by ari00 | Apr 28, 2025 | Dashboard, Visualization
Lebanon used to have an extensive railway system that spans out major urban centers and other towns in the country however this railway system has been idle since the 1990s, with tracks left to deteriorate.
While it is true that exaggeration is somewhat of a national trait, when it comes to congestion, specially getting in, out, or driving inside Beirut, I believe that NO statement can describe the sense of despair evoked when inching forward in bumper to bumper traffic, breathing in exhaust fumes, and listening to the relentless sound of honking horns. The World Bank estimates that urban congestions costs Lebanon 5% of its GDP.
Today, reliable public transport is lacking, leaving most people with no choice but to use private vehicles. The current fleet includes private cars, a few government-subsidized public buses in the Greater Beirut Area (GBA), privately operated buses, individual minibus services (vans), taxis, and shared taxis known as “service”.
Because Lebanon does not have a reliable public transport system, people have little choice but to use their cars. Buses are the least used mode of public transport, highlighting and unreliability of the existing public transport system. This is further emphasized when taking a look into the availability of bus stops in Lebanon.
Remember the feeling I described earlier about the despair of inching forward through Beirut’s endless traffic jams, surrounded by exhaust fumes and honking horns ?
If you take a look at look at the numbers, this is no longer a perception but a reality. The numbers confirm that the congestion problem in the Greater Beirut Area (GBA) is real.
The World Bank estimates that 650,000 vehicles enter the GBA on a daily basis, not counting the vehicles already in Beirut.
Beyond the congestion crisis, the environmental impact is alarming.
Lebanon has the highest transport-related CO₂ emissions per capita in the Levant, making the environmental consequences of the current transportation system even more critical.
At first glance, the solution could be as simple as building roads.
However in Lebanon’s case, developing more roads is not a viable option because of Lebanon’s urban density and its terrain, with the mountains to one side, the sea to another, and a narrow coastal strip in-between. Any road development project would need to either expropriate land or construct tunnels in mountains or highways over the sea, all of which are costly options.
It becomes clear that Lebanon must shift its focus towards improving public transportation rather than expanding road infrastructure.
The proposed solution is a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which offers a more reliable and accessible alternative to the current public transport options. By investing in a BRT system, the government can rebuild the public’s trust, reduce congestion and therefore reduce the countries transport related CO2 emissions.
After the socio-economic crisis of 2019, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport faced one of the highest budget cuts of any ministry in 2020.
Because of this budget cut, initiatives to improve road infrastructure in 2023 are overwhelmingly non-existent.
An upside to having the BRT system despite the budget cut, is that the BRT requires minimal funding because the total cost of the BRT is $295 million , from which $225 million of which are coming in the form of a soft loan from the World Bank, with the remaining $70 million being a grant, therefore the budget cuts do not come into the way of the BRT plan.
Reality Check : Lebanese People Love their Cars
It is important to keep in mind that a critical design element involves reallocating existing road lanes from private vehicles to the BRT, which may face public resistance, particularly from car-dependent commuters. However, this trade-off is essential to ensure the efficiency and speed of the system, given the current infrastructure. However , strategic public communication and phased implementation can help mitigate this resistance and build public support. In addition, majority of current bus and minivan operators will be hired to drive the feeder buses while others may tweak their business model and choose to operate in the areas the BRT plan does not cover or transport passengers to and from the BRT stations.
When asked, nearly half of private car owners and more than half of public transport users in Lebanon expressed their willingness to switch to a BRT system.
The potential for a significant shift in commuting behavior is clear. In Lebanon, where the environmental impact is a major concern, switching to a BRT system can be a game changer.
The environmental benefits of the BRT system are even more compelling.
When comparing the BRT to traditional public transport, it’s clear that the BRT system is far more sustainable. With its dedicated lanes, the BRT operates more efficiently, reducing both fuel consumption and emissions. Even when operating in off-peak conditions, BRT proves to be more energy-efficient than conventional buses due to its higher average speeds and fewer stops.
Case studies from Bogota , Istanbul , and Jakarta show the clear benefits of a well-executed BRT system.
