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Preserving Our Natural Environment

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Pillar Objectives

Significant wealth can be gained from our natural environment if it is used responsibly and sustainably. However, Libya’s environmental endowment is being degraded by rapid population growth and economic activity. Increased demand for power, rising numbers of automobiles, and industrial development have had a significant impact on air quality, particularly in our coastal cities. Stricter enforcement of air quality regulations and adoption of pollution-free, efficient renewable energy technologies are needed to reduce the environmental impacts of growth. Industries and agriculture also contribute to water pollution through the release of untreated effluent and contamination of surface and underground water systems with agro-chemicals. Poor sanitation is also a source of pollution. Run-off water from urban areas eventually finds its way to the sea. Municipalities will need significant resources for sewage network infrastructure construction and maintenance and construction of treatment plants to more effectively deal with urban and industrial wastewater.

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Transformation Projects for Preserving Our Natural Environment

Transformation Project Profile

Rising energy production and consumption in Libya has generated increased levels of greenhouse gas emissions and local pollutants. Local pollutants mix with high dust levels contributing to high incidences of asthma and respiratory illness. Carbon dioxide emissions from energy production produce greenhouse gases and contribute to global climate change.


Transformation Project Objective

  • Develop a national policy for air quality control to manage air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions along with penalty systems to ensure compliance
  • Establish an air quality monitoring network to generate real-time readings
  • Establish a national reporting mechanism to track harmful emissions
  • Reduce emissions from oil and gas flaring with waste heat recovery, carbon capture, and sequestration technologies

Transformation Project Profile

National development and growth in prosperity must be aligned with the realities of environmental constraints. Libya is currently experiencing a high rate of desertification, increasing water scarcity, declining air quality, contamination, and salinization. A national awareness campaign will increase citizen awareness of environmental issues and promote cooperation for the environmental initiative.


Transformation Project Objective

  • Publicize government efforts to conserve water, manage waste and discharge, improve air quality, and protect biodiversity
  • Anchor awareness campaigns in the concepts of intergenerational justice and the rights of future generations
  • Identify demonstration projects that reflect good practice
  • Integrate environmental education into the national curricula

Transformation Project Profile

Vehicle emissions are a leading cause of air pollution in urban environments and have been linked to increased rates of cancer, heart disease, and respiratory problems. Implementing emissions standards can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, introducing minimum fuel efficiency standards will reduce fuel costs for vehicle owners and operators and conserve Libya’s oil reserves.


Transformation Project Objective

  • Reduce air pollution and related chronic diseases
  • Reduce domestic fuel consumption and government spending on fuel subsidies while increasing export levels

Transformation Project Profile

Economic growth and low priced fuel have resulted in a rapid increase in vehicle ownership. High rates of vehicle ownership and poor driving habits contribute to traffic congestion which is a leading cause of fatalities amongst Libyan youth and negatively impacts socio-economic development. Expanding public transport use and congestion-reduction strategies can lower accident fatalities, improve quality of life, and reduce air pollution.


Transformation Project Objective

  • Develop a comprehensive transportation strategy for urban areas
  • Implement bus-only lanes to offer faster transit service at a low cost
  • Restrict peak-hour curbside parking on congested streets and dedicate the added capacity to bus-only lanes

Transformation Project Profile

Libya is a water scarce nation, and conservation is essential for our future. Libya’s water storage and supply networks are aging and in disrepair. Research, analysis, and monitoring needs to be undertaken to minimize waste. Preventative maintenance is also not currently being performed, and illegal well connections are prevalent. A thorough assessment of current infrastructure and water flow monitoring is required to inform intervention options.


Transformation Project Objective

  • Update water laws to establish quality requirements, discharge controls, and incentives for conservation
  • Conduct in-depth leakage studies to improve the reliability of water transport systems and reduce lost revenues due to inefficient transport and storage
  • Reduce leakage rates, which are as high as 50%, associated with a structural, pipe, and other equipment failures

Transformation Project Profile

A growing population, high levels of domestic consumption, and agricultural and industrial growth has resulted in severe depletion of water resources. Improving water use efficiency can be achieved through phasing in tariffs, the reevaluation of water subsidies, and increasing public awareness.


Transformation Project Objective

  • Build accountability for agricultural, industrial, residential, and commercial water use through metering and controlled access to reservoirs and pumping stations
  • Encourage water conservation and the adoption of sustainable practices.
  • Implement more focused targeting of subsidies to vulnerable populations

Transformation Project Profile

Libya has great potential to utilize solar and wind energy. The strategy to diversify energy sources, which encourages the exploitation of solar and wind energy, as well as improvements to the current grid, are among the solutions proposed to meet the increase in consumption, and to prevent the blackout experienced by Libyans at the present time. In parallel, measures and a package of public policies and laws should be taken, and the conclusion of long-term contracts, concerned with promoting public and private energy production through renewable energy sources.


Transformation Project Objective

  • Improve energy rationalization and encourage rationalization of consumption
  • Accelerating investment in renewable energy technologies by engaging the private sector
  • Reducing harmful emissions to air from fossil fuel combustion

Transformation Project Profile

Significant levels of fossil fuels are used for pumping and transporting water from water basins to major urban centers and in powering desalination plants. Increasing the use of renewable energy in desalination, pumping water from the groundwater system, and transporting supplies will meet water demand while reducing negative environmental and economic impacts from the use of fossil fuels in the current water supply and transport system.


Transformation Project Objective

  • Develop a sustainable strategy for water production and transport that reduces the usage of non-renewable resources
  • Support the viability of Libya’s renewable energy sector

Transformation Project Profile

The production and processing of petroleum is the main source of air pollution. Libya has five domestic refineries which are in excess of 20 years old and have not been retrofitted with pollution control technologies. Oil production and processing facilities lack monitoring equipment to measure emissions and are not bound by emissions standards. Process efficiency and pollution control standards must be implemented for all energy intensive industrial projects to minimize environmental impacts.


Transformation Project Objective

  • Expand the industrial sector while mandating the use of international best practices to maximize process efficiency and reduce harmful waste
  • Reduce industrial consumption of domestic fuel to increase energy export capacity
  • Increase industry awareness through mandatory emissions monitoring and reporting