The Energy Tower idea never made the leap from drawings and engineering studies to full-scale construction. But nearly two decades after most people stopped talking about it, the concept is quietly evolving in two unexpected places: China and Iran. The concept let dreamers dream and doers do - figuring out more pleasing designs and engineering.

The post Dan Zaslavsky’s energy tower dream is rising again in Iran and China appeared first on Green Prophet.

As tensions rise in one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints, the ripple effects go far beyond oil—touching food systems, climate pressures, and regional stability

The post Hormuz 2026 Conflict Poses an Energy and Food Security Dilemma in a Warming World appeared first on Green Prophet.

At a time when Iran is again in the headlines for war, conflict, and fire, a different story emerges. It is a story about water, truth, and survival. Kaveh Madani, once branded a “water terrorist” in his own country of Iran, has been named the 2026 laureate of the Stockholm Water Prize, often called the […]

The post From “Water Terrorist” to Global Laureate: Iran’s Kaveh Madani Wins the Nobel of Water appeared first on Green Prophet.

A Documented Response to the Article “The Aga Khan Is Greenwashing Their Awards” and a Reflection on the Relationship Between Development, Tourism, and the Environment on Hormuz Island Salman Rasouli Critiquing architectural and development projects, particularly within environmentally sensitive contexts, is an essential component of social dynamism and a prerequisite for healthy public discourse. However, […]

The post A Fact-Based Reflection on Sustainability and Tourism in Hormuz appeared first on Green Prophet.

Dubai Municipality has set up 12 AI-powered "Ehsan Stations" to safely and officially feed strays. The city also officially supports Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs. 

The post Dubai sets up smart feeding stations for abandoned cats appeared first on Green Prophet.

Tel Aviv's eco organization, the Heschel Center, was impacted by an Iranian missile.

The post Eco organization offices destroyed by Iran missile appeared first on Green Prophet.

When Zarathustra started preaching around 1200 BCE in ancient Persia, which is known today as Iran, he wasn't just founding a religion—he was creating the world's first environmental protection movement. Good thoughts, good words, good deeds. But there was a mantra and words to live by: don't pollute the earth, water, or fire. Ever.

The post Zoroastrianism from Iran is the world’s first eco-religion appeared first on Green Prophet.

Environmental activists in Iran often face significant personal risk when speaking out about illegal land grabs, deforestation, or the destruction of protected areas. In recent years, several high-profile environmentalists have been detained, interrogated, or imprisoned on broad national-security charges, sometimes without transparent legal proceedings.

The post UNESCO forest being developed in Iran appeared first on Green Prophet.

In places where the discussion of sexuality is either taboo or severely restricted, eco-erotic art - whether man made and intended to arouse the senses or created by the forces of nature - offers a modern day outlet for viewers to explore their sexual natures in the safer context of admiring historical relics.

The post The strange pilgrimage site of penis headstones in Iran appeared first on Green Prophet.

It's full of rare and endemic species, and it's a UNESCO heritage site. Iran's natural treasure, a 1000-kilometer forest, the Hyrcanian forest has been on fire for several days. It stretches from the Caspian Sea and into neighboring Azerbaijan and is home to more than 3,200 kinds of plants. 

The post Iran’s rarest forest is on fire appeared first on Green Prophet.

Roshan’s reflection situates the Houston Ismaili Center within a broader discussion about architecture as diplomacy — where aesthetics, faith, and geopolitics intersect. Her words challenge readers to question whether “green” design and grand symbolism can coexist without transparency and accountability.

The post Sustainable Architect Ronak Roshan on the Politics Behind the Houston Ismaili Center appeared first on Green Prophet.

Iran’s second-largest city, Mashhad, is facing an acute water emergency after dam reservoirs feeding the city fell below three percent capacity, according to Iranian state and local media. Officials warn that without rainfall or improved inflows from neighboring Afghanistan, the city’s supply could soon collapse.

