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 to be 8.4-8.8% in 2020, which is close to the level in 2017. This means that an estimated 40-60 million of people may be pushed back into extreme poverty, causing the first increase in global poverty in more than 20 years. This alone can shake most – if not all – of the SDGs targets across the globe.

amman-sustainability

Experts and reports are highlighting this marked poverty increase along with the following important consequences as priorities that we all need to understand and tackle: women and girls suffer the most economic shocks, around 90% of children are affected by school closures and associated stoppage of nutritional supplements and vaccines, inequalities of all types are amplified, hunger rate is increasing, and climate honeymoon might be shorter than expected. It is time to identify those left behind and ways to mobilize local actors to take the lead towards a global sustainable recovery.

Why Cities?

Cities are vital engines for economic growth and social welfare. Cities that plan, manage, and maintain hard and soft infrastructure services offer tremendous opportunities for poverty reduction and human prosperity. Within the sustainable development framework, Cities can drive the transformation needed to achieve the SDGs and more importantly stimulate local action for strong, healthy, and just societies.

Why SDGs Framework?

The evolving risks and challenges associated with hard and soft infrastructures, social cohesion and safety, climate change, and migration; create new complexity for local governments. SDGs can be the common language and comprehensive framework for understanding and tackling development challenges.

While the SDGs overarching principles and objectives are unified across the globe, they allow for a lot of innovation by Cities in response to their complex and localized needs. Innovation is triggered by endless synergies and interlinkages between the different SDGs to optimize solutions that address more than one priority. Moreover, fiscal constraints that most Cities face are triggers for innovation and deployment of technologies that would further contribute to economic recovery and social justice.

Voluntary Local Reviews (VLRs)

A Voluntary Local Review (VLR) is a tool for local governments to report their progress on SDGs. In 2018, New York City launched the first Voluntary Local Review as a way to localize the reporting of SDG progress. They define VLR as a tangible product for engaging citizens, peer cities, and the global community around the SDGs.

However, the journey turned out to be as valuable as the destination. The VLR process stimulated collaboration between various line institutions on data collection and analysis, mapping local progress, and raising awareness among relevant staff members. Such momentum continued beyond the completion of the report demonstrating other significant outputs from VLRs.

The VLR is also a practical platform to publicize knowledge and information and promote transparency and accountability as core sustainability values.

Unlike the Voluntary National Review (VNR), the VLR – to date – has no official status at the UN. Therefore, there are no formal processes or standards in place for producing a VLR, leaving the door open for each City to create and customize a VLR to its own needs and priorities.

Cities Leading The Way

Cities like New York and Helsinki are pioneering the marsh towards SDGs implementation. Many Cities from all around the globe are joining the movement through various networks and platforms. Smaller Cities with limited resources and less visibility are taking small but solid steps on the same path. While VLRs are meant to report on progress, they also provide the right context for collective dialogue and agreement on priorities, targets, and Key Performance Indicators.

Sustainability-Helsinki

Some of the commitments reported by New York City in its VLR include: reaching carbon neutrality by 2050 by pursuing steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from buildings, and by sourcing 100% clean electricity, while creating green jobs and holding polluters responsible for climate-related costs; finding ways to beneficially reuse 100% of the City’s biosolids by 2030, so these investments would contribute to both renewable energy and zero landfill goals; and several other commitments related to environment, health and financial inclusiveness. The VLR defines 10 KPIs to track progress on SDGs targets.

The city of Helsinki, on the other hand, values sustainability as a driver for being renown as a global innovation hub. Its VLR puts quality education and decent work and economic growth on the top of the list, in addition to several other targets that would contribute to achieving the City’s vision.

A close-up on our part of the world, and specifically on Jordan, reflects a spectrum of initiatives by the city of Amman and a few other Cities. Amman joined several networks and platforms to strengthen and promote its clean energy, low Carbon, and resilience strategies. Other important players, such as the Cities and Villages Development Bank, are embarking into the sustainability field to enable stronger action by local municipalities. On a smaller scale, Sahab City is demonstrating real leadership in the transformation towards sustainability.

Sahab suffers a poverty rate of 54%. Its total area is 12 Km², where around 75 thousand Jordanian Citizens are living within this limited area in addition to another 40,000 Syrian refugees. The City is home to two of the largest industrial zones in the Kingdom and is combating several environmental challenges. Despite the limited resources available for Cities like Sahab, it is emerging as a role model in designing and kickstarting the implementation of clean energy (energy efficiency and renewable energy) strategy. Driven by its team’s passion and commitment, Sahab joined the Covenant of Mayors initiative that aims to support and engage Cities and Towns to reaching energy and climate targets.

Big or small, Cities are the collective DNA for SDGs. Through putting Cities and their interactions in the front seat, we humanize the SDGs framework and bring it closer to local issues and actors. It cannot be timelier to leverage the SDGs framework to create and foster partnerships and collaboration among people and institutions to co-create and implement common sustainable development plans.  

How To Say ‘No’ to Disposables: Useful Tips

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The waste quantities in all parts of the world are increasing many folds. In the past three decades, the waste quantities have almost been doubled. The per capita waste generation is alarmingly high especially in GCC countries. The municipal and governmental authorities have to spend huge resources in collection, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of these wastes. With limited recycling facilities and absence of reusing culture, more quantities of the waste is now to be managed.

disposable-trash

Major part of our municipal waste is still heading towards our landfill sites where it is being dumped, compacted and covered. The landfills are in quarries areas which are becoming soon filled up with the waste. In Bahrain almost 1.7 cum of space is required to accommodate 1 tons of waste.

Use of disposable cutlery has been increasing exponentially in developing countries. Despite a growing push to recycle and reuse, we must try to correct not the symptoms but the disease, and to do that, we should all avoid and reduce. The use of ‘disposables’ in the Middle East has increased exponentially in recent years and the items and quantities are increasing with each passing day.

disposable-cutlery-waste

Use of disposable cutlery has been increasing exponentially in developing countries

Here are few suggestions to avoid the use of disposables in our daily lives:

  • Avoid Paper Cups and Plates as paper manufacturing consume trees and are bleached white with chlorine, a process that releases dioxin, one of the most toxic chemicals on the planet, and emit methane, a greenhouse gas when trashed and thrown in a landfill.
  • Avoid Polystyrene and Styrofoam which are hazardous, carcinogens, cause air pollution and can cause nervous system impairments among workers. Styrene can leach from containers into our food. Polystyrene cannot be recycled and never biodegrades; it only breaks down into smaller pieces, polluting the environment and harming the animals that mistake it for food.
  • Avoid bottled water and use reusable containers for water storage and drinking.
  • Avoid Plastic and Paper Shopping Bags. Keep your own cloth bag ready for all occasions.
  • Avoid Plastic Utensils, paper napkins, plastic cutlery, forks, spoons and knives. Use chinaware or glassware instead.
  • Avoid Use rechargeable batteries instead of single use batteries.
  • Avoid using disposable diapers and use cloth diapers.
  • Using ink pen rather than ball points and getting a refillables.
  • Using handkerchief rather than tissue and paper towels.
  • Avoid using disposable stirrers and individually packaged sugar, milk and creamer. Use a spoon for stirring and place the sugar and milk in reusable containers or jugs.
  • Avoid using individual sachets of chilly, mayonnaise or ketchup sauce. Store the sauce in reusable bottles and dispensers instead.
  • Avoid Gift Wrapping and put the gift in a reusable bag instead..

