1. Do you think that the lifestyle of the inhabitants of your town or
city reflects behavior that is in line with the concept of
sustainable development? In your opinion, what should be
improved?
University IE
Prepared by: Fadi Ghanem
Date: 19/Aug/2013

2. Sustainable Societies
Sustainable development can rotate around three main factors :
Social , Economical , and Environmental .
All the three factors should be balanced in a way to improve the living condition and lifestyle
of the individual at present and in the future .
Sustainable
Development
EnvironmentalSocial
Economical

3. Lebanon’s Map

4. Social Development In Lebanon
In Lebanon, large segment of the society is surviving under tough living conditions. Quarter of the
population is considered as relatively poor and can’t afford to secure the basic human needs (food
, shelter….) and lack access to basic services such as education and health specially in the North of
Lebanon and the Bekaa area .
 Immigration is increasing due to the economic instability and the security incidents which limits
the population growth rate in Lebanon and results into aggressive immigration of brain drain .
Unemployment rate is alarming among youth (34% ) woman (18%) and educated workers (14%).

5. Social Development In Lebanon Cont’d
General Facts reflecting unsustainable inhabitant Development
24% of the population lives near or under the poverty line.
Large majority of unemployed are under 35 years old.
The Inflation rate in 2013 is of 5.7%, most of which attributed to the rising cost of transportation ,
education &health.
 Lack of quality control on the imported food and medications is a common practice.
 Lebanese women married to foreigners cannot pass their citizenship to their children.
Persons with disability can’t access public education systems due to lack of equipped facilities .
Persons with disability are rarely hired by employers knowing that the law 220/2000 urge at
least 3% of publics jobs to be set aside for disabilities.
 Living conditions inside Lebanese prisons are bad which leads to grave human rights violations.
Unstable political situation & high level of corruption in the ministries and public sectors became
obvious.
 Absence of well functioning public land transportation has increased the level of pollution due to the large
number of individuals owned vehicles.
 Unplanned infrastructure (roads, sanitary , electricity cables ) increased the cost of living .
 Expensive & poor telecommunication tools (such as internet and mobile services…)

6. Economical Facts
Indicators reflecting negative impact on the Inhabitants
 Debt 32.64 Billion dollars
 GNP per capita 9,100 $
 Population 4.4 M & workforce 1.4M
 Population growth rate (PGR) 0.75 %
 GDP growth 2%
 Inflation 5.7%
 Import 20.73 $ billion dollars
 Export 5.48 $ billion dollars
 Tourist arrivals decreased by 18%
 Total payments of salaries & wages and end of service indemnities are 196% more what the
government gains in income tax from both public and private sectors
Sustainable
development in
Lebanon
Inhabitants
lifestyle in
Lebanon

7. Environmental Facts
Indicators reflecting negative impact on the Inhabitants
 Transport sector is the main source of urban air pollution in
the country which contributes by 59% of national Nox
emission , Co2 emission (metric Ton per capita) is 4.9.
 Trucks and buses run on Diesel oil without proper inspection
of fuel quality and exhaust emissions.
 Water sector faces great challenges including unsustainable
water management practices, population growth,
urbanization, and pollution.
 Lack of urban planning regulations is eroding Lebanon
agricultural land areas and forests in addition to the forest
fires, wood harvesting , and charcoal production .
 Lebanon’s energy industries (7 thermal power plants)
degrade air quality, emit large smoke plumes and
contributed by 39% of the country’s Co2 emissions
 Lack of waste management & Uncontrolled Dumps .

8. Lebanon’s Future
If Lebanon aims to be promoted as a sustainable country having sustainable societies ,
serious and immediate action plans and mechanisms should be developed by the
government, tackling crucial areas to improve .
Moreover, Individuals , Universities and private sector should support the Lebanese
government by inserting high effort during the implementation and the execution process
for an efficient outcome. Currently , the government lacks expertise, researchers , and
professionals specially when it comes to renewable energy .
The below table is a sample how job vacancies are created while sustainable activities are
applied
Investing in Green Jobs created by 2020
12% in Renewable energy & Solar heater 4,000
Waste Management 2,500
Reforestation / organic production 15,000/1,600
Green buildings 900

9. Sustainable Actions
Considerable list of changes
 Shifting from brown economic system towards Green economy
 Improving solid waste management
 Balancing water supply and demand
 Investing and shifting to Renewable energy sources
 Mastering urban development moving toward green buildings
 Investing heavily on land transportation, roads and technology
 Encouraging organic agriculture and increasing reforestation activities
 Implementing and /or reconsidering existing laws related to human needs and rights as
medication, schooling , wages & pension plans
With the above mentioned, Lebanon can become a sustainable country , with low carbon emission
and green economy encouraged and applied in public and private sectors. Inhabitants lifestyle
will reflects behavior that will be in alignment with the sustainable development concept, which
gives the ability for the future generation to meet their own needs.

10. Resources
UN http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?menu=1511
UNDP http://www.undp.org.lb/FastFactSheets/Poverty_social.pdf
World Bank http://www.worldbank.org/en/about
Ministry of Lebanese environment www.moe.gov.lb
Index Mundi http://www.indexmundi.com/g/g.aspx?v=21000&c=le&l=en