The post Iran’s holiest city about to run dry as terror chosen over water management appeared first on Green Prophet.

The TEDxOmid Architecture event in Tehran promised sustainability and social justice but revealed deep contradictions between its rhetoric and reality. This in-depth report exposes how Iran’s star architects—linked to commercial tower projects and weak environmental accountability—reflect a pattern of architectural greenwashing under the guise of “responsive design.”

The post Who Narrates the Narrative at TEDx? Greenwashing in Iranian Architecture’s Spotlight appeared first on Green Prophet.

Other notable mud structures in the wider Muslim world include the Bob Dioulasso Grand Mosque in Burkina Faso, and the Khiva Wall in Uzbekistan, which is built around a collection of Islamic schools and mosques. The Siwa Oasis in Egypt (which we visited and posted about here) and the Eastern Castle in Syria have also employed mud bricks in their construction, and research shows that the famous walls of Jericho were built using sun-dried mud bricks.

The post Ancient mud buildings in the Muslim world are spectacular and sustainable appeared first on Green Prophet.

The strikes on Iran have sparked fierce debate, but from Israel’s perspective, the choice was easy: either accept the risks of a nuclear Iran or act decisively to stop it.

The post How Israel’s Strikes Avert Iran’s Environmental Threat appeared first on Green Prophet.

These “salt men” are ancient corpses that were either killed or crushed in the cave and naturally mummified by the harsh, salty conditions. The dry salinity of the mine preserved hair, flesh, and bone but also internal organs, including stomachs and colons, in remarkable detail.

The post The incredible shrunken salt head mummy men appeared first on Green Prophet.

Sugar wax, sugaring or Persian waxing, whatever you want to call it there is an old, tried and true way to wax, naturally.

The post Make your own sugar wax appeared first on Green Prophet.

The world's soils are becoming too salty for farming. These man-made problems are cause for concern but remediation of soils can be done.

The post These countries have the saltiest soil and include the US, China and Iran appeared first on Green Prophet.

On the verge of extinction, a rare breed of camel in Iran were brought back to life.

The post Camels make a comeback in Iran appeared first on Green Prophet.

Amidst the picturesque desert landscapes of Rigan in Iran, one community is witnessing a remarkable revival of its culinary tradition while upholding environmental sustainability.

The post Reforestation in Iran revives traditional food and creates jobs appeared first on Green Prophet.

Climateflation presents a complex and multifaceted challenge for Middle Eastern economies, requiring concerted efforts from governments, businesses, and civil society to address effectively.

The post What is climateflation and how it impacts Middle East nations appeared first on Green Prophet.

Iranian authorities’ decades-long systematic repression of Baha’is amounts to the crime against humanity of persecution, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today.

The post Repression of Bahai’s in Iran “a crime against humanity” appeared first on Green Prophet.

Child bride at 15 hangs for killing her abuser husband.

The post Child bride hangs for murdering her husband appeared first on Green Prophet.

Iran and the Hezbollah terror group under the leadership of Mohammad Ali Merhi were identified as the entities behind an attempted cyber attack on an Israeli hospital in November.

The post Hezbollah targets hospital using cyber attack appeared first on Green Prophet.

Sarvestan Palace, standing resilient after centuries of exposure to the elements, serves as a beacon of inspiration for those interested in designing structures with longevity.

The post Embracing Eco-Architecture: Lessons from Sarvestan Palace and Iranian Indigenous Structures appeared first on Green Prophet.

A pasture system in Andorra, hay milk in Austria, areas growing chestnuts, white ginger and waxberries in China, flood-spreading gardens and a walnut cultivating region in Iran and an all-female fishery in the Republic of Korea –– these are all among the latest agricultural systems to be recognized by a UN group aiming to preserve […]

The post From all-women fisheries in Korea and walnut cultivators in Iran: meet age-old food farmers and fishers appeared first on Green Prophet.