In Lebanon, a valuable opportunity is being presented as there is public optimism following the most recent elections. With detailed BRT plans already proposed by the World Bank, now is the time for the Lebanese government to act. Parliamentary approval of the BRT system would mark a crucial step toward transforming the country’s transport system.
by fat00 | Apr 27, 2025 | Dashboard, Visualization
“Would you rather cry in a Toyota or a Bentley?”
This popular saying suggests that wealth automatically brings happiness. But when we look globally, the story is far more complex.
Despite decades of economic development efforts, money alone explains only about 20% of the variation in happiness across countries (World Happiness Report, 2024). Several social, political, and health-related factors strongly shape whether people truly feel fulfilled.
Despite intense focus on economic development, money is only part of the happiness equation.
Several social, political, and health-related factors shape whether people truly feel fulfilled.
The Problem…
Despite global economic growth, more than 30% of the world’s population still reports low happiness scores.
For instance, according to the World Happiness Report 2024:
- Afghanistan continues to rank as the least happy country in the world, grappling with political turmoil and humanitarian crises that severely impact daily life and well-being.
- Zimbabwe and Rwanda, while showing some signs of economic recovery, still face deep-rooted challenges keeping happiness scores stubbornly low.
- Strikingly, the majority of the world’s least happy countries are located in Africa — including Burundi, Malawi, Lesotho, Botswana, and Rwanda.
Problem Evidence: What the Data Showed
Our global visualisations revealed striking patterns:
- Northern Europe dominates the top happiness rankings (Finland, Denmark, Iceland).
- Sub-Saharan Africa and parts of Latin America consistently reported the lowest happiness scores.
However, some surprising insights emerged:
- Surprisingly Happy:
- Bangladesh — Despite average monthly salaries being below $250 USD, Bangladesh ranked mid-tier in happiness, supported by strong family networks, sustainable living, and gradual democratic reforms.
- Uzbekistan — Similarly, Uzbekistan outperformed wealthier nations in life satisfaction due to tight-knit communities and recent political reforms.
- Surprisingly Unhappy:
- China and Venezuela — countries with relatively strong cultural identities or past economic power now ranking among the unhappiest, driven by political instability and erosion of basic freedoms.
Our scatterplots and choropleth maps confirmed:
Wealth alone is not a reliable predictor of happiness.
Potential Solution: What Drives True Happiness?
By drawing on the impact of key predictors in the world health report such as corruption, freedom, health and social support on the happiness score in the graph below along with the World Happiness Report, 2 key pillars stand out:
- Healthy Life Expectancy: Countries with higher life expectancy showed, on average, happiness scores 20–30% higher than countries with life expectancy below 60 years.
- Social Support: Individuals who reported having “someone to rely on in times of trouble” scored up to 2 points higher on happiness scales.
To foster national happiness, countries should therefore:
Prioritise healthy living:
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Focus on preventive healthcare and wellness initiatives.
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Not just extend life, but ensure those years are lived meaningfully.
Integrate mental health into national strategies:
Expand social safety nets:
Strengthen community support systems:
For instance, countries like Finland, Denmark, and Iceland (happiness scores >7.5) consistently showcase:
- Strong democratic institutions
- Robust social support networks
- Exceptional healthcare systems
- High levels of personal freedom and trust
In our global charts, these elements had far stronger relationships with happiness than income did.
Moreover, to truly thrive in the 21st century, policymakers, global leaders, and development agencies must redefine progress beyond economic indicators like GDP.
National strategies should invest directly in the pillars that matter most to human flourishing:
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Strengthen social support systems: Create environments where individuals feel supported by their communities and governments.
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Prioritise health: Invest not just in lifespan, but in healthy, meaningful lives.
A happier world is not just a dream — it is a measurable, actionable goal.
By focusing on what truly drives well-being, we can move toward nations that are not only richer but also more compassionate, resilient, and fulfilled.
by mma02 | Apr 27, 2025 | Dashboard, Visualization
According to the world bank, 100% of Lebanon’s people have access to electricity (World Bank, 2023). What does “access” really mean — do a few hours of power for the poor count as accessible?
