Environmental Challenges in Saudi Arabia’s Oil and Gas Industry

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Despite the efforts of global society and scientists to reduce the dependency on oil and gas as a main source of energy and find new green and renewable energy sources, the oil remains the most effective one. The oil production rate has increased incrementally from the 1970s to the 2020s, which is driven by the demand for oil.

peak-oil-middle-east

A Global Problem

The main problem with the dependence on oil and gas as a primary source of energy lies in the huge pollution caused by the industry. For example, oil enterprises and petroleum companies currently release about 2000 tons of chemicals in the atmosphere and discharge about 70 million tons of polluted wastewater to sea per annum.

This amount of continuous pollution, which is a result of normal activities, not accidents, forms the second major threatening to the entire ecosystem and humankind’s life. The major sources of pollution in across the world are vehicular emissions and industrial discharges. Infact, the urban atmosphere is 90% polluted with automobile transport residue, especially in the big cities.

The oil and gas industry is paying increased attention on protecting the environment especially after the new environmental regulations in the globe supported by specialist organizations like API, IPIECA, and OGP. Unfortunately, there is no practically 100% safe operation for plants and pipelines networks in oil processing. So, risks such as oil spills and gaseous emissions are essential features of the energy industry.

Situation in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian authority for environment referred to as ‘The General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection (GAMEP)’, pays great attention to protect the country’s environment. This is also reflected in Saudi Aramco pollution concerns where the importance is given to control and monitor pollution at both the coasts – eastern and western.

It is well known that in Saudi Arabian oil and gas industry, most activities are located offshore. So, oil spills and potential accidents with pipelines, facilities, oil tankers, or rigs, are very much existent and having serious negative impact on marine life and public health.

Havoc Caused by Oil Spills

Oil spill is considered to be the most environmentally challenging aspect of oil production for two reasons. First, because offshore spills are usually hard to control due to the nature of the offshore environment and tide movement. Second, because of the huge harm that the oil spill puts on marine habitats which in turn is considered as the main source of food for the community.

Scientific studies have shown that when an oil spill occurs offshore, the oil film on the surface contains 60% of hydrocarbon of which 50% is evaporated into the atmosphere. In addition, below sea surface the hydrocarbon percentage reaches 30%, This percentage is decreases to 10% at a depth of 100 meters. Unfortunately, the below surface area forms the living area of marine growth which in turn forms the food for most kinds of fish. Click here to know how microbes can help in environmental restoration.

Bioremediation is a popular method to treat oil spills in seas and on beaches.

Moreover, oil spills may occur at any time with no pretending or expectation. This is because they are a result of oil operation activities failures or accidents. For example, flaring and venting, decommissioning of oil and gas installations, oil storage tanks disposal, drilling activities etc. Oil spills can be a source of escalated accidents as well and entail potential risks. Oil spill in the offshore area requires international collaboration and pre-set contingency response plan to control it and limit its harmlessness. The governmental authority put oil spills in high priority accidents’ classification after the fire.

The Menace of Emissions

The second environmental challenge facing Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas industry is CO2 emission. As a result of necessary and ordinary flaring and manufacturing process activities that take place in refineries and gas oil separation plants, the increasing amount of CO2 is being released to the atmosphere. CO2 affects the quality of air and works to increase the global temperature.

The air quality improvement concept is part of article 2 of the General Environment Law. It is also linked to the 10th,11th, and 13th sustainable development goals (SDGs) for sustainable cities and communities in UN protocols. As a member of G20 countries, Saudi Arabia has submitted a national climate plan to the UN. It also committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 130 million tons by 2030.

It is worthy to mention here that the energy sector contributes about 92% of CO2 emission, and 66% of which is from electricity generation, desalination, and land transportation. The Saudi electrical company had also announced its plans to reduce the dependency on fossil fuels and invest in renewable energy. However, it seems challenging to fulfill the huge need for electricity from solar energy despite the sunny weather that Saudi Arabia enjoys.

The Way Forward

The boom in industrial activities and investment in Saudi Arabia is demanding more power. As we know the modern factories and manufacturing processes require increasing flux of electricity, other than the expanding cities. Globally, it is challenging to continue on hydrocarbon production with low cost and simultaneously adhere to environmental regulations and social responsibility.

Therefore, the balance between booming industrial activities in Saudi Arabia and its demand for power and the CO2 emission reduction need is challenging to go through. One of the alternative power sources which are being discussing by the Saudi government is the nuclear power as it can produce power more efficiently than fossil fuel and solar energy despite its controversial nature.

The two issues, oil spills, and CO2 emission carry negative effects on the global climate. That is why global collaboration and united regulations should be followed to ease tackling these issues or reduce their negative impacts.

As a conclusion, the Saudi Arabia transformational movements to meet the objectives of Vision 2030 can be a fixing tool for the environmental challenges it faces. For example, utilizing artificial intelligence in designing environment-friendly factories, increase the awareness of global environmental concerns among the business sector, or investing in industrial recycling facilities, besides developing new environment protection legislation and policies. Saudi Arabia’s approach facing the environmental challenges and the global climate issues is encouraging and promising and reflects its role as a member of the G20 country group.

Information Sources

Kapsarc.org. 2017. [online] Available at: <https://www.kapsarc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/KS-2017-MP04-GCC-Energy-Overview-2017.pdf>  [Accessed 20 March 2020].

Gossen, L. and Velichkina, L., 2006. Environmental problems of the oil-and-gas industry (Review). Petroleum Chemistry, 46(2), pp.67-72.

UNDP. 2018. Sustainable Natural Resources Management | UNDP In Saudi Arabia.

