace the filters in the same way in the air conditioner it is essential that this part is completely clean and dry.

When the air filter exhibits obstruction due to the presence of impurities, it causes the airflow of the product to decrease, i.e. it decreases the air outlet speed of the air conditioner. This obstruction results in a decrease in the performance of the appliance, in the reduction of energy efficiency, in the freezing of the heat exchanger and consequent reduction of the life of the air conditioner.

It is important to point out that most of the existing flaws in air conditioners are due to a lack of preventive maintenance.

preventive-ac-maintenance

It is recommended that a more complete preventive air conditioner maintenance be carried out annually to guarantee an increase in the useful life of the product and thus the permanence of the guarantee. During this maintenance, the removal of the equipment and the dismantling and cleaning of the internal and external parts (cleaning of the heat exchanger, trays, fans, and other internal parts) is of paramount importance.

Guide to Annual Preventive Maintenance

The annual preventive AC maintenance is also essential for the elimination of undesirable odors, preventing the propagation of fungi and bacteria, besides preventing the proliferation of other harmful microorganisms the health of users.

But what can you do to improve the quality of the air you breathe?

  • Always ask for the appliance manual, as it contains all the information on the installation and use of the appliance. Read it calmly and carefully.
  • The filter must be cleaned every 30 days at least, because when they are dirty, they do not let the air circulate freely, causing the appliance to malfunction, causing a greater effort of its mechanics, increasing the increase in energy consumption.
  • Keep doors and windows closed when using the air conditioner.
  • Avoid smoking in air-conditioned environments, since they will be closed, which is detrimental to your health and to people present on the premises.
  • Be aware of the thermostat. Do not let it run at maximum for too long, this will damage the unit.
  • To clean the filter, switch off the appliance, remove the filter and clean it with a vacuum cleaner or with soapy water. Let it dry and put it back in the machine. Do not scrub or twist to avoid damaging it.

These are some of the care needed to keep your air conditioner clean and in good working order.

Conclusion

For many obvious reasons, preventive AC maintenance is important. Scheduling regular checks and tracking minor problem solving will help users enjoy all the comfort offered by the air conditioner without worrying that it will fail.

The Environmental Impacts of Industrialization

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Everything we do, from the food we eat to the electricity we use, affects the world around us — but it wasn’t always that way. The Industrial Revolution changed the way that we created everything, from food and energy to sanitation and manufacturing technologies, apart from the way we study. Amount of  “do my paper” messages from students to experts did not decrease even at that time. How has industrialization impacted the environment, and what can we do in the future to reduce these environmental impacts?

climate-change-public-health

The Industrial Revolution

The Industrial Revolution started sometime in the middle of the 1700s, when the world’s population had finally started recovering from the deaths of the Black Plague in the 1300s that wiped out more than 75 million people. The planet’s population exploded, reaching 1 billion by 1800 and then doubling again by 1926. By the beginning of the 21st century, it had grown again to 6 billion.

It was coal that shifted the balance of power — using coal as a power source changed the way that we looked at industry, from energy generation to manufacturing. We’ve been using coal since the 13th century, but it wasn’t until the 1800s that industrialization took off.

Back then, we weren’t thinking of the potential impact of burning coal and other fossil fuels to power our new equipment and machinery — we were thinking of growing as much, as fast and as far as possible. It’s only in recent years that we’ve started assessing the kind of impact that we’ve had on the environment as a direct result of this exponential growth. Lately, many students have been writing environmental articles on the topic of global warming and environmental pollution! If you want to free your time from routine tasks and delve into this topic, then you can contact the online essay writing service.

The Impact of Industrialization

There are four primary impact points when it comes to industrialization — air, water, soil and habitat.

The biggest problem is air pollution, caused by the smoke and emissions generated by burning fossil fuels. The United State’s EPA regulates more than 80 different toxins that can be found in industrial pollution, from asbestos and dioxin to lead and chromium. In spite of these regulations, industries are among the worst generators of air pollution in the world.

Water pollution is also a problem in these areas, specifically in regions where factories are built next to natural water sources. These toxins can come in a variety of forms — solid, liquid or gaseous — and they can all end up contaminating the local water supplies. Even landfills and other waste disposal areas can leach toxins into the local water supply, leading to water pollution as in the case of River Nile.

The Carbon Cycle

Soil contamination is another problem that goes hand in hand with industrialization. Lead is the most common form of soil contamination, but other heavy metals and toxic chemicals can also leach into the soil and, in turn, contaminate any crops that grow there.

Finally, industrialization has led to dramatic habitat destruction. Forests are cut down for their lumber, and ecosystems are destroyed to create roads, strip mines and gravel pits. Destroying these habitats upsets local ecosystems and leads to plant and animal extinction if the species are unable to relocate or adapt to their new surroundings. Simple steps, such as using recycled plastic disc golf discs, can go a long way in protecting our forests and other environmental assets.

The Solution

Now that we’ve realized what an impact the industrial revolution has had and is still having on the environment, what can we do to fix it? There are two possible approaches that both factories and legislators can take to help reduce the impact of industrial pollution.

First, industries can reduce their reliance on a product that is causing pollution. One good example is removing lead from gasoline in the 1970s. We’ve lowered our dependence on lead, which reduced the amount of this heavy metal being leached into the surrounding environment.

