Environmental groups emerged in Europe in the 1960s. They were transformed into active political parties, as the environment became an international political and economic issue. Western countries have since been evaluating their policies based on environmental concerns.
The Arab world is still far from adopting that trend of thinking. And despite many new ministries, authorities, conferences and exhibitions, the results are far below expectations. Arab cities are still suffering from environmental negligence. Cairo, which is already blighted by pollution, has been hit by another environment disaster — the so-called “Black Cloud” or dark fog resulting from the irresponsible practice of burning rice chaff.
Damascus is also suffering from pollution as a result of the huge number of cars moving through its streets and the growing number of migrants from other Syrian cities. Jeddah does not have an extensive drainage network. Sudan and Lebanon have seen public debates on reports of the burying of poisonous wastes in their lands.
It is also clear that the beautiful Lebanese mountains have been irreparably harmed by the use of sweepers. Arab beaches have had their share of pollution too. They have become a permanent destination for industrial and chemical wastes, leading to the deterioration in coral and marine life. And, as result, several new serious diseases have been reported.
Arab governments have, so far, failed to adopt serious protection policies to regulate the use of the environment and deal with industrial wastes. A recent study estimated that Arab governments lose $5 billion annually because they don’t have recycling systems.
The study also reported that the Arab world produces 89.6 billion tons of waste annually. This is enough to produce 14.3 million tons of paper valued at $2.145 billion in addition to $135 million worth of iron. The same amount could be recycled to produce 75,000 tons of plastic valued at $1.4 billion and 202 million tons of cloth worth $110 million. Also $1.225 billion worth of natural fertilizers could be generated from the same amount of waste.
The study pointed out that the loss involved not just the potential revenues that could be generated from recycling, but also included the cost of burying the wastes. Arab countries spend $2.5 billion annually to ward off the polluting effects of these wastes. According to the study, Arab investments in recycling projects are very modest and don’t exceed $200 million. Most of these projects represent individual attempts based on limited resources. Comprehensive and effective projects are required to recycle the waste and make use of the paper, glass, fertilizers and plastic that could be used as raw materials in many industries.
Waste recycling has become a key industry worldwide. It accounts for 28 percent of industrial investment in the United States, 23 percent in Britain and 35 percent in Germany. The private sector has, in some Arab states, now introduced initiatives to create environmental awareness and offer practical solutions to existing problems.
In Saudi Arabia, the Jeddah Holding Company introduced a carefully scrutinized solution to the drainage problem. Lebanon has new projects to recycle wastes and the Alexandria governorate has invited private sector firms to apply for a tender to collect and recycle wastes.
But this trend should receive more support from the state. It should be directed at industries that depend on recycling as a key element in their production processes. Support could be in the form of specific amounts paid by the state to investors for each ton of industrial produce generated through recycling. Examples of these products include fertilizers, paper and aluminum chips. This system is applied in the United States and Germany, where factories are paid $100 and $80 respectively for each ton of recycled products.
Our ambition goes beyond that. We want an integrated environmental policy that involves all official departments in its implementation. All these departments are now paying high bills that can be reduced if we form a sophisticated environmental cycle. ‘Good’ development is not contradictory to protecting the environment.
The ultimate goal is to ensure a new lifestyle for everyone and strike a balance between existing natural resources and basic services like the availability of clean water, drainage network, electricity and modern means of transportation. We also need to create opportunities for economic growth that help improve environmental conditions. Economic stability is a precondition to achieving environmental balance. Self-confident societies that enjoy adequacy are those that can take care of the environment and plan for the future.
A state of environmental emergency needs to be declared to put an immediate end to all acts of environmental sabotage and to draw up clear policies and an action plan that works with a timetable. Environmental plans should not be annexed to development programs but be included as integral parts. It is high time to move from reiterating rhetoric on special occasions to specifying definite targets.
It is important that we conserve the environment. Our failure to do so is ruining our present and the future of our children. And given that we have lost many opportunities to give them at brighter future, shouldn’t we be serious about the environment today as a way of paying them back?