The despotic enforcers of the "hijab law" have claimed another victim. In a mysterious incident reported a few weeks ago in international press, a young woman Armita Geravand, just 17 was injured on the Tehran Metro in Iran. She was in a coma for a few weeks and has since died.

The post Iran’s morality police kill teen for not wearing hijab appeared first on Green Prophet.

Elon Musk is hoping to dodge American sanctions against Iran to help researchers and anyone who wants it, access uncensored internet via his satellite-based Starlink internet service.

The post Elon Musk wants to Starlink Iranian dissidents appeared first on Green Prophet.

A young Iranian woman, 22, has died in custody after being arrested by Iran’s morality police for improper clothing. Her death sparked anger on social media under her name #MahsaAmini.

The post Death by modesty police? Iranian women burn head coverings to protest #MahsaAmini appeared first on Green Prophet.

Like China who has been using AI and facial detection surveillance to pinpoint people breaking lockdown, Iran's morality police are using cameras to catch women without a head covering –- a moral sin in Iran.

The post Without a hijab? Iran’s surveillance cameras will track and punish you appeared first on Green Prophet.

Sour green plums the size of large marbles are in the local Middle East markets now, a seasonal favorite of the Iraqis. Eat them out of hand as a snack, sprinkling each bite with a little salt. The classic Iraqi way to cook them is to pair them with meat in a flavorful stew. And if you want to ask for them in Persian just say "Gojeh sabz!"

The post What’s in season May appeared first on Green Prophet.

When you go deep into a desert, whether it's Iran or Sinai, it has a similar effect of being in a forest. The stark nature of the planet holds you. Deserts may offer less distractions in your peripheral vision but the clouds and sand come to life as you feel yourself expanding within the expanse.

The post Qanat, an eco-hotel in Iran’s desert, makes ancient tech new appeared first on Green Prophet.

The Iranian city now passes as one of the world's most polluted cities, as smog, dust and smoke overcomes it. 

The post Tehran wins “world’s most polluted city” in April appeared first on Green Prophet.

Each house will generate more than 100% of its energy needs and the rest will feed back to the household as a monthly check.

The post Iran’s going solar with half a million solar panels appeared first on Green Prophet.

The post Mediterranean oil spill cleaned by EU ambassadors appeared first on Green Prophet.

A joint study found that mountain ecosystems are becoming increasingly fragile, under pressure from changes to land use and climate, overexploitation, pollution, demographic shifts and other factors which threaten livelihoods and food security.

The post Meet the Mountain People of the Middle East appeared first on Green Prophet.

Cities in Iran are some of the most polluted in the world. It’s estimated that 27 people a day die in Tehran from the low quality of air. Mohammad Bakhtiari, 25, from Arak decided he couldn’t take it anymore, and started car-free Tuesdays –- a day when he’s encouraging Iranians to find alternative ways to […]

The post To stop crippling air pollution, Iranians do car-free Tuesdays appeared first on Green Prophet.

Today on the streets of Jaffa, where I live, I saw for the first time in my life a woman in hijab (helmet on top) driving her motorbike in full throttle along Jerusalem Boulevard. She was too quick for me (on my peddle bike!) to take a photo. I was pretty proud of her, because […]

The post Iranian women “selfies” without headscarves causing rivers to dry up appeared first on Green Prophet.

Like Israel and Jordan’s Dead Sea, Iran has it’s own inland salty lake called Lake Urmia. Climate change and dam construction has caused its demise to about 10% of its of former glory. Local protestors who have dared called on the government to fix it have been tied up, beaten and tortured. One trusted source I […]

The post Iran’s devastated Lake Urmia wins recognition appeared first on Green Prophet.

Hey, it says ‘no man’, not ‘no alligator’ says this crocodilian creature caught on film by security at an Iranian gas production facility this month. It climbed onto a gas rig in Southern Iran, in search of food, say local personnel. It was led back to the swamp. Unlike in Canada, where police went crazy over […]

The post Alligator sneaks into Iranian gas facility “no man zone” appeared first on Green Prophet.