Each time you throw something in the trash, please consider that you have paid its cost and are contributing towards more waste at the landfill.

Please avoid disposables. Be wise and environmentally-friendly.

Tips for Balancing Study in College and Other Areas of Life

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While attending college can be exciting, it can also be difficult especially when it begins to take almost all your time and leave you with less time for yourself, family, friends, and activities you love to do. It can be challenging to balance academics with other areas of your life, such as work, social obligations, family responsibilities, and personal hobbies.

But with the right attitude, knowing and applying the right techniques, it’s possible to keep a healthy balance and succeed in all areas of life in college. We’ll look at some strategies for this balance in college in this article, the following are some tips.

Balancing Study in College with Life

Make time for yourself

Make sure to include some quality time for yourself in your schedule as you are organizing your time. Finding time for activities that bring you joy is crucial. It doesn’t matter if you want to ride thrilling rollercoasters or visit your favorite restaurant; all that matters is that you make an effort to decompress.

Set up a schedule

Making a schedule can help you balance work and other responsibilities with your studies. Create a daily, weekly, or monthly schedule that allocates time for work, time for study, time for class attendance, time for socializing, and time for personal pursuits. You can use this to organize your tasks and make sure you have enough time for every area of your life.

Set attainable goals

You can better combine your schoolwork and other responsibilities by setting realistic goals. Establish attainable goals that will help you accomplish your desired outcomes in each aspect of your life. Your motivation and attention to your priorities will both be aided by this.

Prioritize your tasks

Setting priorities might also assist you in striking a balance between your education and other responsibilities. Before tackling jobs that are less urgent or less vital, decide which ones are most crucial and should be completed first. By doing so, you will efficiently manage your time and make sure that you meet all of your deadlines on time.

high-school-study

Learn to take a break

To balance education and other responsibilities, it is also crucial to take breaks. Study sessions that last long can become exhausting and result in burnout. Take brief pauses every hour or so to re-stabilize your body and mind. You’ll be able to maintain attention and productivity as a result of this.

Practice saying “No”

To balance your schoolwork and other responsibilities, it can be helpful to learn to say “no”. Saying ‘no’ to some requests or activities can be necessary if you have too many tasks to do. By doing this, you will stay away from overcommitment and this guarantees that you have enough time to complete what you need to.

Steer clear of multitasking

Some people may prefer to multitask. But the issue with multitasking is that it uses up more of your energy than usual and, in many instances, it takes longer time than usual to carry out a particular task.

The best approach to finishing a task is to do it and then move on to another. Because you don’t want to exhaust all of your energies and still not complete a task, try to avoid doing everything at once.

If you need assistance, ask for it

Many people are prepared to assist you with any scenario you might encounter during your time in college. You can reach out to an academic adviser for help, student council, and classmates. Even qualified therapists, doctors, and mentors are ready to help you. Ask for assistance and guidance when you need it.

Have enough rest

To balance education and other areas of your life, it is always important to get enough rest. Fatigue, stress, and a lack of focus can result from a lack of sleep. To help you feel rejuvenated and motivated, make sure you get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Click here to know how to get better sleep every night.

sleep-improvement-guide

Stay organized

Staying organized can help you strike a balance between your college study and other areas of your life. Organize and make accessible all of your study materials and other necessary objects. You’ll be able to save time and stay on top of your obligations this way.

Avoid Distractions

Nowadays, the majority of us occasionally become distracted by using Facebook, Twitter, or constantly checking our mobile devices. This can divert your attention away from the work you should be doing and can take a lot more time than usual to complete it. Remaining focused is an ideal thing to do to finish a task and move to the next.

Conclusion

Balancing study in college and other areas of life has been a puzzle for most college students, but having a knowledge of these tips and being able to apply them solves this puzzle.

It’s possible to achieve success in all areas whether you’re in college or out of college. By following these tips, you can maintain a healthy balance in every area of your life and achieve your goals.

Waste-to-Energy Pathways

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Waste-to-energy is the use of modern combustion and biological technologies to recover energy from urban wastes. The conversion of waste material to energy can proceed along three major pathways – thermochemical, biochemical and physicochemical.

Thermochemical conversion, characterized by higher temperature and conversion rates, is best suited for lower moisture feedstock and is generally less selective for products. On the other hand, biochemical technologies are more suitable for wet wastes which are rich in organic matter.

Waste-to-Energy

1. Thermochemical Conversion of Waste

The three principal methods of thermochemical conversion of MSW are combustion (in excess air), gasification (in reduced air), and pyrolysis (in absence of air). The most common technique for producing both heat and electrical energy from wastes is direct combustion. Combined heat and power (CHP) or cogeneration systems, ranging from small-scale technology to large grid-connected facilities, provide significantly higher efficiencies than systems that only generate electricity.

Combustion technology is the controlled combustion of waste with the recovery of heat to produce steam which in turn produces power through steam turbines. Pyrolysis and gasification represent refined thermal treatment methods as alternatives to incineration and are characterized by the transformation of the waste into product gas as energy carrier for later combustion in, for example, a boiler or a gas engine. Plasma gasification, which takes place at extremely high temperature, is also hogging limelight nowadays.

2. Biochemical Conversion of Waste

Biochemical processes, like anaerobic digestion, can also produce clean energy in the form of biogas which can be converted to power and heat using a gas engine. Anaerobic digestion is the natural biological process which stabilizes organic waste in the absence of air and transforms it into biofertilizer and biogas.

Anaerobic digestion is a reliable technology for the treatment of wet, organic waste.  Organic waste from various sources is biochemically degraded in highly controlled, oxygen-free conditions circumstances resulting in the production of biogas which can be used to produce both electricity and heat.

Biogas-MSW

Anaerobic digestion is a reliable technology for treatment of organic fraction of MSW

In addition, a variety of fuels can be produced from waste resources including liquid fuels, such as ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, Fischer-Tropsch diesel, and gaseous fuels, such as hydrogen and methane. The resource base for biofuel production is composed of a wide variety of forestry and agricultural resources, industrial processing residues, and municipal solid and urban wood residues. Globally, biofuels are most commonly used to power vehicles, heat homes, and for cooking.

3. Physico-chemical Conversion of Waste

The physico-chemical technology involves various processes to improve physical and chemical properties of solid waste. The combustible fraction of the waste is converted into high-energy fuel pellets which may be used in steam generation. The waste is first dried to bring down the high moisture levels. Sand, grit, and other incombustible matter are then mechanically separated before the waste is compacted and converted into pellets or RDF.

