Gaddafi goes green

Leader’s son heads Libyan sustainability drive

He may have written the (misleadingly titled) Green Book, but Colonel Gaddafi hasn’t exactly made oil-rich Libya a beacon of sustainability. That may be about to change. The Libyan government has announced the creation of what it claims is “the world’s first sustainable region”. It’s backed by architects Foster and Partners, enthusiastically endorsed by Sir Nicholas Stern – and directed by the Colonel’s son, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi.

The Green Mountain Conservation and Development Authority (GMCDA) will cover the northeastern region of Jabal al Akhdar (literally, ‘Green Mountain’). This encompasses several of the country’s major cities, including Benghazi, and stretches from the coast inland to a plateau featuring junipers, cypresses and wild olives. According to Norman Foster, it’s “one of the most beautiful and little known landscapes on earth”.

The plan calls for the creation of a carbon neutral region, centred around a national park, along with a series of other sustainability initiatives, including:

• Renewable energy generation
• Closed loop water systems
• Sustainable transport infrastructure
• A green local economy, with organic agriculture, sustainable fishing, and micro-credit schemes to help local entrepreneurs
• Ecological and cultural tourism, to exploit the region’s wide array of Greco-Roman archaeological sites (which include the Greek colonies of Cyrene and Apollonia).

Sir Nicholas Stern (who galvanised international thinking on climate change with his eponymous review – see GF62, ‘Stern Stuff’) has given his blessing: “If we are to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change… we need urgently to build new economic and social models of development on a substantial scale. The GMCDA will show how environmental and cultural objectives can help to build a thriving and sustainable local economy in a crucial part of the world.” Among other organisations involved are UNESCO, WWF and the Prince of Wales School of Traditional Arts. – Martin Wright

GMDCA, 07430 0530

19 September 2007

Martin Wright

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