A survey on the environmental trends in the Arab countries

The majority of the respondents (60%) to a survey on the environmental trends in the Arab countries find that the state of the environment in their countries is getting worse:
A survey on environmental trends in Arab countries was organized by Al-Bia Wal-Tanmia (Environment & Development) magazine, in cooperation with the Regional Office for West Asia of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP/ROWA) and the Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment (CAMRE). The survey was conducted between November 2005 and March 2006, on voluntary basis and without interviewers. The questionnaire was distributed through weekly magazines and daily newspapers from the Arabic world. Replies were received from 18 Arab countries including Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestinian Authority,  Syria and Tunisia.
The four main causes of environmental deterioration indicated by the respondents were:
• non-adherence to legislation,
• inadequate awareness programmes,
• bad environmental management and
• weak environment protection agencies.
In some countries, the majority of respondents indicated also insufficient public expenditure on the environment.
Considering the level of urgency of environmental problems, air pollution scored the highest, as 80% of the total considered it a major problem. Hazardous waste scored second, health hazards from pesticides and fertilizers third, followed by weak environmental awareness and solid waste. Fresh water resources, industrial and coastal pollution also scored as high priorities. The more the problem is directly related to health, the more the public seems to be sensitive to it. However it was remarkable to note that 71% indicated weak awareness of environmental problems as a top priority.