Food Waste, Ramadan and the Middle East

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With the holy month of Ramadan already underway, huge food wastage in the Middle East is again hogging limelight. It is a widely accepted fact that almost half of the municipal solid waste stream in the Middle East is comprised of food wastes and associated matter. The increasing amount of food wastage in Ramadan urgently demands a strong and holistic food management strategy to ensure its minimization, ethical utilization and eco-friendly disposal.

iftar-party-food-waste

 

Food Waste in Ramadan

Middle Eastern nations are acknowledged as being the world’s top food wasters, and during Ramadan the situation takes a turn for the worse. In the GCC nations, as per conservative estimates, around 50 percent of the food prepared during Ramadan is wasted.

In 2012, the Dubai Municipality estimated that in Ramadan, around 55% of household waste (or approximately 1,850 tons is thrown away every day. An estimated 4500 tons of food is wasted across Saudi Arabia during Ramadan. Food waste generation in Bahrain exceeds 400 tons per day during the holy month, according to Rehan Ahmad, Head of Waste Disposal Unit (Bahrain). As far as Qatar is concerned, almost half of the food prepared during Ramadan find its way into garbage bins.

The amount of food waste generated in Ramadan is significantly higher than other months. There is a chronic inclination of Muslims towards over-indulgence and lavishness in the holy month, even though the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), asked Muslims to adopt moderation in all walks of life. Socio-cultural attitudes and lavish lifestyles also play a major role in more food waste generation in Ramadan in almost all Muslim countries.

food waste in ramadan

Economic Implications

The greater the economic prosperity and the higher percentage of urban population, the greater the amount of waste produced. A good example is the case of oil‐rich GCC which figures among the world’s most prolific per capita waste generators. High-income groups usually generate more food waste per capita when compared to less-affluent groups. Hotels, cafeterias, restaurants etc. are also a big contributor of food wastes in the Middle East during the holy month of Ramadan.

Food waste generation is expected to steadily with the rapid growth of regional economies boom. The per capita production of solid waste in Arab cities such as Riyadh, Doha and Abu Dhabi is more than 1.5 kg per day, placing them among the highest per capita waste producers in the world. These statistics point to loss of billions of dollars each year in the form of food waste throughout the Arab world, especially during Ramadan.

food wastage during Ramadan

The Way Forward

The foremost steps to reduce food wastage are behavioral change, increased public awareness, strong legislations, food banks, recycling facilities (composting and biogas plants) and community participation. Effective laws and mass sensitization campaigns are required to compel the people to adopt waste minimization practices and implement sustainable lifestyles.

During Ramadan, religious scholars and prayer-leaders can play a vital role in motivating Muslims to follow Islamic principles of sustainability, as mentioned in the Holy Quran and Hadith The best way to reduce food waste is to feel solidarity towards millions and millions of people around the world who face enormous hardships in having a single meal each day.

Post-Coronavirus World: Human Development Re-defined

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Like many of you around the globe, I have been adjusting with the exigencies of the spread of COVID-19, both personally and professionally. The crisis is rejuvenating human traits and values from various angles. Self-care, life balance, personal development, helping others, and considering the environment are just a few of many values and principles that are boiling down these days.

Let’s take environmental values as an example with the several statements issued lately about the potential impact of Coronavirus on some of the hot green issues of today, Climate Change and Biodiversity. A few questions come to mind – though I don’t claim to know the answers for: is COVID-19 becoming the nature’s savior from air pollution and GHG emissions? Have we – humans – brought in Coronavirus by disrupting the ecosystems? Are there any lessons from the Coronavirus era that can guide human development in its new form?

A few days ago, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Inger Andersen, said that humanity was placing too many pressures on the natural world with damaging consequences, and warned that failing to take care of the planet meant not taking care of ourselves. She also highlighted that never before have so many opportunities existed for pathogens to pass from wild and domestic animals to people, noting that 75% of all emerging infectious diseases come from wildlife. Within the same context, climate scientists urged nations to act now and prepare for a risky future of extreme climate change consequences.

Let’s try to imagine the world post COVID-19, regardless of when that is going to be. Economies and financial institutions are already doing the math, and the picture doesn’t look good. The IMF recognized that the coronavirus crisis will plunge the world economy into recession, and the World Bank and IFC’s Boards of Directors approved an increased $14 billion package of fast-track financing to assist companies and countries in their efforts to prevent, detect and respond to the rapid spread of COVID-19.

Countries are taking drastic economic relief measures during the crisis and would be in severe need for more aggressive economic recovery plans after this is all over. People, like us Jordanians – who have been put as a top priority by our leadership and government during the crisis; are keen to return this back through engaging in local economic development projects and enterprises.

A new set of questions arise: how would emerging economies survive another recession? How logical would it be to go back to reports and studies from the pre-Coronavirus era to plan for the future? Would human development, job creation and social security still mean the same as they do now? And, should the world expect another crisis due to the ignorance and/or lack of action by decision-makers?

Climate change and biodegradation might not be the most appealing headlines to many, nowadays. Nevertheless, no one would deny that the past couple of years were not easy on people and governments. Buildings, infrastructure, basic services and people’s health and safety; were not at their best. The direct and indirect impact of climate change on economies and communities is becoming more visible, while action is not as visible despite the relatively increased attention in some regions.

In Jordan, for example, we lost lives, and many are suffering the consequences of floods and droughts. Such impacts are magnified by the increased population (hosted refugees), unemployment and the challenging water and energy supplies. We have taken serious steps to strengthen clean energy penetration but with huge dependence on across-borders collaboration.

One more set of questions comes up: would the global transition towards clean energy be hindered by Coronavirus crisis? Would the Paris Agreement targets need to be adjusted to reflect further delay in action? Could climate financing and green economy form a feasible solution to recover the suffering economies and create more humane economic development plans?

