Nov 9 2010
On Monday, 8 November, 2010, leaders and experts from the building and construction industry will gather in Ramallah for a one-day conference to raise awareness about green building practices in Palestine. The conference is being organized by humanitarian aid organization CHF International (CHF) with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Despite the Middle East region being one of the lowest producers of climate change-linked gases and pollution, the region is set to be one of the most at-risk areas as the impact on the environment and natural resources are felt. Without major changes, the degradation of the environment will threaten the supply of natural resources and affect every community, especially those who are poor and depend on local resources to survive. The consequent economic effects could be disastrous for an area already subject to multiple political strains and conflicts.
To mitigate the effects of diminishing natural resources such as water and natural gas utilized by a growing human population, CHF is working to bring together leaders, world renowned architects, local government officials and humanitarian aid workers for a one day intensive conference on the topic of constructing green buildings that are less taxing on the environment and available resources.
“Every day in Palestine we address economic and social conditions, physical restrictions and political difficulties that challenge both the present and the future,” noted Lana Abu-Hijleh, CHF International Country Director for the West Bank and Gaza. “In my twenty years of working on humanitarian and development issues in the West Bank and Gaza, these difficulties have been discussed many times and are well known around the world. But another challenge that we must face, far less frequently discussed in the context of Palestine, is climate change. All of the other issues will be affected and exacerbated by the effects of environmental degradation, if it goes unaddressed.”
The aim of the conference is to exchange information, case studies and ideas among these key stakeholders from international and Palestinian private industry, development organizations, universities and thought leaders from around the region, and to spur innovations in the construction industry. From simple solutions such as better use of insulation to the latest technology in solar energy, the conference will explore appropriate solutions for Palestine that are applicable to construction projects by development agencies and the private sector.
“We at USAID believe that without environmentally friendly policies and construction technologies, the rapid urbanization in the West Bank and Gaza could be detrimental to the country’s environment and local resources. In addition to showing the environmental benefits and social motivations of going green, we hope to showcase how eco-construction has a positive impact on local economies and human health,” noted Michael Harvey, USAID Mission Director for the West Bank and Gaza.
The conference will be held on Monday, 8 November, 2010 at the Leaders Conference Facility, PRICO House, Al Masyoun, Ramallah, West Bank.
Source: http://www.chfinternational.org/