In our narrative, we delve into the internal migration phenomenon within a country, where individuals from rural areas are moving in large numbers to urban centers, driven by the pursuit of education. This trend is significantly impacting the demographics of both rural and urban areas. Rural regions are experiencing a decline in their youth population, leading to a potential loss of local talent and a gap in generational knowledge. Meanwhile, urban educational institutions are becoming overcrowded and overburdened, struggling to accommodate the influx of students. This internal migration highlights the disparities in educational opportunities between rural and urban areas and raises critical questions about the sustainability of such demographic shifts and the future of rural communities.
Thus we visualized the educational institutions in Zahle district including Public and private universities and schools, Demographics of the district (percentage of youth and elderly), and the schools coverage index:
I
It is clear that Zahle has Limited Number of universities which limits the choices for students, also most of the universities are in Zahle district
By analyzing the percentage of youth ( who age between 15 and 24 years) are less than 25% in half of the villages which is a low number and validates the change of demography
As of the percentage of Elderly, it is relatively very high in some villages (30%-40%) and as an average it is above 25% which is high also.
Regarding the Public schools coverage, we can see that half of the villages have no public schools
The history of women’s empowerment in the United Arab Emirates’ social progress is framed by declining fertility rates and a concerted attempt to incorporate women into the workforce. In the midst of this fascinating journey, where the fertility rate has gradually dropped from 4.54% in 1990 to a measured 1.46% in 2021, the United Arab Emirates is at a turning point in its history, overcoming both obstacles and successes as it works toward a future characterized by demographic transitions.
In the face of economic fluctuations, exemplified by a decline in GDP from $417 billion in 2019 to $349 billion in 2020 before peaking at $508B in 2023, UAE remains steadfast in its commitment to stability. This commitment is reflected in the deliberate strides towards gender equality within the workplace, transforming a historical landscape of imbalance. Political leadership, once devoid of female representation at 0% in 1997, has evolved to an inspiring 50% in 2022. Similarly, management roles have seen growth from a modest 12.20% in 2017 to a commendable 23.6% in 2021, portraying a nation charting new territories with determination. Moreover, as shown in the heat map, female percentage of 6.31% among the total female employed population, compared to a male percentage of 4.92% among the total male employed population, the overall self-employment rate stands at 5.15%. This signifies that, in the realm of self-employment, women play a more substantial role, surpassing their male counterparts and collectively making a significant impact on the overall self-employed landscape in the UAE.
To address the challenges faced, a multifaceted approach is recommended. Firstly, actively promoting women’s participation in politics has proven to be transformative, exemplified by successful models achieving 50% female representation in national parliaments. Additionally, supporting and fostering women’s career advancement is crucial, evident in the rising trend of increased female presence in senior and middle management roles. Furthermore, it’s vital to prioritize maintaining healthy fertility rates. This can be achieved through the implementation of comprehensive family-friendly policies, encompassing affordable childcare, flexible work arrangements, and robust support for parental leave. Low fertility rates, prevalent in Western countries, pose significant concerns, and safeguarding against this trend is crucial, especially in the context of an Arab country like the UAE.
This complex journey has not been without its achievements. The increased representation of women in parliamentary roles and senior management positions serves as evidence of the UAE’s holistic approach to women’s empowerment. These accomplishments underscore the significance of an unwavering dedication to gender-inclusive policies, showcasing the nation’s commitment to ensuring continual progress. As the UAE confidently embraces change, it invites the world to witness a seamless blend of demographic adaptability and a resolute embrace of women’s empowerment, illustrating a nation shaping its future with foresight and purpose.
Pakistan finds itself among the growing list of nations grappling with an alarming surge in inflation rates, and this phenomenon is a complex interplay of multiple factors. The bar chart compellingly illustrates this rising trend. It underscores a disconcerting truth: from the year 2021 to 2022, Pakistan witnessed a staggering 10% increase in its annual inflation rate. This alarming leap in inflationary pressures carries profound implications for the country’s economic stability and the daily lives of its citizens, necessitating a thorough examination of the root causes.
First, by looking at the first line chart, we can see that Pakistan’s energy usage is annually increasing. The country uses this energy for power generation, industrial processes, transportation, and residential purposes. However, the core issue is that Pakistan heavily relies on imported energy resources, particularly oil and gas, to meet its energy needs which can be proved by the line chart showing the increasing percentage of energy imported from total energy consumed. This dependence has persisted for many years and is expected to continue for the next 10-15 years. This means that Pakistan needs to purchase a significant portion of its energy from the global market, which makes it susceptible to fluctuations in international energy prices. These price fluctuations have been on the rise in recent years, and they can have a direct impact on Pakistan’s overall inflation rate. As energy prices go up, so does the cost of living for the people in Pakistan, leading to an increase in inflation.
