Euro-Mediterranean Information System on know-how in the Water sector

Israel: Environmentalists concerned over Red-Dead canal plans

2008-08-01T00:00:00Z

Environmental groups have expressed concern about plans to build a canal between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea - transferring water from the former to save the latter. They say not enough research has been done and alternative options have not been checked.

Some experts have pointed out that the area is known for seismic activity.

The Red-Dead project would take water out of the Red Sea, desalinating some of it for use as drinking water, which would be used for Israelis, Jordanians and Palestinians. The rest of the water would go to help save the Dead Sea.

Many environmental activists agree that the option of saving the River Jordan, water from which is also siphoned off by Syria, Israel and Jordan for drinking water, has not been explored enough. Others have suggested a Dead-Med canal.

Call for papers for ECGP’8 - 2009, The eighth International Symposium on "Environment, Catalysis and Process Engineering”

2008-08-04T00:00:00Z

This edition gathering more than twenty countries aims at the development of sciences and technology relating to the environment and the creation of connections with other associations and national and foreign scientific organizations.

This conference organised by the Moroccan Association of catalysis and environment (AMCE) Environment and Gabes University, will be held in Gabes (Tunisia) in 14-15 April 2009.

It will include four half-day sessions dealing with the latest researches in these fields and discussions about the future.

DEADLINES:
- October, 30th 2008: submission of abstracts (1 page maximum)
- December, 30th 2008: Acceptance of papers.
- January 30th 2009: Second circular with the final programme and information on
registration and accommodation.

Lebanon: Alain Tobourian is the new Energy and Water Minister

2008-08-04T00:00:00Z

Lebanon finally formed a 30-member national unity government last July 11 following a five-week wrangling over key portfolios.

The new cabinet consists 16 ministers of the Western-backed ruling majority, 11 allied with the Shiite Hezbollah-led opposition and the rest three named by President Michel Suleiman. Following is the lineup of the new cabinet:

Prime Minister: Fouad Seniora

Deputy Prime Minister: Issam Abou Jamra

Defense Minister: Elias Murr

Foreign Minister: Fawzi Saloukh

Interior Minister: Ziad Baroud

Finance Minister: Muhammad Shatah

State Minister: Yousef Takla

State Minister: Khaled Kabbani

State Minister: Wael Abu Faour

State Minister: Nasib Lahoud

State Minister: Ali Qanso

State Minister: Jean Ogassapian

Justice Minister: Ibrahim Najjar

Administration Development Minister: Ibrahim Shamseddine

Public Works and Transportation Minister: Ghazi Ariedy

Telecommunications Minister: Gebran Bassil

Economy and Trade Minister: Muhammad Safadi

Information Minister: Tareq Mitri

Culture Minister: Tammam Salam

Minister of Refugee Affairs: Raymond Audi

Environment Minister: Antoine Karam

Youth and Sports Minister: Talal Arslan

Industry Minister: Ghazi Zoayter

Education Minister: Bahia Hariri

Agriculture Minister: Elias Skaff

Health Minister: Mohammad Khalifa

Energy and Water Minister: Alain Tobourian

Labor Minister: Mohammad Fneish

Minister for Social Affairs: Mario Aoun

Tourism Minister: Elie Maruni

الأردن يطلق مشروعا لنقل المياه بقيمة مليار دولار

2008-08-04T00:00:00Z

أطلق الأردن الأحد مشروعا بتكلفة 990 مليون دولار لنقل مائة مليون متر مكعب من المياه سنويا عبر أنابيب من حوض قديم بمنطقة الديسي قرب الحدود السعودية إلى العاصمة الأردنية عمان.

ومن المقرر انتهاء المشروع سنة 2012، وسينفذه تحالف شركات عالمي تقوده شركة غاما إنرجي التركية بنظام البناء والتشغيل وتحويل الملكية (بي.أو.تي).

وسيدير تحالف الشركات المشروع لمدة 25 عاما قبل أن تؤول ملكيته للأردن طبقا لاتفاقية موقعة في سبتمبر/أيلول العام الماضي.

ويتضمن المشروع استخدام 250 ألف طن حديد وحفر 55 بئرا لضخ المياه إلى عمان من حوض الديسي الذي يبعد عنها 325 كلم.

ويشدد المسؤولون الأردنيون على أن الحل الجذري لمشكلة المياه في الأردن هو مشروع قناة البحرين لجر المياه من البحر الأحمر إلى البحر الميت الذي تتبخر مياهه ببطء، وبناء مصنع لتحلية المياه.

ويشهد الطلب على المياه ارتفاعا متواصلا في الأردن الذي تدفق إليه نحو 750 ألف لاجئ عراقي منذ اجتياح العراق سنة 2003.

ويبلغ استهلاك الفرد 160 لترا يوميا، ويحتاج الأردن -الذي تغطي الصحارى 92% من أراضيه- تسعمائة مليون متر مكعب من المياه، ويتوقع ارتفاع هذه الاحتياجات إلى ألف وستمائة مليون متر مكعب سنة 2015.

ويبلغ عدد سكان الأردن نحو ستة ملايين نسمة مع زيادة سكانية سنوية بمعدل 3.5%، ويصنف ضمن عشرة أفقر دول بالمياه، إذ يعتمد على الأمطار لسد حاجاته.

2008-08-07T00:00:00Z

Invitation for comments on the proposed Environment Watch strategy

2008-08-08T00:00:00Z

The secretariat of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has the honour to refer to the letter from Mr. Achim Steiner, Executive Director, dated 16 October 2007, inviting Governments to provide comments on the proposed Environment Watch strategy, in keeping with Governing Council decision 24/1 III (Strengthening the scientific base of the United Nations Environment Programme), paragraph 7, of 9 February 2007.

