Read more: Lebanon: Environmental leaders corporations
Air pollution has spiked 150% within the regions influenced by the Beirut harbour blast due to the coming about clean, annihilation and rubble evacuation work. The explosion of Beirut that took place on August 4 murdered 200 individuals, injured 6,000 others and caused damages and harm to private buildings and commercial foundations.According to UN report, The destruction of the Port of Beirut has created up to 800,000 tonnes of construction and demolition waste in the city. The cost of cleaning up the environmental degradation resulting from the explosion has been estimated by UNDP at over $100 million, which comes on top of the country’s existing environmental cleanup costs, estimated at $2.35 billion by UNDP in 2018.
Air pollution in Lebanon causes more deaths each year than coronavirus pandemic. Everyone is aware of the country’s economic and health crisis but no one is taking action on the environmental issues which have become the lowest priority for officials and lawmakers. According to a report issued by Greenpeace in the summer of 2020, the average number of premature deaths caused by air pollution in Lebanon in 2018 was 2,700, an average of 4 deaths per 10,000 people and one of the death rates highest in the region. . The Litani River, 170 kilometers long, has been heavily polluted and has lost its role as an important vital artery in the country. It used to be the dependence of the country to provide clean water and guarantee safe electric power.
During the summer and fall of 2020, wildfires in Lebanon caused the loss of approximately 7,000 hectares of green and agricultural land in the country. Lebanese beaches full of pollution, as sewage has been dumped into the sea for many years.There are 941 random dump sites throughout Lebanon, and dozens of them are burned outdoors at least once a week.
Litani River pollution is affecting the health of the citizens of neighboring areas that make up about 20% of the country. According to studies there are thousands of cancer cases in towns around the river and 600 cases in one city, and 20% of the crops in the Bekaa region (eastern and central Lebanon) are still irrigated from contaminated Ritani water, not suitable for human consumption. River pollution has also resulted in serious economic losses, including the collapse of fish wealth and the loss of livelihoods for dozens of families that followed. Random Dump Site Lebanon has been suffering from a waste crisis since 2015. Experts believe that waste disposal methods do not take into account environmental conditions and the risk of health damage.
We need a green revolution.
Lebanon’s pollution problem has been exacerbated by the neglect of authorities. The continued pollution of the LiTani River, the longest river in the country, and the sharp rise in air pollution rates foretell environmental disasters that can put a huge burden on countries already shaken by economic and political crises. According to people and experts, pollution in Lebanon is increasing rapidly and effecting the health and financial services of the population, whereas the authorities have not taken steps to prevent environmental destruction.
We have to prepare our water systems, our infrastructure, our buildings, our food systems, even our national security systems. We have to prepare them for the changes that are coming in the next years. Lebanese politicians won’t take real actions against climate change until they discover how to rob the climate. They’re more dangerous than climate crisis & the main reason of this issue.He who steals our future it is not difficult for him to plunder our nature.We as Lebanese, should be talking about climate & sustainability like we use to talk about our political corruptions for more than 30 years. Non-Stop.In both issues Talking won’t work without actions.Wise-small actions can make a difference.Rather than searching for new fuels suppliers. Natural resources – Solar, wind – energy should be a priority in our schedule. Lebanon is under the control of the cartels & this is considered literally a crime against humanity and natural life.
Environmental 