Fuel pellets have several distinct advantages over coal and wood because it is cleaner, free from incombustibles, has lower ash and moisture contents, is of uniform size, cost-effective, and eco-friendly.

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.

wheat-lebanon

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 o illegal trade on borders for the two countries.

From 2015, things started are getting worse especially for Syrian and Palestinian refugees. Food secure Syrian refugees households have fallen from 25 percent to 11 percent.  Syrians refuges are depending on food assistantship provided by UNHCR which amount is decreasing by time.  15% of the Lebanese children under five suffer from dwarfness.

Lebanon’s food resources are wasted through mismanagement of water resources and corruption. Things got worse when Lebanon hosted more than one million Syrian refugee. Increasing population and decreasing water availability will affect food production and affect food security. Agriculture polices need to be improved. Crop productivity should be worked on.

One of the main cases is depending on food imports to secure the national need of nutrients. Lebanon food export compared to Lebanon food import is 16.5%. More than 50% of our food is imported.  Fixing the agriculture sector can solve this. The agriculture sector has been neglected by government, which forced many farmers to abandon there lands and work in cities.

Agriculture is outdated and we can change this by technology. Agriculture is based on science so use this science to study the root of the problem. The main problem is that farmers in Lebanon big issue in selling their products. If we search for technical solutions in other countries we can find several successful stories in developing countries, such as Kenya where an app has been developed for connecting farmers while farmers in Egypt which has early warning of mastitis to improve milk yield;

Many in Lebanon started doing good successful projects as RIEGO in Lebanon, water loss in production. Eco industries: aim to optimize high yield. Solution built in Lebanon but their market outside Lebanon.; Green studios which do  vertical agriculture especially  outdoor vertical planting; E2  from AUB sorting of vegetables for pickles industry.  So the technology can be used in agriculture sector to buy land, fertilizers, seed to produce, share economy where we share tractors, and trading between farmers using mobile apps.

The displacement of farmers and destruction of agriculture sector can be reversed if the Lebanese returned to their original diet full of nutrients and varieties rather the western adopted diet that is rich with lipids and sugars. The National Poverty Targeting Programme, which assists the Lebanese poor, should incorporate food assistance on a wider range.  The e-card program that connects local farmers and shop should be applied completely.  This will increase social stability and protect children from child labor which will increase the number of educated people.

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 acts of sustainability during the pandemic that are getting a lot of attention in the public eye.

Gardening

Gardening has been gaining a lot of popularity since the beginning of the pandemic, and for many good reasons. Not only is the time spent outside very good for stress and anxiety relief, but the final product is (if all goes well) some healthy food. Both personal gardens and community gardens have been gaining popularity since city lock downs, and the latter is also helping shrink the amount of food deserts found in urban areas.

This positive spiral effect of gardening makes it a hopeful pick for a trend that lasts long after COVID has gone. Gardening helps the mind while creating products that help the body, and the very existence of the food also helps with financial issues and overcoming burdens to healthy food options.

backyard-garden

Communication

Sustainability is a popular trend in travel, with things like electric cars increasing their sales quarter after quarter, and for good reason! The vehicles legitimately help save the planet, and with gas prices so high, not paying for fuel makes the vehicle an investment that slowly-but-surely pays for itself. But the only thing better than clean travel, is no travel, and the coronavirus pandemic has been a catalyst for many innovations caused by the inability to travel and gather.

Most businesses that have moved to the digital/remote work settings have continued similar levels of output from a business standpoint… all while their employees’ only commute was from the bedroom to the kitchen table. Take into account the energy saved at empty office buildings, and a wonderful byproduct of remote work has been drastic reductions in energy use.

As many businesses weigh the pros and cons of a life remote, there is reason to be hopeful that many will consider these sustainable practices and allow willing employees to continue working hard while minimizing their work-related carbon footprints.

Education

With schools also moving to digital platforms, opportunities for sustainability assessments are aplenty. Many colleges are utilizing downtime to plan out better sustainability initiatives to undertake when campuses open back up. Renewable energy has long been part of most universities’ growth plans, and with empty campuses (and minimal dips in tuition), construction on renewable plans can get underway.

online-education

Educating students on these initiatives and the reasons they are important leaves a lasting effect on sustainability as well. Students share their knowledge, and sustainable ideas spread.

Also Read: Digital Literacy – Empowering Sustainable Development

Post-COVID

Whether it be a sustainability movement listed here, or one of the many other ones, continuing to implement these changes and educate about the reasons they are important must last long after COVID lockdowns cease. It’s understandable and expected that the first few months after a vaccine is readily available will result in surpluses of travel and overuse, but reminding ourselves and others that one of the few silver linings of the pandemic was the positive effect on the environment can help ensure changes continue for the good.

Energy Efficiency in Saudi Cement Industry

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Saudi Arabia is the largest construction market in the Middle East, with large development projects under way and many more in the planning stage. The cement industry in Saudi Arabia is evolving rapidly and annual clinker production was 75 million tonnes in 2018.

The cement industry is one of the highest energy-intensive industries in the world, with fuel and energy costs typically representing 30-40% of total production costs. On an average, the specific electrical energy consumption typically ranges between 90 and 130 kWh per tonne of cement. Keeping in view the huge energy demand of the cement industry, the Saudi Arabian government has been making efforts to reduce the energy consumption in the country towards a more sustainable one.

Saudi-Cement-Sector

Energy Demand in Cement Production

The theoretical fuel energy demand for cement clinker production is determined by the energy required for the chemical/mineralogical reactions (1,700 to 1,800 MJ/tonne clinker) and the thermal energy needed for raw material drying and pre-heating. Modern cement plants which were built within the last decade have low energy consumption compared to older plants.  The actual fuel energy use for different kiln systems is in the following ranges (MJ/tonne clinker):

  • 3,000 – 3,800 for dry process, multi-stage (3 – 6 stages) cyclone preheater and precalcining kilns,
  • 3,100 – 4,200 for dry process rotary kilns equipped with cyclone preheaters,
  • 3,300 – 4,500 for semi-dry/semi-wet processes (e.g. Lepol-kilns),
  • Up to 5,000 for dry process long kilns,
  • 5,000 – 6,000 for wet process long kilns and
  • 3,100–6,500 for shaft kilns.

Energy Efficiency in Cement Industry

With new built, state-of-the-art cement plants, usually all technical measures seem to be implemented towards low energy consumption. So, how to reduce it further? Energy efficiency is based on the following three pillars

  • Technical optimization
  • Alternative raw materials for cement and clinker production
  • Alternative fuels

In Europe, the new energy efficiency directive from 2011 intends to reduce the energy consumption of the overall industry by 20%, achieving savings of 200 billion Euros at the energy bill and with the goal to create 2 million new jobs within Europe. This approach will have a significant influence also on the cement industry. Saving 20% of the energy consumption is a challenging goal, especially for plants with state-of-the-art technology.