Three possible takeaways from Coronavirus experience – at least from my own perspective; the first is that yes, the world smells, looks, and feels more clean, which means a few measures can make a difference when it comes to the environment; the second takeaway is that it might be too late to intervene once the impact has arrived; and last but not least, one should realize that challenges will continue to become more complex and interrelated so, we cannot stop acting on a problem just because another one has just emerged. Delaying action on any human development challenge is a recipe for crisis.

Unconventional challenges should inspire unconventional solutions. Scientists from all disciplines are called upon today as the most knowledgeable and credible to not only analyze and solve today’s problems; but more importantly to anticipate the future with all its complexity, and to guide our human development plans towards a more livable planet.

Ramadan: A Time to Respond to the Earth’s State of Emergency

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This week marks the beginning of the blessed month of Ramadan, a month which has been identified as a time to gain taqwa – God-consciousness. This month invites Muslims to attain nearness to Allah (SWT).

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ كُتِبَ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلصِّيَامُ كَمَا كُتِبَ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ١٨٣

O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may attain taqwa, Qu’ran, 2:183

Ramadan and climate change crisis

However, Ramadan is more than the individual forms of worship. Ramadan embodies a sense of community. A time of gathering in the mosque; of sharing meals; of engaging in acts of kindness, compassion and empathy towards the creation of Allah (SWT). Ramadan is a time to embody acts that uphold the sacred trust and responsibility of khalifah towards the Earth. To consciously honour and uphold the dignity of every creation of this Earth, which Allah (SWT) has created.

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَـٰٓئِفَ ٱلْأَرْضِ

And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth, Qur’an, 6:165

This week also, simultaneously marks the release of the new UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report which indicates that humanity has reached “a critical moment in history,” as per IPCC Chair Hoesung Lee.  As UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has put it, the report presents an Acceleration Agenda and is a massive call to action by every nation and sector to act with a sense of immediacy and urgency, a moment for humanity to join efforts, and be part of the solution.

environmental-quotes

For Muslims, as we step into the blessed days of Ramadan, this report should be a call for us to pay special attention towards the Earth, and divine creation of Allah (SWT). How can we focus on attaining nearness to Allah (SWT), and ignore the suffering and damage that is happening to His Creation? Islam provides Muslims with a very unique framework for connecting with and upholding the well-being of the Earth. One that is connected to a divine connection to Allah (SWT).

Within the Qur’an itself, Allah (SWT) has explained that all of creation is united in a single bond of worship and glorification of the Lord.

تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ ٱلسَّبْعُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًۭا ٤٤

The seven heavens, the earth, and all those in them glorify Him. There is not a single thing that does not glorify His praises—but you ˹simply˺ cannot comprehend their glorification. He is indeed Most Forbearing, All-Forgiving., Qur’an, 17:44 

The loss of species, the damage to the Earth is in fact a damage to the very entities that are engaged in worship and glorification of The Creator.  We have to question, how do our actions become accomplices in the destruction of this sacred Earth?  In the words of Guterres, “We have never been better equipped to solve the climate challenge, but we must move into warp speed climate action now.  We don’t have a moment to lose.”  So the question to ourselves as an ummah is, how did we react when this news reached us?  How did Ramadan transform us inwardly, and how did we manifest this outwardly through our actions on this Earth?

Quran and environmental conservation

Amidst the reality of the rapidly degrading state of the Earth through the climate change crisis, Muslims have also been equipped with a framework that enables us to act with a balance of hope and meaningful action, rather than despair of loss.

As found in the hadith:

Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said,

“If the Final Hour comes while you have a shoot of a plant in your hands and it is possible to plant it before the Hour comes, you should plant it.”

For a Muslim, there is a sense of finding hope and grounding oneself in knowing that Allah (SWT) has knowledge over all things and is the Protector of all.  Thus, acting with calm consistency and recognizing one’s individual responsibility to simply act without attachment to the outcome is the very act of building hope for a Muslim.

May this Ramadan be a time of attaining nearness to Allah (SWT) and meaningful action which embodies a commitment towards responding to the critical state of the Earth, InshaAllah.

Mangroves in Qatar: Perspectives

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Mangroves are trees and shrubs that have adapted to life in a saltwater environment, usually found in the intertidal zone of a coastal or estuarine area. The halophyte characteristics of a mangrove tree allows it to grow in saline environments where no other tree can, thereby making significant contributions to the local ecosystem. Yet these reservoirs of “blue carbon” are seriously threatened. Across the globe, coastal ecosystems are currently being lost at a rate of about 2% a year – a staggering number when the carbon storage potential is considered.

mangroves-qatar-wakra

In a harsh desert environment such as Qatar, mangroves are one of the few ecosystems able to sustain life during the hot summer months. In recent years, Qatar government has been more focused on protecting these areas than the past, however 70% of the country’s mangroves have already been lost.

Introduction to Mangroves

Being at the beginning of the marine food chain, mangroves are therefore instrumental to a thriving marine habitat. The mangroves extensive root system provides an area of natural protection for fish and other marine nurseries and play an important role in protecting the coastline from the erosive effects of waves and storms. By filtering sediments, the forests also protect coral reefs and seagrass from being flooded by sediment.

Mangroves can store 5 times more carbon per square metre than tropical or boreal forests and when these areas are destroyed, the carbon is released back into the atmosphere where it contributes to global climate change.

Mangroves in Qatar

Qatar is home to the Avicennia marina species; it is known as the grey or white mangrove trees, with the largest eight forests located in the east coast of the country. The oldest and largest mangroves can be found at Al Thakira and Al Khor. Although the government have starting a replanting project around the country, the mangrove lake at Al Wakra was recently uprooted for development. In a country where the harsh desert conditions limit the vegetation growth, mangroves in Qatar provide a haven for birds, fish and mammals.

Recent studies have shown that Avicennia Marina populations have the ability to adapt to the varying weather along the Qatar coastline through the evolution of genetic variations in the different mangrove forests.

