Algeria’s environment faces mounting pressure from climate-change, forest fires, desertification and a legacy of hydrocarbon dependency and its pollution —yet the country is also emerging as a compelling frontier for cleantech and green-economy investment. Stretching from the Mediterranean coast to the Sahara, Algeria confronts rising water stress, soil erosion, air-quality concerns and ecosystem degradation. Its decades-long fight against desertification—such as through programs like the “Green Dam” barrier across the pre-Saharan steppe—underscores that land and water security are no longer just ecological concerns.
Béjaïa, Algeria
At the same time, Algeria is seeking to shift its economic track. With over 3,000 annual sunshine hours in its southern zones and strong wind-potential, the country holds untapped renewable-energy resources. Recent strategy documents describe plans to scale up solar-PV, wind and green-hydrogen production for both domestic use and export. The government’s accession to the Global Green Growth Institute in 2025 further signals official commitment to green growth, water security and sustainable land-use.
This Stunning Ancient Citadel in the Sahara Desert Has a Mysterious Past
For cleantech investors and green-economy players, Algeria presents several promising opportunities: large-scale solar and wind farms, green-hydrogen export infrastructure, water-desalination and recycling projects, circular-economy programmes (especially in waste and sustainable consumption), and smart-grid/energy-efficiency solutions. But successful participation requires navigating structural challenges: regulatory clarity is still evolving, there are high levels of government corruption, technology-transfer and local capacity remain barriers, and financial frameworks for clean-investment need strengthening.
While its environmental challenges are real and significant, its green-economy potential is equally formidable—offering early-mover advantage for cleantech and sustainability investment aimed at North Africa.
Hotter than heck and bone dry, the Middle East and North Africa have an abundance of sun, and leaders across the region are striving to make the most of it. Five North African countries and the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan will receive a total of $660 million from the $7.6 billion Climate Investment Fund (CIF) […]
Although the Sahara desert used to be a green retreat for giraffes and hippos 5,000 years ago, it is now a giant, sometimes rolling landscape of sand. A lot of sand. In fact, roughly two thirds of Algeria is made up of sand, according to the authors of a study published in the Arabian Journal […]
Gabriele Galimberti’s“Toy Stories” documents the world’s children posed with their favorite toys. Everyone remembers their most prized possessions. Mine were an Etch-a-Sketch, some wads of Silly Putty, and an endless supply of Crayola crayons: surely you can rattle off yours? Galimberti, an Italian photographer who specializes in serials, all variations on a single theme, said […]
Have you been watching the gradual unfolding of a hot new solar power market in the Middle East and North Africa without really understanding how to get involved? If so, you might want to read on. PV Insider is hosting a free webinar tomorrow, Tuesday 5th March at 08.00am GMT / 09.00 CET / 12.00 GST […]
According to experts, climate change and rising food insecurity are major contributors to the recent destabilization of Mali and southern Algeria Over the last couple of years, there has been a growing link between climate change and political issues in the Middle East. During the Arab Spring there was a real recognition that rising food […]
Of my most prized possessions is a new blender I recently purchased, the Vitamix. Mine is a model called the TurboBlend VS. The Vitamix is advertised as “more than a blender,” as its high performance quality enables the user to blend the toughest of ingredients to produce the widest variety of food creations. It’s the […]
The newly formed Arab Youth Climate Movement held a successful ‘Day Of Action’ which called on the Arab world to take the lead at the upcoming climate negotiations On Saturday, members of the Arab Youth Climate Movement united in a day of action aimed at encouraging the Arab world to take the lead on climate […]
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says that the Mediterranean’s biggest eco-debtor is Italy, meaning that nation uses more resources than it generates. Does that mean Middle Eastern nations bordering the sea are environmentally savvy consumers? Mama Mia, no! The medium is the message, said Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan. And the message is skewed by the words. […]
As part of its plan to shake off its unprofitable solar shackles, including Israel’s Solel initiative, German giant Siemens has exited the ambitious Desertec project. But that doesn’t seem to have deterred the strength of the initiative, which is designed to enable Europe to import one fifth of its power by 2050 from renewable energy […]
A small swarm of locusts can eat the food of 35,000 people but they can also eradicate a wheat field in no time.
Imagine the famous pyramids under water? Alexandria, Egypt holds top risk, followed by Istanbul, Turkey. Think “Mediterranean” and most Westerners conjure up Monte Carlo or Mykonos, Cannes or Nice, often overlooking the southern coastline cities that lie in Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco. Fourteen Mediterranean port cities are at risk of extreme and […]
Established in the lead up to the COP18 Doha negotiations, the Arab Youth Climate Movement brings together over 20 campaigners from 15 Middle East/North Africa countries As the saying goes, there is power in numbers. So it’s great to see environmental organisations across MENA come together to “create a more sustainable, prosperous, meaningful, just, and […]
Find out how Middle Eastern and North African nations fared in the recent global Ocean Health Index (I’ll give you a clue – not very well) With a recent Greenpeace report urging action to tackle the toxicity of Lebanon’s waters due to trash, now seems the perfect time to look into the health of the […]
Back in early 2012, Human Rights Watch warned that tens of thousands of Ethiopians were being made destitute so their land could be leased to foreign investors such as Gulf Arab states Following last week’s news that rich Middle Eastern royals were threatening Maasai land, I look back at land grab stories which have involved the […]
Islamic scholars decree that Muslims athletes participating in the Olympic games are exempted from fasting. Throughout Ramadan, Muslims must refrain from eating or drinking from dawn to sundown. The commitment demand both mental and physical stamina. Fasting challenges sedentary workers in air conditioned offices. Imagine the toll on world-class athletes who, depending on their particular […]