In older plants modernization in the fields of grinding, process control and process prediction can, if properly planned and installed, reduce the electricity consumption – sometimes in a two digit number.

Alternative Fuels

Alternative fuels, such as waste-derived fuels or RDF, bear further energy saving potential. The substitution of fossil fuel by alternative sources of energy is common practice in the European cement industry.The German cement industry, for example, substitutes approximately 61% of their fossil fuel demand. The European cement industry reaches an overall substitution rate of at least ca. 20%.

Cement_Saudi_Arabia

Reduction of clinker portion can be an attractive route to reduce energy consumption in cement industry

Typical “alternative fuels” available in Saudi Arabia are municipal solid wastes, agro-industrial wastes, industrial wastes and some amount of crop residues. To use alternative or waste-derived fuels, such as municipal solid wastes, dried sewage sludge, drilling wastes etc., a regulatory base has to be developed which sets

  • Types of wastes/alternative fuels,
  • Standards for the production of waste-derived fuels,
  • Emission standards and control mechanism while using alternative fuels and
  • Standards for permitting procedures.

Alternative Raw Materials

The reduction of clinker portion in cement affords another route to reduce energy consumption. In particular, granulated blast furnace slags or even limestone have proven themselves as substitutes in cement production, thus reducing the overall energy consumption.

To force the use of alternative raw materials within the cement industry, also – and again –standards have to be set, where

  • Types of wastes, by-products and other secondary raw materials are defined,
  • Standards for the substitution are set,
  • Guidelines for processing are developed,
  • Control mechanisms are defined.

Conclusions

To reduce the energy consumption, an energy efficiency program, focusing on “production-related energy efficiency” has to be developed. Substantial potential for energy efficiency improvement exists in the cement industry and in individual plants.

A portion of this potential will be achieved as part of (natural) modernization and expansion of existing facilities, as well as construction of new plants in particular regions. Still, a relatively large potential for improved energy management practices exists and can be exhausted by determined approaches.

Sustainability In Tourism: How To Choose Energy-Efficient Hotel Lighting

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With sustainability becoming today’s main concern, the tourism industry must learn to prioritize sustainable practices, including the thoughtful use of lighting solutions.

Often overlooked, hotel lighting is a subtle source of unmanaged energy consumption and carbon emissions. As eco-consciousness increasingly influences travelers’ decision-making, balancing aesthetics, functionality, and consumption has never been more critical.

tips to choose ecofriendly hotel lighting

This article explores the contribution power-saving lighting has to sustainability in the tourism sector. By carefully selecting lighting solutions, hotels can reduce their carbon footprint and enhance their overall sustainability profile.

The article also highlights the multifaceted benefits of resource-efficient alternatives. You’ll find practical pointers for choosing eco-friendly hotel lighting. By the end of this post, you will gain valuable insights into navigating its intricacies. These benefit the environment while contributing to a hotel’s long-term success and marketability.

What Makes It Great?

Energy-efficient hotel lighting provides many advantages for hotels and guests.

First, it reduces energy consumption and carbon emissions, allowing hotels to cut emissions while enjoying cost savings. Second, most eco-friendly options’ extended lifespans (in the case of LEDs) also lessen the need for frequent maintenance. Again, that leads to less waste generation and enhanced sustainability.

Add to that how such lighting enhances guests’ experiences by expertly creating the desired ambiance, and you have an excellent option for illuminating accommodations.

As you can see, embracing eco-friendly lighting solutions, like hospitality LED lighting, allows hotels to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability while receiving tons of benefits.

Understanding The Impact Of Lighting On Sustainability

The impact of lighting on sustainability can’t be understated.

Traditional lighting systems used in hotels often have adverse environmental consequences, such as excessive energy consumption and increased carbon emissions. Conventional technologies like incandescent or halogen bulbs are known for their waste, contributing to higher electricity usage and a larger carbon footprint.

In contrast, energy-efficient lighting options, such as LEDs and Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL), consume significantly less energy while delivering equal or better illumination.

By adopting eco-friendly hotel lighting, the tourism industry can substantially cut its overall energy consumption and environmental impact, contributing to global conservation goals. 

Assessing Lighting Needs And Identifying Areas For Upgrades

When choosing energy-efficient hotel lighting, these are the first steps you should take.

Take a comprehensive look at different hotel spaces, considering functionality, aesthetics, safety, and specific requirements or regulations. Then, tailor power-saving lighting choices to each area, ensuring optimal illumination while minimizing waste.

This assessment forms a solid foundation for informed decisions when selecting suitable eco-friendly lighting solutions.

Likewise, determine specific areas requiring upgrades by evaluating lighting intensity, color temperature, and desired ambiance. This targeted approach maximizes energy efficiency and sustainability improvements throughout the hotel, focusing on resources with the highest potential for savings. 

Research And Evaluate Options

When choosing energy-efficient hotel lighting, conducting thorough research on available options and evaluating their efficiency and performance is crucial.

Begin by exploring lighting technologies such as LED, CFL, and intelligent lighting systems. Understand their benefits, energy efficiency ratings, lifespan, and cost-effectiveness to see if they align with your hotel’s requirements and environmental goals.

Aside from that, evaluate their energy efficiency. Look for lighting products with indicators for high resource efficiency ratings, such as ENERGY STAR certification. Also, consider factors like lumens per watt, color temperature, and color rendering index (CRI) to ensure optimal lighting quality and cost-effectiveness.

Monitor and compare the energy consumption of different lighting systems over time; that lets you know if you’re getting ongoing energy savings and maintaining a well-lit and resource-efficient environment.

By combining thorough research with vigilance, hotels can stay on track with their sustainability goals.

Consider Ambiance, Function, And Aesthetics

As mentioned, it’s crucial to consider each space’s desired ambiance, functionality, and aesthetics.

Consider the unique atmosphere you wish to create in guest rooms, lobbies, and restaurants. Assess the specific lighting requirements for functional purposes, such as task lighting for workspaces or accent lighting to highlight architectural features.

For the aesthetic part, ensure that the lighting choices align with each space’s overall design and theme.

By carefully considering these subtle yet crucial components, you can select eco-friendly lighting solutions that enhance each area’s visual appeal and functionality. 

Seek Expert Advice

If you want hands-on guidance, lighting experts can provide valuable insights and recommendations tailored to your hotel’s needs.

They assess your current lighting setup, analyze power usage, and propose customized solutions to optimize energy efficiency. You can then work with electricians and other contractors to ensure proper installation and compatibility with existing infrastructure.

By engaging with these professionals, you tap into their expertise and industry knowledge, making well-informed decisions that align with your conservation goals. Their guidance will help you navigate the complexities of eco-friendly lighting and ensure a successful implementation that maximizes savings and enhances the overall lighting experience for guests.

Getting Staff And Guests On Board

Educating staff and guests about energy-efficient hotel lighting is crucial for maximizing its impact.

