Environmental Justice

Photo by Linda Simon

Introduction

The Middle East is characterized by high income economies relying on energy exports, and middle to low income economies with limited resources for export. Both developmental models tend to neglect sustainability - but pollution, climate change and loss of natural resources already are rampant and will effect future generations even more drastically. Pushing for sustainable development is also a question of justice: between current and future generations, but also between those who have the means to isolate themselves from the negative repercussions of unsustainable practices, and those who have to bear the brunt of it.

The program Environmental Justice puts special emphasis on the issues of climate change and renewable energies, on the access to public resources, and the right to sustainable agriculture and a just international trade regime.

Articles

Paper

Public Space in Beirut:

February 27, 2013 - How to approach a city like Beirut? By its history, its economic meaning, its art scene, its people? On the search for a city’s identity, many of its facets are revealed in certain places, namely the city’s public spaces. Christine F.G. Kollmar more»

Interview

What A “Small Baby” Can Do

- February 7, 2013 - Dr. Ali Darwish explains in an interview how an environmental NGO in Lebanon can make a difference. This year, hbs celebrates 10 years of cooperation with Green Line. Interview with Dr. Ali Darwish conducted by Christine F.G. Kollmar more»

Article

No City Without Public Space

- February 7, 2013 - Guerrilla Picnicking: How hbs partner organization Nahnoo fights for Lebanese citizens' accesss to public green space. more»

Report

Report on the 18th Climate Change Conference in Doha

- January 2, 2013 - Despite the proceedings of the Doha Climate Change Conference (COP 18) running a full day over their scheduled two week cut off, the nations of the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) failed to come up with anything either new or meaningful. Doha ended as Durban had a year before: a commitment to extend the Kyoto Treaty and laying the ground for a new agreement to be brought in by 2015. Habib Maalouf more»

ARTICLE

The Doha Experience

- December 20, 2012 - Every year the countries of the world - with the support of a number of scholars, specialists and members of civil society - gather at a giant meeting organized by the United Nations to negotiate the measures that shall be taken to address the risks of climate change. But what matters in this context is that usually the host country that chairs the conference bears the largest burden for its success. Was Doha ready for this challenge? Rami M. Serhal more»

ARTICLE

The 18th Climate Change Conference in Doha repeats the failures of Durban

- Doha ended as Durban had a year before: a commitment to extend the Kyoto Treaty (which, since its signatories produce less than 15 per cent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, mean to has little to offer the cause of climate change) and laying the ground for a new agreement to be brought in by 2015. Habib Maalouf - Published in Al-Safir Newspaper on December 11, 2012 more»

Article

After Lebanon clarifies its official position on negotiations: What to expect from the 18th Climate Change Conference in Doha (COP 18)?

- With the 18th round of the Conference of Parties (COP 18) due to be held in Doha—the first time such proceedings have been hosted in an Arab country—many questions are raised over the long-term visions, expectations, capabilities and true positions of the nations taking part. What will the official Lebanese delegation bring to Doha? How has Lebanon prepared itself to deal with climate change and, more specifically, with negotiations over the issue, after pledging back in 2009 in Copenhagen to generate 12 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources? First published in Al Safir Newspaper on 14/11/2012 by Habib Maalouf more»

ARTICLE

Green Sins - How the Green Economy Became a Subject of Controversy

- November 6, 2012 - Large-scale wind farms and solar power plants are springing up everywhere one looks. That’s good for the climate, but small-scale farmers and the poor are becoming the pawns of hard-nosed business interests around the world. Barbara Unmüßig more»

TO READ MORE ARTICLES ON ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, CLICK HERE

Events

Panel Discussion

The Doha COP18 Outcomes

The Ministry of Environment in cooperation with the Lebanese Association for Environment and Development and Heinrich Böll Foundation Cordially invite you to a panel discussion on “The Doha COP18 Outcomes”.

Tuesday January 29, 2013 12 p.m. – 1.00 p.m. Ministry of Environment, Green Room, 7th floor. more»

Event

Official Side Event at COP 18, Doha

- The Renewable Energy Revolution – Lessons Applied in the Middle East and Africa
Friday 30 November 2012, 13:15 to 14:45, Room 5 -

Germany has undoubtedly raised the bar in terms of strategizing energy sourcing, and setting the pace for renewable energy policies. Its energy transition underway aims to cut the dependence on fossil fuel imports, to fight climate change, and to build up a green industrial sector that sets standards for future markets and provides well-paying jobs for thousands of people.

This side event looks at lessons learnt for other regions in the world. What does it mean for the Middle East and the African continent with its great potential for renewable energies?

Download the side event flyer

Second Regional Summer School

Climate Change Challenges in the Arab Middle East and North Africa

30 September to 4 October 2012 - The Heinrich Böll Stiftung, through its offices in Ramallah, Beirut and Tunis hosted the Second Regional Summer School on “Climate Change Challenges in the Arab Middle East and North Africa” in Amman - Jordan.

TO VIEW THE FULL LIST OF EVENTS, CLICK HERE

Projects

Policy Support

Follow up on Climate Change Negotiations

The Lebanese Commission for Environment and Development (LCED) has been, for several years, working on climate change issues, including mainly research and awareness. The Heinrich Böll Foundation Middle East supported the participation of members of the LCED in several United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conferences of the Parties from Bali to Poznan, Copenhagen, Cancun and Durban. more»

Publication Series

Bada’el Issue on Ecological Conversion after the Revolutions

- Ecologia in cooperation with the Heinrich Boell Foundation, Middle East Office is preparing a new issue of Bada’el on the need for ecological conversion after the revolutions in the Arab World. more»

TO VIEW THE FULL LIST OF PROJECTS, CLICK HERE

Publications

Policy Paper

The Green Economy – The New Magic Bullet?

Exactly what a green economy is and should be, and with what measures and instruments it should be implemented, has not yet been defined and is the topic of intense political debate. Nevertheless, efforts are being made to develop a “Green Economy Roadmap.” Rio+20 should not simply be a repetition of previous international conferences. Instead it must offer a true breakthrough on the path to a social, just, low-carbon and resource-efficient world. Barbara Unmüßig - co-president of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung more»

Print and Online Publication

Perspectives #1 April 2011: Nuclear Energy and the Arab World - Ambition and Peril

In the first edition of Perspectives Middle East, activists and decision-makers from the Arab world and Europe critically discuss the transfer and use of civilian nuclear energy in the region.

With contributions from Mohamed Abdel Raouf, Hamed Beheshti, Ali Darwish, Leila Ghanem, Dennis Kumentat und Nikolaus Supersberger, Najib Saab, Larbi Sadiki, und Jürgen Trittin. more»

TO VIEW THE FULL LIST OF PUBLICATIONS, CLICK HERE