WASD Seventh International Conference

Ahlia University - Kingdom of Bahrain  

9th - 11th November 2009

The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis on the Environment, Energy and Sustainable Development

The objective of this conference is to explore global viewpoints and the latest thinking about the ways in which the recent global financial crisis may affect achieving sustainable development (SD) particularly in developing countries (DCs). The aim is to address growing concerns for the impact of this downturn on other global issues such as deteriorating environmental conditions, energy, obesity and climate change.

The performance of the entire world is not very satisfactory with regard to the different internationally agreed targets and indexes and so far very limited progress is achieved by few countries. The deterioration of the environment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) for example is a major challenge for all countries in the region with nearly 90% of the region’s surface consists of desert. More seriously rich countries in the region are not performing very well showing that a nation’s economic status does not always correspond to its environmental sustainability index (ESI) performance. Moreover the deteriorating environmental conditions will lead to serious water shortage problems in many countries across the region and the rest of the world.

Adopting a more holistic approach, the conference will aim to provide a stimulus for knowledge exchange and discussion that focuses on the issues addressed above to critically examine the inter-relationship between these different issues in order to reach solutions and consensus for a better future. The conference will also provide a framework for understanding and acting upon these solutions and consensuses, taking into account a variety of international, institutional and intellectual perspectives. It is also a time now to learn lessons from the successful communities and emulate the ideas and innovations of these communities by the backward and not so successful nations and regions. 

Like in the past, the conference will focus on the case studies or country studies in technological innovation and experience and how to manage them effectively. Similar to previous conferences organised by WASD, this multidisciplinary conference is expected to attract large number of global experts and scholars in addition to WASD members all over the world.