Lebanese people, especially those in Beirut, have long relied on diesel generators to fill gaps in Électricité du Liban’s supply; after 2019’s hyperinflation, private subscription-based generators ran as the primary source of electricity for roughly 20 hours a day. Operated by only a few with the capital to invest, these generators became the only source of power for the many. Today, this illegal yet indispensable industry is our shadow grid—households depend on it not by choice but because decades of under-investment and mismanagement at Électricité du Liban have abandoned any duty to provide safe, affordable power.
Lebanon’s electricity crisis is rooted in a deep structural flaw: the country imports nearly all its fuel, subsidizing it for years without building any resilience in return, making energy supply unpredictable and leaving the state exposed to price shocks it cannot absorb.
Private diesel generators, once a temporary fix, a permanent feature of daily life, yet neither fair nor regulated. A small number of generator owners now hold disproportionate power, controlling prices and availability with no oversight, so people pay whatever is demanded or go without.
Without completely disregarding the drastic environmental harm that these generators produce, which routinely exceed WHO guidelines by 5× in particulate matter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller (World Health Organization, 2021), let’s focus on what it means, financially, for households in Lebanon.
Since 2019, my family paid between LL 1,000,000 and LL 2,000,000 monthly (~$50-$100 at the time) for a flat-fee subscription that often failed to reflect true consumption. It covered a limited number of amperes, not usage, and even then power cuts remained frequent when the generator overheated or required maintenance. Our neighbors with fewer means faced a harsher choice: go without electricity or fall deeper into debt. In 2023, generator bills accounted for 44% of monthly household income—88% for the poorest—while others went without any subscription (Human Rights Watch, 2023)
The state has long lost control over electricity provision, and every reform attempt stumbles. The government even decreased the Energy Ministry’s budget as it’s overshadowed by private generators.
Hyperinflation, the pandemic, and rising fuel costs reduced imports, prioritizing the remaining fuel for private generators. Electricity demand fell by 52% because over half the population could no longer afford it.
…see that golden section that is slowly getting bigger? That’s decentralized solar energy demand.
This growth is a promising solution, but as of 2022, 44% of Lebanese citizens lived in poverty (World Bank, 2024). For many, affording a generator subscription is already a struggle—investing in solar remains out of reach. How do we amplify this momentum to conventionally adopt this new renewable energy resource?
- Restore full funding and authority to the Energy Ministry, enforce mandatory metering with penalties, and publish a transparent, fuel-cost–linked tariff formula.
- Launch grants and low-interest loans for rooftop PV and battery storage and expand net-metering so every home and business can sell surplus clean energy back to the grid.
- Encourage Lebanese citizens to invest in independent energy infrastructure they can maintain to reduce future dependency on government action.
Decentralized solar capacity in Lebanon grew from just 0.33 MW in 2010 to over 1,500 MW by 2023, proving the readiness of citizens to embrace alternatives.
This was facilitated mainly by proactive public intervention; solar systems currently offer a payback period of just 3–4 years, making them cleaner but more economically sound than generator usage (Albawaba, 2021). Even capital issues are slowly being remedied through initiatives such as solar loan schemes launched in 2022 (PV Magazine, 2022)
Despite the increase in solar capacity, there is still untapped potential!
Beyond solar loans, the most notable governmental intervention was in September 2021, when the government sought to require generator owners to install meters and charge based on real usage. Like many attempts before it, it failed, proving that Lebanon remains at the mercy of a government that urgently needs to act on both a threat to livelihood and an opportunity for sustainable economic and social renewal.
Although Lebanon officially boasts 100% electricity access, true access remains unreliable, unaffordable, and monopolized by private diesel generators that force families to devote up to 44% of their income just to keep the lights on. Public investment has collapsed, exposing citizens to unregulated, exploitative practices.
The surge of decentralized solar was driven by necessity as people reclaimed what the state abandoned.
To seize this moment, the government must empower the Energy Ministry, enforce robust regulations, and bolster households with grants and solar financing. Retraining generator owners to operate solar microgrids under strict anti-monopoly rules can turn today’s crisis into tomorrow’s clean-energy solution.
There is so much potential and capacity for solar power in Lebanon, specifically in Beirut! For those that live in Beirut or in its outskirts, look for your city and street!
Check how much energy your neighborhood can harness with PV!