By providing training and awareness programs, hotel staff can understand the importance of energy conservation and their role in optimizing lighting efficiency. They learn how to operate lighting controls effectively, such as dimmers or occupancy sensors, and implement best practices for energy-saving lighting usage.

In the same vein, educating guests about the hotel’s commitment to sustainability and providing information on energy-efficient lighting can encourage them to be conscious of their energy use during their stay.

By promoting a culture of sustainability and actively involving staff and guests, hotels can foster a collaborative effort towards achieving greater energy efficiency and reducing environmental impact.

environmentally-friendly hotel lighting

Evaluate And Track Your Hotel’s Consumption

To ensure the effectiveness of your energy-efficient hotel lighting, it’s crucial to continuously evaluate and track your hotel’s performance.

Regularly assess energy consumption and compare it with pre-upgraded levels to gauge the impact of your lighting initiatives. Look at key performance indicators such as carbon emission rates and cost savings to know if the solutions work.

Additionally, gather feedback from guests and staff regarding the lighting quality, comfort, and overall satisfaction.

By evaluating and tracking your hotel’s performance, you can identify areas for improvement, make necessary adjustments, and maintain a sustainable and efficient lighting system that meets the needs of your guests, staff, and conservation goals.

Take The Shift

By embracing energy efficiency in lighting choices, hotels can contribute to a greener future while creating a welcoming and eco-conscious environment for guests. It’s time to illuminate hotels responsibly and pave the way for a brighter, more sustainable tourism industry.

How PPAs are Helping Businesses Fulfil Their Environmental Pledges

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In recent years, businesses around the world have been making significant strides towards sustainability and reducing their environmental impact. One crucial tool that has emerged to support these efforts is the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). PPAs have become increasingly important for businesses looking to fulfil their environmental pledges by procuring renewable energy.

In this blog post, we will explore what a PPA is, delve into the concept of virtual PPAs, and discuss how these agreements are helping businesses make a positive environmental impact.

environmental benefits of virtual PPAs

Understanding PPAs and Virtual PPAs

A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) is a contract between an energy buyer (typically a business or organization) and an energy generator (often a renewable energy project developer or utility company). The contract outlines the terms and conditions for purchasing electricity generated from renewable sources, such as wind, solar, or hydro. PPAs are long-term agreements that typically span 10 to 20 years, providing a stable and predictable source of renewable energy for the buyer.

Virtual PPAs are a variation of traditional PPAs, wherein the physical delivery of electricity is not directly connected to the buyer’s location. Instead, virtual PPAs enable businesses to support renewable energy projects remotely by purchasing renewable energy credits (RECs) that match the amount of electricity generated by the project. This arrangement allows businesses to benefit from renewable energy without the need for physical transmission infrastructure.

Fulfilling Environmental Pledges with PPAs

Commitment to Renewable Energy

Many businesses have made environmental pledges that include transitioning to 100% renewable energy sources. By entering into a PPA, companies can directly support the development of renewable energy projects. They not only reduce their reliance on fossil fuels but also contribute to the growth of clean energy infrastructure. For example, Google has been a leader in this space, pledging to match 100% of its global electricity consumption with renewable energy purchases through PPAs.

Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a common environmental pledge made by businesses. By sourcing electricity from renewable energy projects through PPAs, companies can significantly decrease their carbon footprint. Renewable energy sources produce little to no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, unlike conventional fossil fuel power plants. This approach allows businesses to align their operations with climate change mitigation goals. IKEA, for instance, has committed to producing more renewable energy than it consumes by 2020, mainly through investments in wind and solar projects.

Promoting Sustainable Development

PPAs also contribute to sustainable development by fostering the growth of local communities and economies. Renewable energy projects often require significant investments, and by signing long-term PPAs, businesses provide the financial stability necessary for developers to secure financing and undertake these projects. This, in turn, creates jobs, stimulates economic growth, and supports the transition to a low-carbon economy. Apple, for example, has partnered with local developers to create solar projects in China, contributing to the development of renewable energy in the region.

supply chain and sustainability

Supply Chain Sustainability

Businesses are increasingly scrutinizing their supply chains for sustainability. By adopting PPAs, companies can ensure that their electricity consumption is derived from renewable sources, even if their facilities are not physically connected to those sources. This allows businesses to extend their sustainability commitments throughout their supply chain, reducing the overall environmental impact of their operations. Companies like Walmart have taken steps to integrate PPAs into their sustainability strategies, aiming to power their operations with 50% renewable energy by 2025.

In conclusion, Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are playing a vital role in helping businesses fulfil their environmental pledges. Whether through traditional or virtual PPAs, companies can actively support the growth of renewable energy while reducing their reliance on fossil fuels.

By committing to renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting sustainable development, and ensuring supply chain sustainability, businesses are taking concrete steps towards a greener future. The widespread adoption of PPAs demonstrates the growing recognition among businesses that environmental responsibility is not only good for the planet but also a sound long-term business strategy.

Biomass Resources in Jordan

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With high population growth rate, increase in industrial and commercial activities, high cost of imported energy fuels and higher GHGs emissions, supply of cheap and clean energy resources has become a challenge for the Jordanian Government. Consequently, the need for implementing renewable energy projects, especially solar, wind, biomass and energy-from-waste, has emerged as a national priority in recent years.

Jordan has substantial biomass resources in the form of municipal solid wastes, sewage, industrial wastes and animal manure. Municipal solid wastes represent the best source of biomass in Jordan. Solid waste generation in the country is approximately 2 million tons per annum, with per capita of almost 1 kg per day. The daily waste generation exceeds 6,000 tons which is characterized by high organic content (more than 50 percent).

alghabawi-landfill-jordan

Food waste constitutes almost 60% of the total waste at most disposal sites. In addition, more than 2 million cubic meter of sewage sludge is generated every year from treatment of sewage water in Greater Amman area which could be a very good source for biogas generation.

Apart from MSW, the other potential biomass resources in the country are as follows:

  • Organic wastes from slaughterhouse, vegetable market, hotels and restaurants.
  • Organic waste from agro-industries
  • Animal manure, mainly from cows and chickens.
  • Olive mills.
  • Organic industrial waste

Organic industrial wastes, either liquid or solid, are a good substrate for biogas generation by making use of anaerobic digestion process. Anaerobic digestion of organic industrial waste is fast gaining popularity worldwide as one of the best waste management method.

The utilization of anaerobic digestion technology for industrial waste management would be a significant step in Jordan’s emergence as a renewable energy hub in the MENA region. Jordan is planning to implement 40-50 MW of waste-to-energy projects by 2020.

Biogas Plant at Rusaifeh Landfill

The Government of Jordan, in collaboration with UNDP, GEF and the Danish Government, established 1MW biogas plant at Rusaifeh landfill near Amman in 1999.  The plant has been successfully operating since its commissioning and has recently been increased to 4MW.

biogas-Jordan

The project consists of a system of twelve landfill gas wells and an anaerobic digestion plant based on 60 tons per day of organic wastes from hotels, restaurants and slaughterhouses in Amman. The successful installation of the biogas project has made it a role model in the entire region and several big cities are striving to replicate the model.

