Category Archives: Sustainable Development

Qanats: A Sustainable Water Management Tool For Arid Lands

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Qanats are a remarkable system for managing water without pumps and with minimal evaporation even when water is transferred over considerable distances. A mother well starts the qanat and then an underground canal set at a minimal pitch carries the water for many kilometers until it comes to the surface. Some qanats were 70 km or longer.[i]  The sizes of the tunnel and wells vary widely from narrow, barely large enough to fit a person, to substantial. In less consolidated materials the access shafts may need to be much larger. The spacing of the access shafts may be 20-150 m … Continue reading →

The Progress of Solar PV Sector in Jordan in 2024

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In 2024, Jordan made significant advancements in its solar photovoltaic (PV) sector, reflecting its commitment to expanding renewable energy and achieving greater energy independence. Below is an overview of the key solar energy developments and milestones in Jordan: Installed Solar PV Capacity According to annual reports by Jordan’s grid operators, the total installed on-grid solar PV capacity reached 2,073.86 MW by the end of 2024. This capacity is divided as follows: Distribution System Operators (DSOs): 1,081.86 MW across 74,145 projects. Transmission System Operator (TSO): 992 MW. The largest DSO-managed installations were by: Jordan Electric Power Company (JEPCO): 591.44 MW (32,257 … Continue reading →

An Interesting Approach to Combat Climate Change in the South Pacific

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New Zealand initiative named “Climate Shift” is a three-tiered approach being proposed to combat local climate change and in turn contribute to the global reduction plan to help protect our entire global environment. It focuses on addressing environmental issues on three fronts. The obvious and essential first step is to tackle the actual emissions with significant reduction. The next front is to engage with and seek support from independent organizations and governmental bodies while reaching out to the people of the land to get more engage and take responsibility. The final front is working with nature itself ensuring the sustainability … Continue reading →

How Towns Can Rebuild After a Wildfire

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Wildfires are horrific natural disasters that can devastate individual households and large communities alike. By definition, wildfires, also known as wildland fires, are known to ravage combustible wildland vegetation areas. Depending on the incident, a wildfire can destroy natural forests, negatively impact soil fertility and water cycles, or even threaten the health of those residing nearby the ignition point. In terms of cause, different events can ignite wildfires, ranging from human-caused to naturally occurring. Arson, equipment malfunctions (i.e., automobile accidents), unattended campfires, discarded cigarettes, and burning debris are all culprits of human-caused wildfires. On the other hand, natural fires result … Continue reading →

A Glance at Waste-Free Economy

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Growth from trashing the planet was never a clever idea and linear economics has now reached the end of the line. The ‘more is better’ economy does not need to be stimulated to grow nor constrained from growing. It needs to be entirely replaced by ‘positive development’ in which markets work to automatically, systematically make things better both locally and globally. The folly of endless resources extraction, endlessly unmet human needs and endless waste dumping can end. Linear economics can be replaced by ‘circular economics’. Waste-Free Growth Model A switch towards waste-free economy would preserve and regenerate material value and … Continue reading →

الفساد البيئي في نهج السلوك البشري والتنمية المستدامة

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قصاصة ورقية عبارة عن مسودة معلومات تُوجز جوانب حدث بيئي مهم وتُبرز في مفاصل أحداثه جهود نشطاء البيئة في أحد بلداننا العربية يعود تاريخها إلى بداية عام 2001 وجدناها بين صفحات كتاب «الثروة الطبيعية للأمم» أثارت اهتمامنا إذ تضم بين سطورها معلومات قيّمة للنشاط الاجتماعي البيئي وتحدد محاور مهمة للبحث في قضية «الفساد البيئي» التي تعد من أكثر القضايا المهمة في علم البيئة الحديث لارتباطها بمشكلات استنزاف الثروات الطبيعية وتدهور المعالم الرئيسية للنظم البيئية. معلومات القصاصة الورقية تولي أهمية بالخبر الذي تداولته في ذلك التاريخ وكالات الأنباء العالمية بشأن إطلاق سراح مجموعة من المدافعين عن البيئة، حكم عليهم بالسجن لرفعهم شعار … Continue reading →