Carbon Sequestration

The coastal ecosystems of mangroves mitigate climate change by sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it within the biomass of the plant and roots, and in the soils below. This ability to predominantly store carbon in the soils of coastal ecosystems, ensures the carbon is stored for a very long time, up to millennia.

It is estimated that mangroves sequester up to 25.5 million tonnes of carbon per year and provide 10% of the essential dissolved carbon supplied into the world’s oceans.

Mangrove Depletion

Despite increasing awareness regarding the benefits and carbon storing potential of mangroves, their destruction continues globally due to both economic and political motives. Even in countries like Qatar, where mangroves forests are protected by law, a lack of enforcement coupled with an incentive to reclaim land can result in forest destruction. Another cause of mangrove destruction is pollution by solid waste such as plastics and glass.

When these mangrove forests are degraded, lost or converted to other land uses, the stored carbon in the soils are exposed and released into the atmosphere or ocean as CO2. On a global scale, this is currently resulting as 0.15 – 1.02 billion tons of CO2 released annually. The combined global area of mangroves, tidal marshes and seagrass meadows equates to only 2-6% of the total forest area. However, degradation of these systems can account for 3-19% of the global carbon emissions from deforestation.

UAE mangrove conservation

Conservation of Mangroves

Legislation needs to be enacted on a global scale to protect mangroves from direct human damage. Such legislation must be enforced by local government to ensure mangroves are not removed, and the use of herbicides or other chemicals near mangrove forests are banned. Local communities need to be educated to understand the importance of these costal ecosystems, and the effects of their degradation.

The rapid development in Qatar has been encroaching on the mangrove populations along the coastline. Qatar is gradually increasing the level of protection of the country’s mangroves, with 40% of the country’s coastline now protected. Organisations such as Conservation International have begun mapping out the mangroves locations and data in Qatar and around the globe in order to assess the population distribution and threatened areas. With further enforcement and data tools, the mangrove forests of Qatar can be restored, and continue to provide immense benefits to this harsh desert environment.

Food Waste and the Spirit of Ramadan

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In recent years, enormous generation of food waste during the holy month of Ramadan has been a matter of big debate in Muslim countries and elsewhere. As per conservative estimates, around one-fifth of the food purchased or prepared during Ramadan finds its way to garbage bins or landfills. This translates into thousands of tons of precious food which could have been used for feeding tens of millions of hungry people in impoverished countries of Asia, Africa and elsewhere. The staggering amount of food waste generation during Ramadan urgently demands a strong strategy for its minimization, sustainable utilization and eco-friendly disposal.

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Gravity of the Situation

Middle East nations are acknowledged as being the world’s top food wasters, and during Ramadan the situation takes a turn for the worse. The holy city of Makkah witnessed the generation of 5,000 tons of food residuals during the first three days of Ramadan in 2014.

In 2016, around 1803 tons of food waste was produced in Abu Dhabi every day during the holy month of Ramadan. In Bahrain, food waste generation in Bahrain exceeds 400 tons per day during the holy month. Same is the case with Qatar where almost half of the food prepared during Ramadan finds its way into garbage bins.

The scenario in less-affluent Muslim countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt and Pakistan is not different. According to Malaysia’s government agency Solid Waste And Public Cleansing Management Corporation, more than 270,000 tons of food in thrown into garbage bins during Ramadan.

Needless to say, the amount of food waste generated in Ramadan is significantly higher than other months, as much as 25%. There is a chronic inclination of Muslims towards over-indulgence and lavishness in the holy month, even though the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) asked Muslims to adopt moderation in all walks of life.

Socio-cultural attitudes and lavish lifestyles also play a major role in more food waste generation in Ramadan in almost all Muslim countries. High-income groups usually generate more food waste per capita when compared to less-affluent groups. In Muslim countries, hotels and restaurants are a big contributor of food wastes during Ramadan due to super-lavish buffets and extravagant Iftar parties.

The Way Forward

The foremost steps to reduce food wastage in Ramadan are behavioral change, increased public awareness, strong legislation, creation of food banks and community participation. Effective laws and mass sensitization campaigns are required to persuade the people to adopt waste minimization practices and implement sustainable lifestyles.

food-waste-ramadan

Super-lavish buffets and extravagant Iftar parties are big contributors of food waste in Ramadan

Establishment of food banks in residential as well as commercial areas can be a very good way to utilize surplus food in a humane and ethical manner. Infact, food banks in countries like Egypt, India and Pakistan have been operating successfully, however there is a real need to have such initiatives on a mass-scale to tackle the menace of food waste.

Dubai has laid down new guidelines to cut food wastage and streamline the donation of excess food prepared at banquets and buffets. The “Heafz Al Na’amah” is a notable initiative to ensure that surplus food from hotels, Iftar parties and households is not wasted and reach the needy in safe and hygienic conditions. In Qatar, Wa’hab is helping in sustainable utilization of leftover food but supplying it to the needy ones.

During Ramadan 2015, Dubai Municipality launched an initiative called ‘Smart Homes,’ which will continue this year. The initiative encourages Dubai residents to reduce waste during the holy month. Smart Homes is a waste gathering technique in electronic containers that measures the amount of waste produced by each home. The initiative mainly targets residential areas dominated by Emirati residents due to their large family gatherings,” he said. Homes that produce the least amount of waste during the holy month are rewarded with cash prizes and certificates that encourage them to reduce waste.

In addition to such initiatives, religious scholars and prayer-leaders can play a vital role in motivating Muslims to follow Islamic principles of sustainability, as mentioned in the Holy Quran and Hadith. The best way to reduce food waste during Ramadan is to feel solidarity towards millions and millions of people around the world who face enormous hardships in having a single meal each day.

