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.
Carboun, an organisation which promotes sustainability in the Middle East, has produced its first infographic which does a great job of mapping out the region’s carbon emissions I am huge fan of infographics – information as graphics – for the simple reason that they are a great way to get a handle on lots of […]
Following the food riots that rocked the Middle East, Algeria is bolstering its agricultural self-sufficiency through irrigation projects and tax breaks for local producers Food security is a tricky topic to grasp because food doesn’t just rely on the water and sun it needs to grow but also on the price of oil, the right […]
How governments respond to water woes will determine the future stability of the Middle East. It’s impossible to point to any one issue and claim it as the final explanation for the protests unnerving leaders in the Middle East. Weeks ago one Tunisian man set himself on fire when he was told he couldn’t sell […]
Jordanians have taken to the streets of the capital Amman to vent their anger at the government’s inability to stem rising food prices We’ve already reported on the riots in Tunisia and Algeria sparked by high food prices, and now Jordan joins the list. Thousands of people have taken to the streets in protest against […]
The recent riots that have rocked North Africa are not just about unemployment and political corruption but also the rising cost of basic food As violence spirals out of control in Tunisia and the death toll continues to rise, it’s clear that the concerns that are bringing people to the street are ones of basic […]
From snow leopards to the Pakistani sand cat: The vast deserts, rough mountains and scarce waterways of the Middle East are home to many unique animals. Enjoy these 8 unique exquisite Middle Eastern mammals, birds and reptiles threatened with extinction because of hunting, loss of habitat, lack of prey, or poisoning. Share them with your […]
Russia and Ukraine were insignificant wheat growers until the end of the 20th century. But as the world has warmed, the conditions have improved for farming wheat at higher latitudes. The region now provides 30% of the world's wheat.
We may not realize it, but palm oil, made from both coconuts and palm nuts, is one of the main causes of the wholesale destruction of rainforests in many parts of the world, especially in Indonesia. The Indonesian rainforests, or what’s left of them, are home to some of the most threatened animal species on […]
The Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO), an offshore division of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), aspires to become the first in the Gulf region to end the “flaring” of natural gas, the UAE-based daily The National reported this week. The World Bank describes gas flaring as “the process of burning-off associated gas from […]
Farming the sun from hot climates to Europe? This is the plan of DESERTEC. Today we speak with Oliver Steinmetz. Oliver’s a co-founder and volunteer board member for the DESERTEC Foundation, a small NGO founded in 2008 to promote the DESERTEC concept of supplying clean energy from desert regions to regions with less sun, like […]
Though lacking the resources that have enabled richer Arab states, and the UAE in particular, to play a leading role in promoting renewable energy, Syria is also looking to boost its involvement in this field. This week, the Higher Institute for Applied Sciences and Technology (HIAST) in Damascus is hosting an International Conference on International […]
Every day is a beach day in Morocco. In a smart move, the country unveils its plans to solar-ize the nation. Image via joaomaximo Countries in the Arab world are starting to wake up to the potential of solar energy, especially those with no known oil reserves. Morocco is the latest to announce its intentions […]
Destertec and Masdar (above) are heating up solar energy opportunities in the Middle East. Tap into this new energy at the 2nd Annual MENASOL conference, this year in Egypt. Image via Masdar website. Green Prophet wants to remind you about MENASOL –– the major solar energy conference taking place in Cairo, Egypt this May. You can […]
I decided to take some minutes away from the hectic running back and forth to attend sessions in the UN Conference of Climate Change (COP15), taking place in the Danish capital Copenhagen, to grab some lunch. I stood in a long line and 20 minutes later had a tray of horribly tasting food (but filling) […]
Plant pathologist Norman Borlaug, 95, died this Saturday, raising questions about the legacy of industrial food in the Third World. In 1970, Borlaug received a Nobel Peace Prize for averting famine through bringing fertilizers, pesticides and new plant strains to countries like India, Mexico and Pakistan. But environmentalists argue that his plant engineering only delayed […]