A retired teacher in Kohgiluyeh and the Boyer Ahmad Province has planted over 10,000 oak tree saplings over a two-decade period.

The post Iranian gives two decades of his life to the Oaks appeared first on Green Prophet.

Iranian architect Nader Khalili, founder of the California Earth and Architecture Institute and proponent of the- dare we say- revolutionary SuperAdobe building technique, would be proud. In the coming week from the 11th to the 14th of March 2015, l’Iran will inaugurate the first edition of “Regeneration of earthen architecture festival”  which aims to promote earth […]

The post First Earth Architecture festival in Iran would make Nader Khalili proud appeared first on Green Prophet.

There’s been a revolution in Iran, and we’re not talking about the one that resulted in overthrowing the Shah in 1979! The latest one involves an Irish environmentalist and surfing champion, and her mission to bring the sport to Iran, and its women. When a young boy stood on the beach in a fishing village […]

The post Documentary on Iran’s first surfer makes waves for women! appeared first on Green Prophet.

Islamic versus non-Islamic or simply Western style architecture is an issue in many parts of the Middle East where locals, kingdoms and sheikdoms refuse or steadfastly hold onto their identity. Look at the Arab Gulf States like Dubai where giant, glass fronted skyscrapers dominate the skyline. These futuristic structures are being called cheap and anonymous by prominent architects […]

The post Un-Islamic critics want to veil “shameless” private parts of buildings in Iran appeared first on Green Prophet.

There is a growing concern that the free trade agreement between Iran and Turkey has encouraged an increase in the production and transit of drugs in the Middle East. Following the 2009 agreement to enhance co-operation efforts of land, air, and sea transportation, politicians and economic analysts have grown ever more concerned about the rising […]

The post Iran dominates drug headlines in the Middle East appeared first on Green Prophet.

Iran is most known in global news for its nuclear ambitions. But the country has resources for wind energy, the international renewable energy organization IRENA has announced. The NGO which is headquartered in Abu Dhabi has just released wind maps which show where Iranian winds blow. Wind maps can help potential energy projects get off […]

The post Find the wind in Iran with these handy energy maps appeared first on Green Prophet.

Here in the Middle East, the mash-up between religious beliefs and human rights can be breathtakingly surreal.  Take, as example, baffling contradictions within modern Iranian culture that rigidly restricts gender co-mingling, yet supports gender transitioning. Footballers in Iran’s professional women’s league are being forced to undergo gender tests to verify that they are “all woman”. […]

The post No “Balls” allowed in Iran’s female soccer league appeared first on Green Prophet.

How relevant will OPEC be 10 years from now? Does the rapid expansion of new technologies like fracking threaten the future of eco-friendly energy alternatives such as wind and solar energy? And would the possible lifting of sanctions against Iran depress oil prices enough — at least in the short term — to hurt the […]

The post Experts at US-Arab Policy Conference debate Mideast’s future as global energy supplier appeared first on Green Prophet.

Smoking the hookah, nargilah or shisha pipe is a truly fun and social way to connect in the Middle East. It’s an oriental fantasy for newcomers and even for women in private circles who want to wind down and let loose. But one session can be like smoking 600 cigarettes!  I know an old grandma […]

The post Hookah Pipe Dangers Exposed Yet Again appeared first on Green Prophet.

The Middle East boasts some of the world’s saltiest waterbodies, but none approach the horror of Lake Natron in Tanzania, one of the harshest environments on the planet.  It’s hot, chalky waters can turn birds and land animals into calcified statues, spookily captured by photographer Nick Brandt in his new book, Across the Ravaged Land. […]

The post Deadly Lake Natron Turns Animals into Ghostly Statues appeared first on Green Prophet.