Benefits of Rotational Grazing + Creating A Herd Migration In Your Farm Pasture

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Rotational grazing is a concept that has similar benefits to rotating farm crops. When an area is constantly sucked of its nutrients, it can have a harder time naturally restoring itself. The same can be said for grazing fields. However, livestock prefer eating premature new crops instead of grazing in areas that haven’t been touched.

That’s why rotational grazing and creating a herd migration in your farm pasture is a great idea. Free range is still a concept, but you may notice that the landscape has continued to change in pastures.

benefits of rotational grazing

When you drive by a farm now and see tons of fences, this is likely to create herd migration. Farmers are taking advantage of the benefits. Here is why you should too.

Benefits of Rotational Grazing

Training cattle to graze is not usually an immediate thought. But the benefits are similar if you train a pet. A healthier lifestyle makes for a healthier pasture. The cattle are typically moved when two to three inches are left. Then they can move on to the next pasture, which should be around six to eight inches.

1. Fresh Food

Having healthy cattle is the priority for any farmer. When you use herd migration tactics, you are constantly moving them to fresh grass. In turn, the cattle will eat grass with the most nutrients, as opposed to an area that is overused and struggling to come back.

The cycle by which an area is grazed depends on the farmer. Some producers prefer for a cycle to last seven days. Others may go every few hours. The latter requires a lot more dedication and nurturing. There will be more soil turnover and watering with quicker cycles which is unideal. Sometimes a quick turnaround can defeat the “green impact.”

2. Environmentally Friendly

A farmer who does rotational grazing right is a farmer who is more environmentally friendly. The earth needs its time to run through its own cycles. Longer rotational grazing cycles can allow that part of the earth to recover naturally.

This is something where technology has also played a heavy role in recent farming strategies. Climates that are unpredictable may not always allow for soil recovery. However, new trends such as food technology and hydroponics offer different solutions. Fencing is not all that different.

When farmers need more water, soil, and other materials to turn the area over quicker, they use more resources. This is less efficient. Keeping your land sustainable is a big part of reducing costs and keeping the cattle healthy.

3. Group Meals

When no fences are in place to help control the migration, cattle can roam wherever. The results lead to difficulty maintaining the land. There are likely to be splotches of overused land while others go untouched. When herds graze together, the likelihood of erosion is much less.

It also allows you to collect more grass because of the abundance you’ll receive from having healthy pastures. With a decent stockpile, you can cut costs by not having to buy more hay.  A double benefit as it comes back to sustainability and cost efficiency.

Erosion can also have an impact on crops. Some land is used for crop rotation and later for grazing to let it recover. Erosion and weeds don’t allow for the area to be easily manicured back to a crop-ready zone. Soil with correct pH levels is key and not always easy to cultivate.

4. Healthy Habits

Cattle in a controlled environment struggle less with portion eating than those who roam free. The fertility of the cattle, regardless of whether it be for dairy or beef, is important. The healthier the cattle are, the better chance for a longer life. This is more profitable for farmers as the longevity of the animal impacts product and sales.

Interestingly enough, cattle who are confined can develop unhealthy feet and legs. This is one of the leading causes of poor longevity in cattle. When they move on a schedule and get exercise, they end up much healthier and happier.

It’s also important for today’s consumers to shop for ethically sourced products. The movement for no animal cruelty has continued to progress. Ensuring that your cattle are happy and healthy is important for humanitarian reasons as well as from a sales point of view.

rotational grazing

5. Easier Tracking

When the cattle eat together, it is easier to monitor the pastures and, more importantly, watch the cows’ health. Weight management is one of the most significant factors to keep track of. Understanding the cows’ weight allows the farmer to add more pasture sections or subtract them.

6. Implementing A System

The first step in rotational grazing is understanding why herd migration positively impacts a pasture. The benefits range from environmentally friendly effects such as using fewer resources and allowing the land to heal naturally. The farmer also has economic benefits, like spending less on resources. And most importantly, the health of the cattle improves with herd migration. Find out more about Sustainable Cattle Farming: Is It Possible?

Finding the right fences and system for the pasture is another story. Technology today has allowed farmers to approach traditional farming with new concepts. Using fencing with migrational herding may be an old trick, but it’s making the rounds. Combining this with new sustainable farming methods such as hydroponics allow room for error in bad crop seasons.

When the cows are healthy, so are the products. Ethically sourced beef and dairy products are at the top of most consumers today. This method plays a huge role in providing that.

Zero Emissions Day: Our Planet is Counting on Us

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The Zero Emissions Day (or ‘Ze Day’) aims to put the Global 24 hour Moratorium on the Combustion of Fossil Fuels. The day started on March 21, 2008 with the launch of a website calling for “A Global Moratorium on Fossil Fuel Combustion on September 21” in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The message, “Giving our planet one day off a year”, was simple yet profound and was translated into 12 languages for easy reach of people. The idea behind is of giving everything a ‘rest day’ so why not for emissions and environment.

zero-emissions-day

The notion behind the Zero Emissions Day is that stopping, resting, recharging and reflecting was no doubt a mechanism built into many world cultures and traditions. Through the contribution of many environmentalists, the global call to stop the emissions went online at www.zeroemissionsday.org and has been very successful since it is intended to be a temporary respite from using fossil fuels, to increase awareness of this finite resource and how we might change our actions on a daily basis to conserve it.

We need to be aware of our consumption of fossil fuels. Electricity derived from fossil fuels is the biggest contributor to air emissions in the developed and developing countries. These emissions contribute to smog, acid rain, climate change, and other factors. In turn, climate change is believed to create conditions that cause catastrophic natural events like forest fires, disease breakouts, and droughts.

We all know how much energy we are consuming as a nation, community and as an individual. The governments all over the world are spending huge amount of money on electricity generation and transmission and providing this basic utility to its people. On the other hand, more electrical and electronic gadgets are being added to our daily life which all consumes electricity.

