Environment and nature

New environment minister has ambitious plans for Israel

New Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg has announced some lofty goals, including raising the target for renewable energy to 40% by 2030.

Danny Zaken | Israel | Jun 22, 2021

Incoming Israeli Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg arrives for a photo at the president's residence during a ceremony for the new coalition government in Jerusalem, on June 14, 2021.

Ancient fossilized fish found in Egypt that survived in hot waters

Fossilized fish dating back 56 million years have been discovered in Egypt’s Eastern Desert, shedding light on a time period when Earth was experiencing massive warming.

Alaa Omran | Culture | Jun 16, 2021

Remains of an early whale from 40-million years ago lies on the desert pavement of Wadi El-Hutan, 100 kilometers south of Cairo. About 400 skeletons of ancient water life: mammals, reptiles have been identified in what used to be an ancient shoreline.

Massive Turkey-led logging in Iraqi Kurdistan causes outcry

Extensive logging led by Turkey in Iraqi Kurdistan has set off an outcry, fueling the already strong anger toward the Turkish military presence in northern Iraq.

Fehim Tastekin | Turkey | Jun 11, 2021

UN urges Houthis to permit inspection of aging oil tanker

The Houthis, who control access to the FSO Safer, have prevented the UN from sending a technical team to assess the risk of a potential massive oil spill.

Al-Monitor Staff | Yemen | Jun 4, 2021

Environmentalists call Eilat oil shipping disaster waiting to happen

Environmental groups claim that the new project to transport Gulf oil via Eilat to Europe is likely to damage the local unique coral reef.

Danny Zaken | Israel | May 20, 2021

Access to Asi River turned into left-right battleground in Israel

A tweet by Yair Netanyahu turned a battle over accessing the Asi River into a political war between right and left, Ashkenazi and Mizrahi.

Mazal Mualem | Israel | Sep 8, 2020

Flooding in Turkey kills at least eight in bitter reminder of climate chaos

The government has pledged to rebuild areas hard hit by a weekend flood, but activists warn the construction of roads, dams and buildings in flood zones means more disasters are likely to follow.

Ayla Jean Yackley | Turkey | Aug 24, 2020

Israel-Hamas escalation halts sewage treatment, generates ecological crisis

Gaza incendiary balloons made Israel stop fuel import into the Gaza Strip, causing in turn for Gaza sewage plants to cease operating.

Rina Bassist | Palestine | Aug 24, 2020

A photo taken on June 24, 2019 shows raw sewage flowing near the main Gaza Strip power plant, serving the Hamas-run Palestinian territory, south of Gaza City. - Finance officials were flying into Bahrain today for a US-led peace conference that holds out billions of dollars for the Palestinians, whose leaders pronounced the idea dead on arrival. (Photo by MOHAMMED ABED / AFP) (Photo credit should read MOHAMMED ABED/AFP via Getty Images)

Yemen’s Red Sea 'time bomb’ is a Beirut-like disaster in waiting

An abandoned oil tanker is a looming catastrophe off the coast of Yemen’s most vital port, threatening the livelihoods and health of vast numbers of people.

Elizabeth Hagedorn | Yemen | Aug 12, 2020

Air quality a concern in Beirut following explosion

The American University of Beirut said air quality has returned to normal following the explosion of ammonium nitrate on Tuesday that killed around 150 and injured thousands.

Al-Monitor Staff | Lebanon | Aug 6, 2020

Why Israeli Bedouins reject tree planting in their villages

Plans to plant trees near Bedouin villages are opposed by local residents and environmental groups.

Rina Bassist | Israel | Jul 23, 2020

Can Erdogan push for his 'crazy project' amid economic crisis?

The Turkish government's decision to rezone some agricultural lands in the vicinity of the area where the Canal Istanbul is to be built has rekindled controversy surrounding the project.

Mustafa Sonmez | Turkey | Jul 21, 2020

A real estate advertising offers apartments with the view on the canal, in the small coastal village of Karaburun, near Istanbul, on June 12, 2018. - Karaburun's residents are waiting if a controversial new canal that will be built for Istanbul will change the region for the good. The ambitious Canal Istanbul project, first announced by Turkish current President in 2011 when he was prime minister, would begin in the Istanbul district of Kucukcekmece and then head toward Sazlidere reservoir before emerging i

US troops 'secure' northeast Syria oil, as contamination from it imperils lives

Dilapidated pipelines and oil waste coat polluted rivers and streams in Kurdish-run northeast Syria.

Dan Wilkofsky, Amberin Zaman | Syria | Jun 30, 2020

HOLE, SYRIA - NOVEMBER 09: November 9, 2015 in Hassica, Rojava, Syria. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Iran’s wildfires leave trail of destruction, lingering questions

Wildfires that raged for two weeks turned significant swaths of Iran’s western forests into ash as state bureaucracy dramatically slowed down an efficient response.

An Al-Monitor correspondent | Iran | Jun 16, 2020

Coronavirus outbreak exposes health risks of coal rush

The coronavirus outbreak could serve as a wake-up call for coal-dependent countries, as it proves how closely human lives depend on air quality.

Selin Ugurtas | Turkey | Apr 17, 2020

Environment and nature

New environment minister has ambitious plans for Israel

New Environmental Protection Minister Tamar Zandberg has announced some lofty goals, including raising the target for renewable energy to 40% by 2030.

Ancient fossilized fish found in Egypt that survived in hot waters

Massive Turkey-led logging in Iraqi Kurdistan causes outcry

UN urges Houthis to permit inspection of aging oil tanker

Environmentalists call Eilat oil shipping disaster waiting to happen

Access to Asi River turned into left-right battleground in Israel

Flooding in Turkey kills at least eight in bitter reminder of climate chaos

Israel-Hamas escalation halts sewage treatment, generates ecological crisis

Yemen’s Red Sea 'time bomb’ is a Beirut-like disaster in waiting

Air quality a concern in Beirut following explosion

Why Israeli Bedouins reject tree planting in their villages

Can Erdogan push for his 'crazy project' amid economic crisis?

US troops 'secure' northeast Syria oil, as contamination from it imperils lives

Iran’s wildfires leave trail of destruction, lingering questions

Coronavirus outbreak exposes health risks of coal rush

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