Governments wishing to provide comments in this regard are requested to do so as soon as possible, but not later than 15 August 2008, in the manner indicated in the letter of the Executive Director. A copy of the letter and the relevant document are attached.

Please disregard this note if your Government has already provided comments.

Agence Française de Développement supports the implementation of the “Horizon 2020” initiative to depollute the Mediterranean

2008-08-12T00:00:00Z

The Paris Summit for the Mediterranean ended today with Heads of State calling for new momentum for the implementation of the "Horizon 2020" initiative. The French President announced that France will, via Agence Française de Développement, devote 730 million euros to the initiative to finance the implementation of depollution programs and projects in the Mediterranean.

The projects will support the implementation of coherent national and regional policies to tackle the causes of this pollution and ensure the sustainable success of the "Horizon 2020" initiative.

AFD will consequently be working in close partnership with its European partners, notably the European Commission, the European Investment Bank and Germany's KfW.

Agence Française de Développement has allocated 230 million euros to finance depollution projects in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt since the "Horizon 2020" initiative was launched in 2006. Over the coming years AFD will devote over 500 million euros to finance depollution programs and projects in the Mediterranean identified by partner countries with the support of the European Investment Bank. These projects aim to give populations access to sanitation services, depollute sites and mitigate pollutant emissions.
The "Horizon 2020" initiative was launched in 2006 to mark the tenth anniversary of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (Barcelona Process). It aims to protect the Mediterranean against pollution by 2020. The European Investment Bank puts the cost of the initiative at 2 billion euros.

2008-08-12T00:00:00Z

XENOWAC 2009: Deadline extension for abstracts submission: 31 August 2008

2008-08-12T00:00:00Z

The International Conference ‘Xenobiotics in the Urban Water Cycle - XENOWAC 2009', will be held in Cyprus in March 11-13, 2009.

Deadline extension for abstracts submission: 31 August 2008.

The main objective of the conference is to inspire scientific discussions of high quality and societal relevance, among a truly dynamic and diverse audience including a number of well respected and prominent experts, young researchers and the problem owners (end-users) in the specific fields of urban water and xenobiotics. The conference will provide an international forum for exchanging state-of-the-art information, and for knowledge sharing and networking, with a focus on xenobiotics. Relevant research areas include the determination of sources and fluxes of xenobiotics in the water cycle, advances in chemical analysis, risk assessment methods (toxicity, estrogenicity etc.), and the use and efficiency of treatment trains for removal of xenobiotics of concern.

LIFE+ workshops for potential applicants

2008-08-12T00:00:00Z

To coincide with this call, the European Commission is organising LIFE+ information workshops in each Member State. The aim of the workshops is to inform potential applicants about the LIFE+ programme and the requirements for submitting a proposal.

2008-08-12T00:00:00Z

World Water Week to focus on Water and Climate

2008-08-12T00:00:00Z

CPWC is coordinating two Water & Climate Days during this year's World Water Week in Stockholm, together with over 40 international organizations. The IPCC Technical Paper on Water and Climate will be presented, and its meaning for water managers discussed. Includes a High Level Debate in preparation for the World Water Forum in March 2009.

Go to the World Water Week websiteThe 2008 World Water Week in Stockholm (17-23 August 2008, Sweden) will be held in the Stockholm International Fairs and Congress Center. The World Water Week in Stockholm promotes the exchange of views and experiences between the scientiﬁc, business, policy and civil society communities, thereby advancing the water, environment, health, livelihood and poverty reduction agendas. As an annual platform, and in every respect, the World Water Week highlights concrete work that matters for the poor, for the environment and for our shared future.

Together with SIWI and BMU, CPWC coordinates two Water and Climate Days, 20 and 21 August 2008. Participating organizations include SIWI, BMU, BMZ, IPCC, WMO, World Bank, IUCN, World Water Council, IGRAC and WWF.

Thames Water Investment for Future

2008-08-13T00:00:00Z

Thames Water has today published proposals for its GBP6.5 billion investment programme while still keeping customers' bills below the industry average for the next five years. The plan, which has been submitted to the independent water regulator Ofwat for examination, outlines the essential services the company intends to provide, and investment necessary, for the next five-year period from 2010-2015. It has been drawn up after Thames Water's most comprehensive public consultation and reflects customers' concerns and priorities.

Programme Coordinator, Africa and the Middle East, Transparency and Integrity in Delivering Basic Water Services, Germany, Transparency International

2008-08-14T00:00:00Z

Transparency International is seeking a highly motivated professional for the position of Programme Coordinator, Africa and the Middle East, Transparency and Integrity in Delivering Basic Water Services (full-time position).

Duty station: Berlin, Germany

Main function:

Coordinate implementation of national chapter work on corruption in the water sector in sub-Saharan Africa under the "Transparency in Service Delivery in Africa" (TISDA) programme and across the region (60% of time)
Responsibility for other country and regional work including overall capacity building support to TI national chapters, advocacy, analysis and fundraising (40% of time)
Requirements include:

University degree in relevant field (international relations / development, African studies, water management, social sciences, public policy)
Minimum of 5 years relevant work experience, including at least three years spent working in or on the region; previous experience of working within or on the water sector as well as experience in survey work a distinct advantage
Fluency in English (written and spoken) with equal fluency in French a distinct advantage
Contact duration: November 2008 - 15 July 2011

Application deadline: 31 August 2008.