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Thus, we have to take care of our resources and develop a genuine understanding that such energy consuming attitude is not good for us and is harming our fragile environment. The message of the day is that “You have the power to benefit everyone and everything on our planet.” The celebration of the Zero Emissions day is a simple call for collective action to take some of the pressure off our dying world. It’s important because it shows us what a day without fossil fuel use can feel like.

The idea is simple – don’t burn oil, gas or coal and minimize your electricity use. Do this for just one day. More and more people, families and communities are declaring Zero Emissions Days whenever they please and just for the fun of it. People who have had the experience have been transformed deeply by it.

The amount of energy consumed by modern society is staggering, with more and more power-hungry devices becoming part of our daily lives and all these devices need to be charged and powered through the bulk of electricity generated globally is still fossil-fuel based, with only a small percentage generated through renewable sources such as solar, water, biomass and wind.

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In actual terms, completely avoiding the consumption of any fossil-fuel generated energy for 24 hours is almost unthinkable. Practically, many people will never contribute, but even if the day just acts as a reminder that we can all do our bit to limit our energy consumption in daily life, it would already be a victory for Mother Earth.

Try it and imagine how good it’ll make you feel about yourself! Remember our world is counting on us! Let us plan and celebrate the day joyfully by avoiding and minimizing the use of energy, electricity and gas, having no cook meal to eat and spreading the awareness to our dear ones. Unplug everything that is not essential, and instead of watching TV, playing on the computer, or doing other activities that involve electronics, socialize with family and friends and spend the day with nature.

Every individual’s effort on Zero Emissions Day is what counts! 

The 4 Best Tips to Becoming an Eco-Friendly Pet Owner

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Sustainability is a lifestyle that many of us participate in these days. Whether you take out your recycling every week or own reusable bottles and containers, it’s important to make an effort to stop waste in any way you can, even when it comes to taking care of pets. Whether you take out your recycling every week or own reusable bottles and containers, it’s essential to stop waste in any way you can, even for taking care of pets.

If you own a pet, I am fairly sure you have thought of how to keep your pet healthy. Keeping a pet healthy can be difficult. Apart from everyday things such as taking your pet for exercise walks and grooming, you need to sign up for an affordable pet insurance company like Bivvy to add coverage for your pet’s frequent vet expenses.

There are many ways people and their pets can help save the planet. You may even be able to help in ways you don’t expect. Here are 4 of the best tips to becoming an eco-friendly pet owner.

1. Adopt Don’t Shop

Pets, especially cats and dogs, have overpopulation problems all over the world. When you buy them from stores or breeders, it increases the demand for new puppies and kittens. Why have more when there are millions of suitable furry friends in shelters across the world?

This tip counts for first time pet owners as well. If you are deciding whether or not to adopt an animal for the first time, you can save a life and its carbon footprint when you adopt from a shelter.

If you’re attracted to owning a pet for companionship and support, you may even be able to avoid housing fees or deposits when you adopt. The website www.esaregistration.org can help you register your animal as an Emotional Support Animal. This means the law protects your ability to bring your ESA with you.

2. Neuter and Spay

The number of stray animals in the United States alone is easily in the tens of millions. An article by RestedPaws.co.uk puts the number of animals entering shelters in the U.S. at 6.5 Million a year. When stray cats have kittens, those kittens become feral cats. The Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) states that in general, overpopulation of feral cats can cause decline or extinction in many species, especially birds or small to medium-size mammals.

So, what can you do about this problem? Spaying and neutering your animals are the most effective and easiest ways to prevent overpopulation. Even if your pets stay indoors, it’s important to spay and neuter them in case they get lost.

3. Buy Sustainable Food

Pet food, like people food, can come in a lot of unnecessary packaging! When you focus on buying brands that offer sustainable and eco-friendly food, you can easily recycle the bags and reduce trash in landfills or the oceans.

In addition, many of these brands offer higher quality food. Much of it is organic and offers all the necessary nutrients your pet needs in their everyday diet. These options are also great to look at if your pet has allergies to certain types of meat or other ingredients found in the average brands.

4. Clean Up Responsibly

Cleaning up your dog’s poop on a walk is important. Not only does it keep the sidewalk clean; it keeps people safe. How? Dog waste carries nitrogen, phosphorous, and many harmful pathogens. Rain can carry it into streams and sewer systems, which can make many people ill.

You shouldn’t flush any animal poop down the toilet. Most cities don’t have the proper filtration system to filter out the chemicals contained in animal waste. It’s always best to throw it in the trash, unless you have a dog-poop compost program in your area.

There’s Always a Way to Make a Difference

All pet owners have a responsibility to do what’s best for their animals. These sustainable pet care tips will help guide you both towards an eco-friendly lifestyle and a better future.

Always check the ingredients in the product you buy! Food, toys, and pet accessories are all available in recyclable materials. Doing a little research to find the right product is worth it in the long run.

#InspireMENA – Storytelling on Sustainable Development in MENA

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Over 350 million people live in MENA and share Arabic as a common language. To date, there is very little literature in Arabic about sustainable development in general and specifically on the United Nation’s new global goals and the associated agencies and initiatives. More than half of that population is below 25 and is currently going through a lot in terms of political, economic, and social change. Despite all of this, those young people are innovating and making positive change in their communities. It is of utmost importance to support such impact with credible information, more visibility for success stories, and better communication tools.

Today we are excited to announce a special partnership between EcoMENA, a volunteer-driven organization working to raise environmental awareness and foster sustainable development in MENA, and +SocialGood, an international community where digital innovators, thought leaders, social entrepreneurs, change makers, and global citizens come together to share world-changing ideas and catalyze action.