لحفاظ على التنوع البيولوجي في الأردن

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على الرغم من صغر رقعة الأردن الجغرافية ,إلا أنه يتمتع بغنى وتنوع فريد بالموائل الحيوية والذي يمثل التنوع البيولوجي للأراضي الجافة ,وذلك لتميز الطبيعة الأردنية بتعدد المناخات والتراكيب الجيولوجية, حيث تنقسم البلاد إلى أربع مناطق حيوية جغرافية: منطقه إقليم البحر الأبيض المتوسط، الإقليم الإيراني- الطوراني ،الإقليم الصحراوي (المنطقه الصحراوية العربية) والإقليم السوداني .تعتبر هذه الأقاليم عناصر أساسية في دعم التنوع البيولوجي، وتحتوي على ثلاثة نظم بيئية رئيسية – الأرضية والبحرية والأراضي الرطبة.

biodiversity_jordan

دور التنوع الحيوي في البيئة الأردنية

ساهم التنوع الطبوغرافي في الأردن في وجود تنوع حيوي ومناخي ساعد على ظهور بيئات متنوعة لعبت دوراً هام في التنوع الحيوي والإستقرار البشري وضمان بيئة صحية للسكان. إن من المعروف أن النظم البيئية الطبيعية تدعم الأنشطة البشرية في مجالات مختلفة منها :الزراعة والثروة الحرجية والثروه الحيوانية والسياحة والمنتجات الدوائية وأدوية الطب البديل وغيرها, هذه الأنظمه البيئية  مهمه لقيمتها الجوهرية، ولحمايتها لنوعية البيئة بشكل عام. كما أن بعض الموائل تعتبر كنوز جينية  مازالت تنتظر من يكتشفها.

الوضع الحالي والمخاطر الرئيسية على التنوع الحيوي في الاردن

 لقد مرت دول المشرق العربي بشكل عام  والأردن بشكل خاص بتغيرات كبيرة خلال القرنين الماضيين وعلى كافة أصعدة الأنشطة البشرية المختلفة, والتي تعتبر تهديداً حقيقاً للنظم البيئية الطبيعية والتي تدهورت نتيجة التطور التكنولوجي والزراعي والصناعي. حيث عانى التنوع الحيوي من تهديدات خطيرة في السنوات الأخيرة نتيجة لتأثر المناطق الطبيعية والحياة البرية سلبياً وبشدة  بالنشاط الحضري المتسارع الناتج عن النمو السكاني والهجرة، كما أدى سوء الإستغلال والتوسع الصناعي  والرعي وأعمال البناء وغيرها من الأنشطة البشرية إلى إستنزاف النظم البيئية الطبيعية وإختلال توازنها وتآكل التربة والتصحر وتجزئة الأراضي وتدمير واسع للغابات والغطاء النباتي والشعب المرجانية.

بالإضافة إلى ذلك ,باتت بعض الأنواع الحيوية النادره مهدده بالانقراض. كما أدى الضغط المتزايد والمستمر على مصادر المياه المحدودة إلى الإفراط في إستغلال الموارد المائية وتدهور جودتها وتلوثها.وعلاوة على ذلك, أدى التوسع الزراعي إلى سوء إستغلال الموارد المائية وإنخفاض تعداد بعض الأنواع نظراً لتغيير بيئتها الطبيعية ,حيث أجبر شح المياه بعض الحيوانات على ترك موطنها والإنتقال إلى بيئة جديدة , مما سبب في تغير التوازن البيئي للوسط الجديد والذي بدروه قد يؤدي إلى هلاك هذه الكائنات أو هلاك الكائنات المستوطنة أصلاً, وعلى النقيض من ذلك كانت هذه التغيرات البيئية سبباً في زيادة أنواع اخرى.

environment-jordan

لقد أدى تفشي إستخدام المبيدات والأسمدة الكيماوية إلى تلوث التربة والموارد المائية في حين أن الإستخدام الجائر للآلات الزراعية قد ساعد على  تآكل التربة ,أضف إلى ذلك أن إستخدام المركبات المتزايد والسريع أدى إلى تآكل التربة وموت الحيوانات. ومن المعروف أيضاً أن الرعي الجائر من أهم الأسباب المؤدية إلى التصحر،والذي يؤدي إلى زيادة نسبة الغبار في الغلاف الجوي؛ والذي من شأنه أن يخلق مشاكل صحية للبشر والحياة البرية. وعلاوة على ذلك ،يعتبر الرعي الجائر ضاراً بالكائنات الحية الموجودة في التربة والتي تعتمد صحة النظام البيئي بأكمله عليها. وبالرغم من إلتزام الأردن بإتفاقية التجارة العالمية للأصناف المهددة بالإنقراض(CITES) إلا أن الصيد غيرالقانوني مايزال شائعاً والذي يشكل تهديدا لأنواع الحياة البرية المختلفة.

التوصيات

أدرك الأردن خطورة التدهور الذي طرأ على التنوع الحيوي بكافة أشكاله ,ولذلك فإن الأردن يعمل جدياً على تطبيق سياسات وخطة إستراتيجية كإستجابة لمتطلبات إتفاقية الأمم المتحدة للتنوع الحيوي ,وذلك بهدف رفع مستوى الوعي العام حول حفظ التنوع البيولوجي، وتوجيه الإهتمام الوطني وعلى كافة الأصعدة نحو حفظ وإدارة مستدامة للموائل الطبيعية. ينبغي أن تشرك هذه الخطة أصحاب القرار والإهتمام، بما في ذلك الحكومة والمنظمات غيرالحكومية المختصة والمجتمعات المحلية وممثلي مبادرات الأبحاث. وكإستجابة للحاجة الملحة لحفظ التنوع البيولوجي في الأردن، تاليا أهم  المفترحات والحلول :

إعادة تأهيل المناطق المتدهورة والساخنة بيئياً, كما يجب العمل على إيجاد وتطبيق حلول لمشكلتي الفقر والبطالة, حيث يعتبر التدهور البيئي سبباً مهما للفقر ,كما يعتبر الفقر تهديداً حقيقياً للتنوع الحيوي حيث يضطر الفقراء إلى ممارسات من شأنها أن تؤدي إلى تدهور البيئة مثل قطع الأشجار.

تعديلات أساسية في السياسة المائية الوطنية بهدف إيجاد حلول طويلة الأمد لمشكلة الشح المائي وتخفيف الضغط المتزايد على الموارد المياه خاصة في ظل الأوضاع السياسية الراهنة وتزايد أعداد اللاجئين إلى الأردن بشكل كبير.

إشراك المجتمعات المحلية والمؤسسات غير الحكومية المتخصصة والقطاع الخاص في تبني وتطبيق سياسات فيما يتعلق بالصيد وإستخدام المياه ومنع الممارسات الضارة مثل الرعي الجائر.

