Expert: Technology is a tool to transform environmental challenges into development opportunities
Amman4 min read
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Environmental expert Dr. Fadel Al-Zubi emphasized that Arab Environment Day serves as an opportunity to review efforts made to protect natural resources in light of increasing challenges, most notably water scarcity, rising temperatures, desertification, and pollution, stressing that environmental protection is a shared responsibility linked to human health, food security, and the future of coming generations.
In a statement to "Al-Rai," Al-Zubi said that interest in the environment should not be limited to an annual occasion, but rather transformed into sustainable policies and daily practices that include rationalizing water and energy consumption, reducing waste, and protecting natural resources.
He pointed out that water scarcity and climate change are doubling pressures on the agricultural sector, accelerating land degradation and desertification, and threatening agricultural production and farmers' livelihoods. Challenges also include air, water, and soil pollution, the accumulation of plastic waste, and the loss of biodiversity, amidst population growth, urban expansion, and conflicts.
He explained that the effects of climate change have become tangible through rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, frequent droughts and floods, declining agricultural productivity, and rising production costs and food prices, noting that low-income families and small-scale farmers are among the most affected groups, in addition to coastal countries being exposed to the risks of rising sea levels.
He called for expanding the use of clean energy, developing climate-smart agriculture, increasing water management efficiency, strengthening oversight of industrial emissions, improving public transport, safely treating and reusing wastewater, and applying the "polluter pays" principle.
He pointed out that pollution affects public health and the economy, as air pollution increases the risks of respiratory and heart diseases, while water pollution is linked to the spread of diseases, and soil pollution threatens crop safety, in addition to the damage caused by waste to ecosystems and tourist areas.
He emphasized the importance of protecting biodiversity and natural habitats, restoring degraded lands, and preventing overfishing, due to their role in maintaining soil fertility, natural pollination, sustainable agricultural production, and food security.
He stressed that governments are responsible for legislation, policies, and investment in environmental infrastructure, while citizens' responsibility includes rationalizing water and electricity consumption, reducing food and plastic waste, and sorting waste where appropriate services are available. He emphasized the necessity of providing effective laws, services, and incentives to change behavior, and not placing the responsibility for environmental problems solely on individuals.
He pointed to the importance of the role of schools and universities in spreading environmental culture among youth, integrating climate, water, and biodiversity issues into curricula, and supporting research and innovative solutions in the fields of energy, sustainable agriculture, and water desalination.
He indicated that satellite technologies, remote sensing, and artificial intelligence contribute to predicting drought, improving irrigation, and monitoring crops, while smart meters and leak detection systems help reduce water loss. Solar energy, recycling, and the circular economy can also reduce emissions and waste and create jobs, provided that technology is available at affordable costs and scientific research and startups are supported.
He emphasized that achieving sustainable development requires integrated policies that link water, energy, food, and the environment, improving the efficiency of water networks and wastewater treatment, protecting agricultural land, and directing funding to projects with clear environmental and social impacts, while establishing measurable indicators and mechanisms for monitoring and accountability.
Al-Zubi concluded by emphasizing that environmental protection is a common Arab issue that requires regional cooperation, and demanding that industrialized countries reduce emissions, provide climate finance, and transfer technology, stressing that successful environmental policies are those that preserve resources, provide job opportunities, and improve citizens' lives, calling for turning Arab Environment Day into a starting point for continuous action that translates commitments into funded programs and tangible results, to preserve the right of future generations to a safe environment and a decent life.