The other option is to treat industrial waste to remove toxic components so that the rest of the waste can be disposed of safely. It isn’t always easy, and it does require that each factory implements the proper procedures to purify or cleanse their waste byproducts. However, it can help reduce the soil, air and water pollution being produced by these facilities, and also help in conservation of natural resources. Companies like https://allgreenrecycling.com/e-waste-recycling/ can help in managing e-waste in a sustainable manner.

The industrial revolution may have changed the way that we look at the world, but it also changed the impact we had on this planet that we call home. Now that we’ve realized the problem, it’s up to us to fix it so that we can continue to grow and change without destroying our home in the name of progress.

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How to Make the World a Healthier Place to Live?

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Let’s go green, today many countries in the world are getting a better understanding of the ecosystem. The way in which the world is suffering, and our need to change it is something we are all coming together and trying to improve. We all share one planet so pulling together and the improvements made is a mutual decision.

It does not matter which country you are in, each country has its problems, some more apparent than others, some are easily solved. The point is by pulling together and recognizing the problems in our own countries and the best ways to help, sharing experiences and ways to fix these issues. We can help each other.

Some inventions help us to be sustainable while helping the environment. For example, many countries that are sunny will use solar panels, windy places will have more use for wind turbines, places that have water difficulties, will find ways around not wasting it.

solar-panels

Why use solar panels?

People will assume understanding solar panels can be complicated, realistically, it means that the panels installed are using the sunlight to make electricity. The panels are normally installed onto rooftops using a professional. The panels create something called an array that supplies solar electricity to power electrical equipment.

The amount of electrical equipment in the home is growing rapidly every year, technology is in everyone’s household in one way or another. How many of those appliances do you possibly need or use? How many are left on standby for long periods of time, without being switched off?

The truth is the children in our today’s society are technology mad, which leads to one thing more electrical equipment for your home. The more electrical equipment/appliances that you own, the more expensive your monthly bill will be.

Lights are one more thing that as a society, most people do not think about. How many of your children will walk out of a room without turning off the light? Do you do this? Sometimes we are all guilty of these things, the problem is, it is not just a waste of money but a waste of energy as well.

The positives of solar panels

There are many positives to using solar panels, saving money will be the one you can physically see! Seeing your bills go down over time, or getting rewarded for having solar panels installed will show in quite a quick way.

Installing solar panels will cost money to start with, however, this is recuperated very quickly. Using your power at the right times in the home, while being joined to the grid will give you credits. Some people chose to sell these back to the electric supplier other people chose to not have any bills. Whatever way you choose you will see the money saved.

When owning farmland or outbuildings, sheds look into installing these with solar panels too. Always think about the bigger picture when having these installed. If you live in a hot country and have land that you farm or host people in your home, having savings on your electricity is one of the best ways to save on your spending.

Living a greener life

Living a better healthier way of life is what many people want to strive to achieve, the population is growing, so is unfortunately the amount of waste people dump on the planet. Things that maybe 50 years ago were not noticeable are sticking out drastically now. The way in which waste can be dealt with really can start in your home.

rooftop-solar

Looking around your home, how many items do you have that are unused? It does not have to be electrical, it can be anything. Collecting all unwanted items from your home and donating them to a charity is a fantastic way of decluttering the home and possibly helping someone in great need.

Doing our bit for the planet can start with things like picking up the litter that you see on the road. Or going to a food bank or homeless shelter with the extra food you have had sitting in the pantry for the last 6 months that will at some point end up in the bin. Donating will help someone who needs it, and give you a small glimmer of pride that the good deed you did may have stopped a family from being hungry that evening.

Recycling plastics and reusable rubbish is also helpful, keep a separate pile where these items can be placed. Avoid taking plastic bags to place shopping in, replace these with material bags, not only do they look pretty, but they also tend to hold much more. Some of the money used to purchase these bags will donate to charity.

Getting the children involved becoming green

So you are wanting a more sustainable green life, how exactly do you get the children involved? Simply make them be a part of what you are trying to achieve. Hands on is normally a successful way of getting children to help, routine and structure and maybe including, a little reward. Yes rewarding your child for doing the right thing. This may be seen to be a little sneaky however you are not going to be giving them a new toy to add to the waste problem.

Encourage children to switch off game consoles, mobile phone chargers, and lights. When going to the toilet have a rainwater bucket so if you or your child has a wee or urinate then instead of flushing simply tip a little water to get rid of the waste. This will save gallons of water.

Dinner time waste can be an issue in some households, as parents sometimes this guilt should fall at our doors. Are you a parent that is guilty of piling your child’s plate up full of food knowing full well it will not get eaten? Instead of doing this give smaller portions, they can always ask for more if it is needed, turn the leftovers into dinner for another day.

Going green and managing a more sustainable way of life, should include your whole family. If you and your partner are paying out for ways to improve the function of your home then, whoever lives in it should help out too. A joint effort is always going to be a good effort and the more you pull together the better the results your family will see.

Conclusion

Going green or moving in the direction to improve the home life you have does not always have to be for financial gain. The rewards in doing the right thing for your children or grandchildren’s generation should be a reward in itself. Making the world a healthier place to live in, is becoming more popular now but it should not be a passing phase that society gets bored with.

Helping each other by sharing tips online or showing things you have gained, living a better life should be something you should be proud of. It’s time the world pulled together and helped each other no matter which country you are from, everyone has something to learn, and equally, everyone can teach someone something they did not know.

Our planet is valuable and we should treasure it, doing the utmost as possible to help and nurture our children so this becomes their lifestyle as a natural progression. Encouraging recycling, saving fuel, and wildlife positively pushing for self sustainability should be something to aim for!