The #InspireMENA Initiative will work to raise awareness and magnify impact on sustainable development issues and projects throughout the MENA region. Each #InspireMENA story will be shared in both English and Arabic on both platforms. Professionals, volunteers and writers are invited through both networks to contribute to identifying stories, writing and translating articles.

What we’re looking for in an #InspireMENA Story

  • Describe the outputs/outcomes from your story (qualitative and quantitative).
  • What makes this a real success story? What change have you contributed to?
  • To which Global Goal(s) would you link the impact(s) of this story?
  • What resources did you use and where did they come from?
  • Who were your partners in implementation? Who was the Champion?
  • What would you do differently if you can go back in time (lessons learned)?
  • Does your story trigger similar stories within your community/country/globe?
  • Sustainable Development is about justice and inclusiveness. How do you tell your story in light of this?
  • How do you measure your impact now and in the future?
  • Give us a ‘Call for Action’ statement to show how relevant this is to the reader.

Guidelines for Submission

  1. Stories should be focused on these core areas – sustainable development, environment protection, green and social entrepreneurship, capacity-building, social inclusiveness, youth empowerment, environmental education, renewable energy, waste management, resource conservation management and related areas. It is advised to refer to Sustainable Development Global Goals for guidance on topics. Please visit this link www.globalgoals.org
  2. Entries can be submitted by project stakeholders, co-workers, industry professionals, domain experts etc.
  3. Preferred length of the story is around 800 to 1500 words.
  4. Entries can be submitted in Arabic or English or both.
  5. Stories should be concise, upto-the-point and meant for a general reader
  6. Stories should be non-commercial and non-promotional
  7. Contributors should be ready to respond to queries/comments by readers
  8. All entries will be cross-verified and reviewed by domain experts. We reserve the right to accept or reject any story.

How #Inspire MENA started

As two entities committed to supporting sustainable development, empowering youth, sharing knowledge and promoting success stories and role models; EcoMENA and +SocialGood are coming together to collaborate on ‘Story Telling for Sustainable Development’. This was initiated by the +SocialGood Connector in Jordan, Ruba Al-Zu’bi, after her participation in the +SocialGood Connectors and Advisors gathering in Washington D.C. – July 2015. Through this partnership, Ruba and Salman Zafar, Founder of EcoMENA, hope to mobilize a story telling campaign in Jordan and the MENA region around impactful and innovative projects and initiatives that advance sustainable development.

To get engaged and share a story, please contact:

Salman Zafar: salman@ecomena.org /salman@cleantechloops.com or

Ruba Al-Zu’bi: rubaalzoubi@gmail.com

Energy and the Climate: Perspectives for Middle East

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Since energy is an absolute necessity for life on Earth, we have utilized many sources of energy to maintain and improve the lives of people around the globe. The ultimate source of energy is the Sun of course, since all living things on Earth such as plants, trees, animals and humans need the Sun’s energy. In addition to the Sun, we have utilized other sources of energy such as oil, coal and nuclear fission.  However, energy has many different forms and we use different forms of energy for different applications. For example, nuclear energy is mostly used to generate electricity, while oil is used to fuel our cars.

Having established the absolute necessity of energy to maintain life on Earth, it is equally critical to understand that energy is also capable of extinguishing life on Earth if misused. For example, the use of oil and coal to generate energy, produces different gases, mostly carbon monoxide, that have negative impact on the environment. Such a negative impact has been identified by scientists as global warming. It has been established that global warming is directly related to the increased level of carbon monoxide in our atmosphere.  As the temperature on Earth continues to rise, the entire climate will start to change as a result of the higher temperature on the surface of Earth. Moreover, any changes in the climate will have a direct impact on life. For example, many plants, trees and even animals may not be able to survive in hotter climate in a specific region of Earth, yet the impact of such change will be felt all over the world.

Energy and Climate Change

Energy has a direct impact on the climate and as a result has direct impact on all living creatures on Earth. It is the responsibility of all people on Earth to preserve our current climate by using clean sources of energy, such as solar and wind, and moving away from oil and coal. Climate has direct impact not only on the food we eat, but on our ability to survive in certain regions of the planet.

Since most people in developing countries do not completely understand the direct relationship between the energy they use and the climate change as a result, while others in the more developed countries put economical gain ahead of the environment, additional laws with larger penalties may be needed to be enforced around the world. In addition, all governments must focus on the research and development of clean energy sources and slowly move away from oil and coal as both sources are considered to be the ultimate sources of pollution to the environment, which may result in permanent change to the climate on Earth. Meanwhile, and until the clean energy sources are fully developed and utilized around the world, maintaining current trees and planting new ones will definitely help offset the effects caused by the release of Carbone Monoxide into the air.  

Difference between China and the Middle East

It has been known for some time now that China has been one of the largest contributors to air pollution due to its significant economic growth which mostly depends on oil, and its large population; however, the Middle East is also on top of the list of countries and regions that heavily depend on cheap oil prices to power the engine of their economies. The main difference however, between China and the rich-oil countries in the Middle East is that in recent years, China has signed several international agreements to reduce air pollution by different means. The Chinese people in addition, have come a long way to better understand the global impact due to air pollution.

The oil-rich countries in the Middle East on the other hand, are still behind very much the rest of the world in this area, mainly due to the lack of education on many of the environmental issues, as well as the lack of any alternative energy sources. However, time has come for all these countries to start looking into other alternative energy sources before it is too late

Pressure on Industrialized Countries

As more and more people on this planet become aware of the deadly consequences of using oil as a source of energy, the internal and external pressure keeps mounting on the industrialized countries to look for alternative energy sources. In fact, it is only a matter of time before these industrialized countries develop alternative energy sources on mass scale, which may eventually cause the death of the oil industry completely. For example, the use of cold fusion as an energy source would make the price of one barrel of oil less than $1.