The last line chart is extremely important because it serves as an evidence to the fact that Pakistan’s reliance on renewable energy is decreasing over the years. The percentage of renewable energy used is less than 50% of the total energy consumption in Pakistan which means that they rely more on non-renewable energy. This can expose the nation to global energy price fluctuations and be a huge contributor to the increasing inflation rate in Pakistan.
To stabilize the economy and mitigate the impact of volatile global energy markets, the government should focus on two key strategies. First, Pakistan needs to expand its domestic energy production and reserves. Second, it should invest in renewable energy sources. By doing so, Pakistan can reduce its dependence on energy imports and diversify its energy supply. This approach will help the country move away from costly imported energy resources and transition towards more sustainable and cost-efficient energy solutions.
The is most closely related to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: Affordable and Clean Energy. This SDG aims to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all while promoting energy efficiency and sustainability. The issues of energy dependence and rising global energy prices impact not only economic well-being but also environmental sustainability, aligning with the goals of SDG 7.
Ever heard of the Boiling Frog Syndrome? The ‘Boiling Frog’ syndrome is based on an urban legend describing a frog being slowly boiled alive. The premise is simple: if a frog is suddenly put into a pot of boiling water, it will jump out and save itself from impending death… But if you place a frog in a pot of cold water and slowly heat the water, the frog will not perceive the gradual temperature increase. The frog becomes accustomed to the warming water and does not react until it’s too late, eventually resulting in its demise as the water reaches a boiling point. The frog’s inability to sense the incremental change in temperature leads to its unfortunate fate.
Similar to the boiling frog, Lebanon’s population may have adapted to challenges it had been bearing, with some becoming desensitized to the increasing hardships. It is only when the situation reached a critical point, with a sudden and dramatic spike in inflation in 2019, that the gravity of the problem became evident. By this time, many were already deeply affected by poverty, economic instability, and a lack of basic necessities, setting the country on an uncertain path.
With the country already having been in debt before 2019, Lebanon was just falling into its worst state, for inflation rates were at an all time high, reaching record numbers, causing a widespread in poverty, where everyone got affected. Lebanon found itself among the top 10 countries with the highest inflation rates, a stark reminder of the severity of the issue. As if that weren’t enough, the nation’s Net Primary Income plummeted to record lows, exceeding $1.2 billion in negative Net Primary Income in 2019, causing hardships for its people and economy. In reference to Turkey, Turkey has also passed through inflation throughout its years, on a growing bases, however by 2021, Lebanon hit a 154% inflation rate with Turkey (even though it recorded its worst high ever) scored a 19.6% inflation rate.
Faced with this grim reality, Lebanon’s leaders and policymakers embarked on a journey to tackle inflation and work towards SDG 1, ‘No Poverty’, they implemented a multi-faceted approach. This included the introduction of transparent and effective monetary policies to stabilize the currency and control inflation. Additionally, they emphasized fiscal discipline, taking steps to reduce budget deficits, promote responsible spending, and enhance financial stability. Seeking international cooperation and drawing inspiration from successful global cases, Lebanon aimed to create an environment conducive to economic growth, job creation, and poverty reduction, ultimately striving to ensure that basic necessities became more affordable for its citizens.
Problem:
Climate change is a pressing global problem with alarming evidence. Rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and extreme weather events are just a few examples of its impacts.” The primary environmental problem associated with CO2 emissions is their contribution to climate change and global warming.
Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that plays a crucial role in maintaining habitable temperatures on Earth through the greenhouse effect. However, excessive levels of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere have disrupted this balance, resulting in a range of environmental issues. These include global warming, climate change, ocean acidification, ecosystem disruptions, and impacts on human health.
Problem Evidence:
As we can see in this map, climate change has been linked to an increase in mortality rates across the globe. Rising temperatures and heatwaves pose a significant threat, particularly to vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions.
Urban populations are profoundly affected by the impacts of climate change. As cities continue to grow, they face unique challenges related to rising temperatures, increased air pollution, and vulnerability to extreme weather events. Heat islands, where urban areas experience significantly higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas, can amplify the health risks for urban residents
Human activities, such as burning fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes, are releasing massive amounts of greenhouse gases, primarily carbon dioxide (CO2), into the atmosphere. As seen through this pie, China and the United States are among the biggest countries with CO2 emissions for the year 2021.
In regard to the highest countries that emits CO2 per capita, we can see through this visualization that Qatar is at the peak due its unique combinations of factors. The extraction, production, and export of natural gas involve energy-intensive processes that result in significant CO2 emissions. Additionally, Qatar’s hot climate with its small population necessitates high energy consumption for cooling and desalination purposes with higher per capita emission figure.
One of the most dangerous threats for the climate change is the PM2.5. Given that it is more harmful to human health in the short-term, it is measured in units of micrograms per cubic meter of air. PM2.5 is harmful in the short-term, leading to adverse consequences in vulnerable groups such as children and older adults. The above bars display mean annual exposure levels to PM2.5 across the world in 2017. Exposure is more severe in South Asia and some parts of Africa, especially the Middle East.
