Environment and Governance
Analyzing environment and governance issues and opportunities throughout the region
The Middle East is a region of extremes. It contains both the world’s largest deposits of hydrocarbons and some of the most water-scarce nations in the world. Growing populations challenge governments to supply adequate water, energy, and waste disposal in a manner that is reliable, affordable, and sustainable. The Middle East Program explores innovative ways governments, businesspeople, and civic groups are addressing service provision, energy security, and climate change both within countries and across the region.
Featured Analysis

Sustainable States: Environment, Governance, and the Future of the Middle East
Report by Jon B. Alterman , Natasha Hall , and Will Todman — May 18, 2021
Why Sustainable Public Utilities Are a Security Issue

Photo: ATTILA KISBENEDEK/AFP/Getty Images
A Conversation with HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan
A conversation with HRH Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan on how development of sustainable public utilities could help build security in the Middle East.
Event by Jon B. Alterman

Peter Schwartzstein: Climate and Conflict in the Middle East
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman and Will Todman — November 19, 2019

Elfatih Eltahir: Rising Temperatures in the Middle East
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman and Will Todman

Photo: HAIDAR MOHAMMED ALI/AFP/Getty Images
The Middle East’s Coming Centrality
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman

Photo: DYLAN COLLINS/AFP/Getty Images
The Politics of Lebanon’s Gas Deal with Egypt and Syria
Critical Questions by Will Todman
All content by Environment and Governance
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The Middle East’s Coming Centrality
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — September 20, 2022

The Middle East Transition We Need to Talk About
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — July 21, 2022

The Politics of Lebanon’s Gas Deal with Egypt and Syria
Critical Questions by Will Todman — June 23, 2022

Morocco's Sand Mafias
Newsletter by Fiona Leary — January 12, 2022

Lebanon’s Growing Humanitarian Crisis
Event by Jon B. Alterman , Jacob Kurtzer , Will Todman , Sally Abi Khalil , Haneen Sayed , Georges Kettaneh , and Maha Yahya — November 16, 2021

Hydrogel: A Promising Solution for Water Scarcity in the Middle East?
Commentary by Will Todman and Lyse Mauvais — November 9, 2021

A Conversation with Jordanian Finance Minister Mohamad al-Ississ
Event by Jon B. Alterman — September 29, 2021

Karim Sadjadpour: Iran's Future
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Will Todman , and Caleb Harper — July 13, 2021

Toward Sustainable States
Commentary by Jon B. Alterman — June 28, 2021

Dahlia Scheindlin: Israel's New Government
Podcast Episode by Jon B. Alterman , Natasha Hall , and Caleb Harper — June 15, 2021
