Environmental Justice

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.

Refuting the case for nuclear in the Middle East

Article

Although the epicenter of the world’s petro- economy, countries in the Middle East understand the need to diversify away from fossil fuels. To do so, some also bet on nuclear energy. The need to transition is most strongly driven by broader regional priorities to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and grow the economy while also providing jobs for the increasing population of young people. At first glance, nuclear seems an apt tool to help the region meet these dual objectives. However, Middle Eastern countries would be better served by investing resourced pegged to nuclear in the more promising solar and wind industries.

By Joelle Thomas

Latest Publications

Piles of solid waste in a street in Lebanon

Impacting policies: Waste management and advocacy in Lebanon.

Paper

This paper tackles the evolution and role of civil society actors and advocacy campaigns concerning Solid Waste Management since the 2015 waste crisis. It addresses the organization, advocacy strategies, tools, challenges, adopted roadmaps, and lessons learned from these movements and coalitions, using a comparative analysis between the Harak movement that emerged during the 2015 waste crisis and the Waste Management Coalition that formed in 2017 in the face of persistent waste mismanagement and the government plans to adopt waste incineration.

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Power Poverty Hunger

In 2020, 768 million people suffered from hunger and undernourishment. That is almost 10 percent of the global population. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations expects these numbers to rise further as a result of the economic crisis triggered by covid-19, extreme weather events, and conflicts.

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Plastic Atlas

Plastic is ubiquitous: we use it for life-saving medical devices, clothing, toys and cosmetics; we use it in agriculture and industry. But we also know the growing risk of plastic waste in the environment, landfills and the oceans.

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hbs concludes the 7th Regional Summer School on Civic Engagement in Urban Sustainable Development

Regional Summer School - Our Cities Our Future: Civic Engagement in Sustainable Urban Development

Great expectations, low execution: The Katowice climate change conference COP 24

Heinrich Böll Stiftung (hbs) Wraps Up its Regional Summer School 2018 in Tunis

HORSH BEIRUT FESTIVAL 2018

Regional Summer School 2018

City Debates

City Debates is a yearly conference organized by the Masters in Urban Planning & Policy and Masters in Urban Design Programs at the American University of Beirut. This year, Professor Ralf Pasel joined AUB's City Debates 2018 in Beirut and summarized his presentation in the following 2 podcasts:

PROFESSOR RALF PASEL ON SITUATIONAL URBANISM

PROFESSOR RALF PASEL ON HOUSING PROJECTS FOR REFUGEES IN GERMANY

Dossiers