Depletion of natural resources refers to their excessive extraction, usage, and destruction. The depletion of natural resources becomes a major issue when human activities intensify and resource demand rises. At alarming rates, forests are being removed, which causes habitat loss, a decline in biodiversity, and soil erosion. Adopting sustainable behaviors, fostering resource efficiency, putting conservation measures in place, and switching to renewable energy sources are all necessary to address the depletion of natural resources. In order to protect the environment for future generations, it is essential to ensure the equitable and responsible management of resources.
The use of electricity is another problem we have with our mother earth. This image allows us to examine the expansion that took place over a 20-year period. Carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) are released throughout the energy generation process, especially when it uses fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. These emissions have an impact on climate change and global warming. Furthermore, the effects of such a crucial component of our everyday lives include waste production, habitat loss, air pollution, water consumption, and habitat loss.
Potential Solution:
On the plus side, increasing the production of power from renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydro can lessen the environmental harm and greenhouse gas emissions caused by fossil fuel-based generating.
Solution Details:
We must cut back on CO2 emissions in order to address the serious climate problem. While many nations have made attempts to minimize them, it is crucial to address the problem thoroughly and keep working toward long-term solutions in order to lessen the effects of climate change and safeguard our ecosystem. Using electric vehicles and switching to clean, renewable energy sources like solar and wind power can greatly cut CO2 emissions. As seen through this chart, some countries started to cut off CO2 emissions whereas others need more time.
Recommendations :
To address climate change effectively, we need international cooperation, continued research and development of renewable energy technologies, and sustainable transportation systems. Every individual can contribute by making environmentally conscious choices in their daily lives. “Together, we can mitigate the impacts of climate change and create a sustainable future for generations to come. Let’s act now and make a difference.”
ACHIEVE – Lebanon: Leveraging Fixed Wireless Access in 5G to Boost Agriculture and Drive Economic Growth
Lebanon’s economic downturn witnessed since 2018 has been characterized by a sharp decline in GDP (Dashboard Chart: GDP Growth – Lebanon) that was boosted by the economic crisis in 2019 that impacted all sectors and has lead to a stagnation in all the employment sectors. On the other side, over the past years Lebanon has seen a notable shift in employment from agriculture and industry towards the services sector (Dashboard Chart: Employment per sector – Lebanon).
Fixed Wireless Access as a Solution
Fixed Wireless Access refers to a wireless communication technology that enables high-speed internet connectivity to fixed locations. In the context of Lebanon’s agricultural sector, FWA can be a game-changer. By harnessing the power of 5G networks, FWA provides a scalable and quick solution for delivering reliable broadband connectivity to remote agricultural areas.
As it is visible in the dashboard below, Fixed Wireless Access subscriptions are expected to increase on a global scale mainly under 5G, and with the increase of Mobile subscriptions (visualized over Middle East and Africa Region) we can place Lebanon on the Map of Digital transformation becoming a main player in adopting latest technology use cases.
We can mention some of the Pros of Fixed Wireless Access that can be taken into consideration in ACHIEVE initiative in Lebanon, mainly due to the need of a low cost, quick and scalable solution:
1. Broad Coverage: FWA allows for the expansion of internet connectivity to areas where it may be challenging or cost-prohibitive to lay traditional wired infrastructure. It is particularly beneficial in rural or remote regions, bridging the digital divide and connecting underserved communities.
2. Quick Deployment: Compared to deploying physical cables, FWA can be implemented relatively quickly. It requires less time for planning, permitting, and physical installation, making it an efficient solution for rapidly providing internet connectivity to areas with urgent needs.
3. Cost-Effective: FWA can be a cost-effective solution, especially in areas where wired infrastructure installation is expensive or logistically challenging. It eliminates the need for costly underground cables, reducing upfront expenses and overall deployment costs.
Enhancing Agricultural Productivity
By implementing FWA in rural areas, Farmers can access real-time data, weather forecasts, market information, and precision farming techniques, enabling them to make informed decisions. This increased access to information and resources empowers farmers to optimize their operations, reduce waste, and improve yields.
As FWA enables remote agricultural areas to connect to the digital economy, it opens up new employment opportunities. Additionally, the adoption of digital technologies in agriculture, such as smart irrigation systems, automated monitoring, and data analysis, will drive demand for specialized skills. This, in turn, generates employment opportunities for the local workforce, reducing unemployment rates and contributing positively to the economy.
Conclusion
By improving agricultural productivity and creating employment opportunities, the sector becomes a key contributor to economic growth. As agricultural output increases, it fuels the supply chain, stimulates local markets, and boosts export potential. The multiplier effect of a thriving agricultural sector has the potential to revitalize the overall economy, leading to increased GDP and a path towards sustainable development.