Role of Artificial Intelligence in Jordan’s Energy Sector

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The energy sector is a vital pillar that directly impacts both society and the economy. With the continuous advancement of technology, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become an integral part of strategies aimed at improving optimal management, improving energy efficiency, and optimizing resource utilization. Furthermore, AI offers opportunities to foster cross-sector collaboration, leading to numerous environmental, economic, and social benefits. In this context, Jordan has ratified an agreement on AI implementation in the planning and operation system for electrical loads. This initiative is part of a technical cooperation agreement between the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship, the Japan International Cooperation … Continue reading →

How Instagram Influencers Can Spur Your Green Initiatives

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Social media platforms are the space where you can spread awareness of initiatives and calls to action.  Instagram is one of those platforms where you can get a wide audience to pay attention to your green initiatives. It’s one aspect to get a wide audience, but the point of social media is to convert your audience into active participants of your initiatives and green programs, thereby contributing to results. That said, you might want to consider having partnerships with Instagram influencers. Instagram influencers are individuals who have a large following on the social media platform. With this, the green initiatives … Continue reading →

التسامح هدف سامي

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تطوي البشرية ببزوغ فجر اليوم الاول من عام 2022 صفحة عام مليء بالمآسي، المآسي التي صنعتها النفوس الشريرة وعم بسببها الدمار في البقاع المختلفة من العالم وتدهور بفعلها النظام البيئي لكوكب الارض بيتنا المشترك، وخسرت البشرية بسببها مقوماتها الاقتصادية والمعيشية، وتوسعت قاعدة اللاجئين وجيش الفقراء والمعوزيين، ودفع ذلك الواقع العقول الحكيمة في رفع قامة دعوتها لتبني الحكمة كموروث انساني في معالجة الخلافات بين الجماعات والمجتمع البشري، وثقافة التسامح القيمة الانسانية التي يمكن الاحتكام الى قيمها وعقيدتها وهي القيمة الكفيلة في جعل المجتمعات تعيش في أمان وسكينة. التعايش بين المخلوقات صفة تتميز بها الكائنات الحية في محيطها الكوني، وهي أكثر رقيا … Continue reading →

Evaporative Cooling: Achieving Energy Conservation in Buildings

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The global push toward sustainability and commitment to United Nations’ SDGs has brought innovative solutions of energy conservation in building design and operation. Evaporative cooling has emerged as an effective and environmentally-friendly method for reducing energy consumption (in comparison to HVAC system which consume approximately 40 percent of energy in buildings) while maintaining indoor comfort. Let’s explore the principles, applications, benefits, and limitations of evaporative cooling in achieving energy conservation in buildings. What is Evaporative Cooling Evaporative cooling leverages the natural process of water evaporation to lower air temperature. The principle is simple yet effective: when water evaporates, it absorbs … Continue reading →

Humanizing Architecture – Through the Eyes of Abeer Seikaly

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Through the jasmine-scented roads of L’weibdeh (Jordan) I navigated my way to Abeer Seikaly’s studio, an old house that resembles Jordan’s genuine and inspiring identity. Abeer Seikaly is a young Jordanian architect who has been featured on several global and local media platforms because of her innovation “Weaving a Home” that was shortlisted for the 2012 Lexus Design Award. Influence of Education and Local Knowledge Top architecture schools in the Arab world are heavily influenced by international trends in built environment and sustainability, and unfortunately Arabic reference material is largely ignored in teaching. The emerging thinking around built environment and its relationship … Continue reading →

5 Sustainable Resolutions to Embrace in 2025

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As the new year approaches, it’s not just about setting resolutions for personal growth. It’s also the perfect opportunity to reflect on how we can take steps toward a healthier planet. Making sustainable choices doesn’t necessitate a full lifestyle overhaul; instead, they can begin with small yet meaningful adjustments. Let’s dive into five easy, yet impactful, resolutions you can adopt in 2025 to champion the environment without adding stress to your daily routine! 1. Rethink Your Waste: Reuse and Recycle Are you ready for a change? The good news is that small adjustments can make a huge difference when it … Continue reading →