Protecting cultural heritage through due process

Source: Beirut Report

According to the World Bank’s Environmental Assessment Sourcebook update on cultural heritage, “Many types of development projects can have a direct adverse impact on cultural heritage. The task manager, in consultation with national or local cultural heritage authorizes as necessary, should review potential direct or indirect impacts to cultural heritage as a standard and central part of the environmental screening process.” The EIA process in Lebanon also addresses the impact of development on cultural heritage in Section 7-3 of its EIA Decree 8633 for 2012.

Sidon’s never-ending environmental woes

Source: Emirates 247

In collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and the UNDP, the Municipality of Sidon has implemented a project to replace the infamous “garbage mountain” that has been a nuisance to the city’s residents for decades. The municipality plans to replace the mountain with a 35,000 square meter park. Today the there is no sign of the waste as the municipality boasts massive environmental benefits as a result.

Managing drought in the MENA region: how prepared are we?

Source: Huffington Post

On Monday the 20^th of October, the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs hosted a panel discussion titled “Drought Policy, Governance, and Management Systems in the MENA Region.” The panel consisted of three speakers:

An analysis of environmental legislation in Lebanon

Legal Agenda recently published a piece (in Arabic) analysing the status of environmental legislation in Lebanon. The post focuses on Environmental Protection Law No. 444 for the year 2002 and poses the question: is this a symbolic law that the government has adopted in order to adhere to international standards with no real will to enforce it? This post presents a summary of the piece.

Some people believe that the value of Lebanon’s Environmental Protection Law is overrated as the government is unable to enforce all of its provisions. However, a Ministry of Environment adviser stressed its importance for providing a framework through which the Ministry can operate. The law, she believes, functions as an umbrella for all environmental issues in the country, defines them and sets stringent penalties for damaging or polluting natural resources. The law also helps Lebanon abide by its international obligations and adopts internationally recognized principles.

Lebanon releases Strategic Environmental Assessment for country’s oil and gas sector

Source: Impact Weather

The Lebanese Petroleum Administration published the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for petroleum activities in Lebanese Waters. The SEA is an extensive 8 volume report evaluating the likely environmental and social effects of introducing and developing oil and gas activities Lebanon. A brief summary of the report can be found here.

Janna dam: the value of an EIA after the fact

Source: Beirut and Mount Lebanon Water Establishment

The Janna Dam is currently being constructed on Ibrahim River in the Adonis Valley. The dam is part of a water strategy being implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Water. The Ministry is proposing about 55 water infrastructure projects throughout Lebanon to be constructed by 2020. These projects are expected to increase the water storage capacity of Lebanon substantially.