معالجة المشاكل التي يواجهها أصحاب الماشية مثل تأسيس بنية تحتية لتسويق الحليب ومنتجات الماشية الاخرى.

التخطيط المستدام لإستخدام الأراضي حيث أن هنالك حاجة ملحة لتشجيع تحويل الضغط العمراني على الأراضي الزراعية إلى الأراضي البور، كما ينبغي إعتماد توجهات جديدة للحد من إنخفاض الرقعة الحرجية والعمل على إعادة التشجير.

إنشاء المزيد من المحميات الطبيعية والحمى (مثل :حمى بني هاشم) ذات القيمة الجمالية بهدف الحفاظ عليها للأجيال القادمة  والحفاظ على الموارد الجينية ورصد التنوع البيولوجي في تلك المناطق.

الدعم والتشجيع اللازمين للمزارعين لتبني سياسات وممارسات مستدامة والتي تشمل :مكافحة الأمراض وإختيار المحاصيل مثل أشجار النخيل أو التوجه نحو إنتاج العسل.

تفعيل تطبيق الأنظمة والقوانين الخاصة بحماية البيئة وعلى كافة الأصعدة ,حيث يعتبر الحفاظ على التنوع الحيوي واجباً وطنياً تقع مسؤوليته على عاتق الجميع.

الأولويات الوطنية

إن إلتزام الأردن بدراسة تنوعه البيولوجي ينبع من هدف الحفاظ على الموارد الطبيعية وضمان الإستخدام المستدام .كما تعتبر مسألة الحفاظ على أصناف الحياة على الأرض مسألة ذات بعد علمي وعملي وجمالي وأخلاقي. بالإضافة إلى ذلك, تعتبر دراسة التنوع البيولوجي أساساً للتعاون وتبادل المعلومات والخبرات بين دول المنطقة مما يؤدى إلى التكامل العلمي بين الأردن وبقية دول العالم .كما ستفتح جهود الحفاظ على البيئة والطبيعة المجال لفرص عمل جديدة مما يساهم في حل مشكلة الفقر.

تستمر التغيرات البيئية مع إستمرار الأنشطة البشرية  ,لذلك يواجه الأردن مجموعة متزايدة التحديات البيئية المعقدة, والتي يجب أن تكون الإستجابة لها علمية ومبنية على نتائج بحوث متعددة التخصصات وطويلة الأمد. تبرز العلاقة القوية والهامة بين جهود صون التنوع الحيوي وإكتشاف أنواع جديدة من الموارد الحيوية الوطنية,حيث أن الأبحاث البيئية والمسح البيولوجي ضروريين لرصد التغيرات في النظم البيئية وإكتشاف أنواع حيوية جديدة .لذلك فإن التوجه الوطني نحو هذا المجال مطلوب فضلاً عن الحاجة إلى تمويل وطني ودولي لهذه الأبحاث. ينبغي على المنظمات الإنمائية تشجيع البحوث في علم الأحياء التصنيفية لتحديد الأنواع الحيوية بهدف الحفاظ عليها ومنع إنقراضها.

لقد شهد الأردن مؤخراً حراكاً على جميع الأصعدة لحماية تراثه الطبيعي بكافة مكوناته, فعلى سبيل المثال ,يتطلب إﻗﺎﻣﺔ أي ﻣﺸﺮوع إﺳﺘﺜﻤﺎري دراﺳﺔ ﻣﺪى الأﺛﺮ البيئي لهذا المشروع ﻛﺸﺮط أﺳﺎﺳﻲ لتنفيذه. ونتيحة لإتخاذ تدابير الإستدامة والتي بلغ تطبيقها على نطاق واسع, فأنه قد لوحظ إنتعاش وتحسن النظام البيئي في الأردن .

ترجمة

سلام عبدالكريم عبابنه

مهندسه مدنية في شركة المسار المتحده للمقاولات – مهتمه في مجال البيئه و الطاقة المتجدده

أهم المشاكل البيئية في الأردن

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يعتبر الأردن مهداً لعدد من الحضارات فلقد تم إنشاء المستوطنات البشرية فيه منذ أوائل التاريخ القديم , وكنتيجة طبيعية لما يشهده العالم من تغيرات كبيرة وكثيرة في كافة المجالات خاصة في مجال الإتصال والمواصلات في أواسط القرن الماضي, ومع تزايد أعداد السكان وتغير نمط حياتهم تتفاقم المشاكل البيئية التي تهدد الفوائد البيئية والإقتصادية والروحية والجمالية والثقافية التي يتم إستنباطها حالياً من الموارد الأرضية الحية .ومما زاد المشكلة سوءاً هو تأثر المملكة بالوضع السياسي في المنطقة وموجات النازحين التي أدت إلى زيادة عدد السكان بشكل غير عادي ومفاجئ وبالتالي فإن الضغط على الموارد الطبيعية كإستعمالات المياه والطاقة شهدت تزايداً ملحوظاً خلال العقود الماضية.

environmental issues in Jordan

تكمن مشاكل الدول النامية عامة والأردن خاصة بالمشاكل المادية ونقص الخبرات المؤهلة, ومن المهم التطرق إلى ذكر أكبر وألد أعداء البيئة وهي الحروب حتى بالنسبة لدولة مثل الأردن التي لم تتورط بأي حرب حتى الآن, فمن المعروف أن البيئة لا تعترف بالحدود السياسية ,فالتلوث الناجم عن الحروب مثل تلوث الهواء لا يؤثر فقط على الدول المتورطة بل وعلى الدول المجاورة أيضاّ. سيتم التطرق في هذه المقالة الى المشاكل  البيئية التي  تعاني منها المملكة على وجه العموم.

النفايات الصلبة العامة

تعتبر النفايات واحدةً من أكبر المشاكل البيئية في الأردن حيث تصل نسبة إنتاج النفايات الصلبة حالياً إلى 1,670,000  طن سنوياً بمعدل (3850) طن يومياً, ما يقارب 52% منها عبارة عن مواد عضوية وهذه النسبة تزيد في المناطق خارج عمان , ويتم نقل هذه النفايات إلى المكبات حيث يوجد حاليّاً 21 موقع مكب في الأردن. ويبين الجدول (1) تطور إنتاج الفرد من النفايات والإنتاج  التراكمي  في الأردن من عام 2001 حتى 2006.

