Oil fires, toxic air and water risks: Environmental cost of Iran war expands to region The bombing of oil facilities in Iran and critical water infrastructure in the Gulf threatens the Middle East with long-lasting environmental destruction, as have similar tactics employed in previous conflicts. Iran
Storm Leonardo displaces 140,000 as heavy floods hit northern Morocco Heavy rains from the storm have flooded northern Morocco, prompting mass evacuations and straining emergency services. Morocco
Analysis Iran’s mismanagement in focus as fires ravage 25-million-year-old forests Prolonged wildfires are raging across Iran's northern Hyrcanian forests, highlighting mismanagement, insufficient resources and climate stress, and forcing volunteers and foreign aid to intervene. By A correspondent in Tehran In Tehran, reporting on politics
Syria attends Brazil’s COP30 as most Middle East leaders skip talks Two years after the UAE and Egypt hosted back-to-back climate conferences, global headwinds are threatening climate action as talks begin in Belem amid notable absences. United Arab Emirates
Cigarette surfboard shames Lebanese smokers Environmental activists have built a stand-up-paddle board from used cigarette butts to show the cost of trash to Lebanon’s coast and culture. Lebanon
Turkey becomes new dump for global plastic waste Due to lax regulations, plastic scrap imports to Turkey have skyrocketed since 2018; why is the AKP letting the country turn into a global wastebasket? Turkey
Lebanese mountaineer speaks up for women, children from Everest summit Joyce Azzam became the first Lebanese woman to complete the Seven Summits challenge by climbing Mount Everest, and now she's going back to clean it up and set an example for others. Lebanon
Can a new project keep Sinai orchards in bloom? The history of the orchards in the High Mountains of South Sinai runs deep, but new generations appear increasingly reluctant to continue the tradition. A new initiative to preserve the heritage and tradition of the groves and gardens might help change their minds. Egypt
New urban forest planted to save Beirut's river Local and international civil groups came together in Beirut to create an urban forest as part of a larger project to restore the heavily polluted Beirut River. Lebanon
Who cares about Israel’s polluted air? According to environmental groups, one is more likely to die from pollution in Israel rather than by a rocket, terror attack and road accident combined. Israel
NGO offers Lebanon taste of lionfish in effort to contain invasive species A Lebanese group is promoting the lionfish, a threat to the Mediterranean Sea ecosystem, as a tasty and profitable fishery. Lebanon
Natural history, conservation and politics meet in West Bank museum The Palestine Museum of Natural History and the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability bring Israeli and Palestinians together to preserve knowledge about the ecology, environment and cultivation of Palestine. Palestine
Qatar brings Gaza beaches back to life The Gaza Electricity Distribution Co. completed April 18 a Qatar-funded project designed to ensure uninterrupted power supply to the wastewater treatment plants, which will subsequently stop seawater pollution and revitalize the beaches. Palestine
Wild plant feeds another thorny conflict between Israel, Palestinians Palestinian foragers are resisting an Israeli law that bans the picking of aqub, a delicacy whose harvest has long sustained local women. Palestine
Astronomy spreading among Palestinian youth NOVA for Astronomy and Space Science is helping Palestinian universities establish astronomy clubs, to increase the knowledge in astronomy among students and the public. Palestine
Why Iranian authorities failed to minimize flood damage While the extent of the recent floods in Iran would have been difficult to manage for most countries in the world, the impact of mismanagement on the part of the Iranian authorities has been so extreme that the disaster has been referred to as “man-made.” Iran