Most, if not all of the oil-rich countries today believe that there is no need to make the transition to clean energy because the world needs their oil, or at least, they can continue to power their economies using oil instead of clean energy. But the sad truth is that once an alternative clean energy sources have been identified, these oil rich nations would have no choice but to abandon their oil fields and move into the alternatives. One simple fact these nations need to consider is that in the foreseeable future, developed countries would boycott all products and services created and maintained using oil-powered factories instead of clean energy.

Currently, there are many clean energy sources that have been developed, tested and used around the world. Some of these sources include solar energy, wind energy, water energy, geothermal energy, ocean energy, biomass and of course, nuclear (fission and fusion) energies. The use of any of those alternative energy sources doesn’t release any Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere and will maintain the level of Carbon Dioxide in the atmosphere at acceptable ratio.

Transition to Clean Energy

For the rich-oil countries in the Middle East, the transition from oil-dependent economies to clean energy dependent economies requires three vital ingredients:

  1. Education: people in the Middle East need to first be educated on all environmental issues and why the transition from oil to clean energy source is a necessity at this time. As long as the average man on the Arab street doesn’t understand the imminent danger of climate change and how it is related to the use of oil, then the transition will be difficult, slow and costly. Educating people is the starting point.
  2. Investment: the transition to clean energy will initially require a huge investment in a new infrastructure especially for clean energy. Such infrastructure may not be cheap to build from the ground up, but the return on investment (ROI) will be quit high at the end.
  3. Time: phasing out the oil-dependent economies completely takes time. The transition to clean energy will take many years before reaching the ultimate goal. However, a well-thought out plan to make such a transition is possible provided that these countries are serious, willing and able to make such a move. Starting with one step at a time will definitely lead to the end goal, but someone has to take the first step

Finally, as energy consumption is directly related to climate change, energy conservation is also directly related to environmental issues. Though physics laws show the energy is conserved, yet the form of energy we use is not. Therefore, people around the world, especially in the Middle Eastern countries, need to be made aware of the importance of energy conservation. The Middle East countries in general, and GCC countries in particular, must start educating their citizens on energy, climate change and environmental issues.

Climate Change Impacts in Kuwait

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Kuwait is facing a wide range of climate change challenges including sea level rise, water scarcity, desertification and loss of diversity. Kuwait is characterized by high temperature, high humidity and arid lands resulting in seriously degraded soil and land damage in addition to salt intrusion in the aquifers affecting the small scale agricultural lands thus enhancing the food security threat in the region. Since 1975, Kuwait has experienced 1.50C to 20C increase in temperature, which is significantly higher than the global average. In recent years, there has been a sharp change in rainfall pattern in Kuwait which may be attributed to climate change impacts. In addition, there has been marked increase in dust storms in last few decades which are noticeable signs of change in climatic conditions in Kuwait and neighbouring nations.

Rise in Sea Level

One of the main climate change impacts is sea level rise on coastal areas of all Arabian Gulf states. Kuwait is highly vulnerable to the impacts of sea level rise as it could lead to severe impacts on industrial and socio-economic development. Climate change-induced sea level rise may lead to flooding of low-lying urban infrastructure, inundation of coastal ecosystems and deterioration of groundwater quality. Inundation will severely affect cities, roads, agricultural areas, as well as beaches and salt marshes across Kuwait. Among the most vulnerable sites in Kuwait are Bubyan Island, Qaruh Island and Al-Khiran which are in real danger of disappearance on account of any potential sea level rise.

Water Availability

Continued use of non-renewable water is major factor in depleting groundwater reserves in Kuwait and put it a serious risk of climate change impacts. Being a highly water-scarce country, Kuwait is heavily dependent on desalinated water and fresh groundwater to meet drinking water needs. On a per capita basis, Kuwait has one of the highest per capita water consumption worldwide, apart from having world’s highest per capita production of desalination water. Water resource management is huge challenge for Kuwait as its per capita natural water availability is lowest in the world. With climate change, it is expected that balancing water supply and water demand will become an even greater challenge. 

Biodiversity

Kuwait is endowed with rich biodiversity of terrestrial flora and fauna, however the potential loss of terrestrial and marine biodiversity due to climate change is a major concern in Kuwait. Desert areas contain many species of annuals, which make up about 90% of plant species of Kuwait. Kuwait is also endowed with rich marine biodiversity. Many endemic species can be found including crabs, which are found on biota-rich inter-tidal Sabkha zones. An increase in seawater temperature will affect the reproduction period of fish and shrimp and may result in large-scale migration of fish to other areas which will have serious repercussions for the fish industry in Kuwait and neighbouring countries. Erratic rainfall and sand encroachment may lead to loss in plant cover thereby causing runoff and flooding. 

Agriculture

Agriculture production is directly dependent on climate change and weather. The possible changes in temperature, precipitation and CO2 concentration are expected to significant impact on crop growth. The potential of agricultural development in Kuwait is very limited, as less than 1% of the land area is considered arable. Moreover, only a portion of arable land area is actually cultivated due to a hyper-arid climate, water scarcity, poor soils, and lack of technical skills. Because of the nature of the terrain and water scarcity, it is quite difficult to put new land into agricultural production. Interestingly, agriculture consumes around one-third of groundwater but account for less than 5 percent of the GDP. 

Conclusion

Kuwait is both physically and biologically threatened by the climate change phenomenon. Over the next few decades, Kuwait could be potentially facing serious impacts of global warming in the form of floods, droughts, depletion of aquifers, inundation of coastal areas, frequent sandstorms, loss of biodiversity, significant damage to ecosystem, threat to agricultural production and outbreak of diseases. There is an urgent need to implement climate change mitigation and adaptation measures, adopt renewable energy systems and prepare a strong framework for socio-economic development which may be sustainable in the long-run.