السكان

المعدل اليومي للفرد (كغم)

السنة

2724346

0.915

2001

2814249

0.928

2002

2907120

0.941

2003

3000147

0.954

2004

3096152

0.967

2005

3192133

0.980

2006

التصحر

تعتبر ظاهرة التصحر من أهم وأخطرالمشاكل البيئية التي تهدد الأراضي الزراعية ومعظم المناطق القاحلة وشبه القاحلة في الأردن, فالتصحر يؤثرعلى التنوع البيولوجي مما يؤدي إلى الإخلال بالتوازن البيئي الذي بدوره يؤدي إلى مشاكل بيئية وصحية ,كما أن للتصحرآثاراً أمنية وإجتماعية وثقافية وسياسية .عالمياً ووفقاً لتقديرات برنامج الأمم المتحدة للبيئة فإن القيمة الإنتاجية المفقودة سنوياً في الدول النامية بسبب التصحر تقدر بـ 16 مليار دولار.إن من أحد أهم الأسباب التي تؤدي إلى تفاقم ظاهرة التصحر في الأردن هو الزحف العمراني المستمرعلى الأراضي الزراعية, حيث خسرنا في العقود الثلاثة الماضية حوالي 25% من الأراضي الصالحة للزراعة لغايات البناء والإسكان. ويجدر بالذكر أن الأردن وقع في على الإتفاقية الدولية لمكافحة التصحر في عام 1996.

مشكلة المياه

يعتبر الأردن إحدى الدول الأربع الأفقر بمصادر المياه في العالم , كما أكدت إحصائيات وزارة المياه أن حصة المواطن من المياه تقلصت إلى 160 متراً مكعباً سنوياً ،فيما تشير المقاييس الدولية إلى أن خط الشح المائي 500 متر مكعباً سنوياً, إن عشرة أحواض مائية في الأردن من أصل 12 مستنزفة إستنزافاً شديداً وبحسب رأي الخبراء فإن إحتياطي الأردن من المياه سينفد بحلول عام 2025 .وبالرغم أن الأردن لا يتعبر بلداً مسبباً للتغير المناخي، إلا أنه سيتأثر بهذا التغير من حيث حدوث تراجع كبير في مصادر المياه السطحية بنسبة 30% وتراجع في هطول الأمطار وفي الإنتاجية الزراعية وهي تمثل عصب الحياة والتنمية في العالم العربي والأردن .

water-conservation-arabs

مشاكل تلوث  الهواء

ساهمت الصناعة بشكل عام بالتأثير سلباً على البيئة الأردنية من خلال تلويث الهواء والضجيج وإنتاج النفايات الصلبة ومياه الصرف الصحي والروائح العادمة والتأثيرات السلبية على حياة الإنسان. خاصة الصناعات الثقيلة والمتوسطة منها,مثل مصفاة البترول والفوسفات والإسمنت وغيرها التي تعتبر المصادر الرئيسية الثابتة لتلوث الهواء في الأردن.أما أكبر وأخطرالمصادر المتحركة لتلوث الهواء تتمثل بقطاع النقل حيث أن زيادة عدد السيارات ووسائل النقل المختلفة أدت إلى زيادة متوقعة في تلوث الهواء خصوصًا في الأماكن المزدحمة بالحافلات والمواقع الصناعية المضغوطة, ويتطلب ذلك إستخدام التقنيات البيئية الحديثة في تقليل نسب إنبعاثات التلوث من المصانع.

الطاقة

 يواجه الأردن تحديات بيئية كبيرة في الطاقة؛ إذ يستورد 96 % من الطاقة التي يستهلكها.إن تسارع النمو الاقتصادي والسكاني أدى إلى إزدياد معدلات إستهلاك الطاقة بجميع أشكالها من النفط الخام ومشتقاته والغاز الطبيعي والكهرباء والطاقة الشمسية وخاصة للأغراض الصناعية والمنزلية ليرتفع إستهلاكها بنسبة 5,40 % .حالياً مما يخلق ضرورة ملحة لتوجه الأردن نحو فتح كل مجالات الإبداع الوطني في إيجاد وإستخدام مصادر طاقة بديلة ومستدامة مثل الطاقة الشمسية والغاز مع إمكانية تطوير تكنولوجيا لإستخلاص الطاقة من الصخر الزيتي بطريقة مجدية اقتصادياً ونظيفة بيئياً .

مشكلة تأثر التنوع الحيوي و الإنقراض 

 يوافق الإقتصاديون والبيئيون أن للتنوع الحيوي قيمة للإنسانية فهو بإختصار أداة لمحاربة الفقر وتحسين نوعية الحياة من ناحية إقتصادية وصحية وبيئية. لقد بات التراجع العالمي في التنوع الحيوي واحداً من أهم القضايا البيئية الخطيرة التي تواجه الإنسانية ,فبالرغم من الدعم الهام الذي يقدمه التنوع الحيوي للمجتمعات الإنسانية بيئياً وإقتصادياً وصحياً وثقافياً وروحياً, إلا أن النظم البيئية تتعرض لتدهور في الأنواع وفي التنوع الجيني والذي يتناقص بمعدلات خطيرة خاصة في البلدان النامية, أدى التأثير الناجم عن التراجع الملحوظ على التنوع الحيوي إلى الخروج بالإتفاقية العالمية للتنوع الحيوي والتي صادق عليها الأردن عام    1993.

water management in petra

تتميز المملكة بوجود تنوع حيوي وبيئي كبير حيث أن موقع الأردن بين ثلاث قارات منحه أربع مناطق بيئية جغرافية مميزة هي: منطقة حوض البحر المتوسط,والمنطقة الإيرانية-الطورانية ,والمنطقة الإفريقية- تحت الإستوائية ,والمنطقة الصحراوية العربية مما يجعل يعتبر التنوع الحيوي فيها مثيرًا للإهتمام .خلال المئة وعشرين عاماً الماضية فقد الأردن العديد من الأنواع النباتية والحيوانية المحلية أوأصبحت هذه الأنواع  تواجه الإنقراض, تقدر خسارة الأردن ما يقارب 330مليون دينار سنويا نتيجة لتدهور التنوع الحيوي .إن حالة التناقص الرئيسي الحاصل في أعداد الحيوانات المعروفة غالباً مثل الطيور والثدييات غير معروفة لأغلب الأنواع على المستوى الوطني ,وذلك لوجود نقص بالبحث العلمي المنظم وعدم وجود أسلوب علمي موحد للدراسة .ونادراً ما نجد دراسات أردنية حول إستخدام التقنيات الحيوية بشكل مباشر أو غير مباشر فيما يتعلق بالتنوع الحيوي.

مشكلة الفقر

إن البيئة السليمة تقود إلى إقتصاد قوي ومجتمع صحي قادر على التعامل مع الطبيعة الهشة للنظم البيئية والتي تحوي الظروف الإجتماعية والإقتصادية والجغرافية والمناخية للبلاد, حيث أن الحفاظ على والإستعمال الحكيم للمصادر البيئية والتنوع البيئي  يعتبر أساساً لرفاهية أي مجتمع ومحاربة الفقر و تحسن الظروف الصحية خاصة في المناطق الريفية .إن للفقرعلاقة متبادلة مع البعد البيئي في التنمية حيث يعتبر الفقراء أكثر فئات المجتمع تأثراً بالتدهور البيئي,كما أن الفقر قد يكون أحد مسببات التدهور البيئي حيث أن إحتياجات الفقراء وسبل معيشتهم الملحة تعني غالباً القيام بممارسات مدمرة للبيئة مثل الرعي الجائر وقطع الأشجار.