Biden’s Visit to Saudi Arabia - Main Takeaways
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Biden’s Visit to Saudi Arabia - Main Takeaways

Although Pres. Biden’s visit to Saudi Arabia and Israel aimed at energy and national security did not end with an expected outcome, there are still positive signals sent from this trip, such as the new bilateral framework on 5G and 6G, space exploration and public health cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Amid the global inflation pressure as well as the energy crisis mainly induced by the war in Ukraine, the public is anticipating the next moves of major crude oil producers and, mainly, the OPEC+ meeting on August 3rd. 

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Climate Change and Migration The Impact of Climate Change on Migration from the Global South to the Global North
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Climate Change and Migration The Impact of Climate Change on Migration from the Global South to the Global North

Last month, one of the most significant tragedies in U.S. human smuggling history occurred in San Antonio, Texas. Fifty-one migrants believed to be from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador were found dead in an abandoned big rig. An estimated 6,000 Latin American migrants are traveling together through Mexico this year, hoping to cross the border into the United States. While the reasons for migration to the U.S. are not entirely related to climate change, the statistics suggest that climate change's effects continue to uproot many people, especially in the Global South. Some estimates claim that by the year 2050, 140 million to 1.2 billion people will be displaced by climate change. So, what is the relationship between climate change and migration? and how can we mitigate the impact of climate change on migration?

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Supreme Court Limits EPA’s Authority to Regulate Carbon Emissions: What to Expect?
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Supreme Court Limits EPA’s Authority to Regulate Carbon Emissions: What to Expect?

On Thursday, June 30th, 2022, The Supreme Court limited EPA’s authority to regulate carbon emissions. There is scientific evidence, without a massive reduction in carbon emissions and a plan to switch to clean alternative energy sources, there will be dire climate effects worldwide. So, why did the United States Supreme Court decide to limit the authority of the EPA to set critically important regulations?

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REPowerEU: Europe’s Energy Plan to Mitigate the Energy Crisis & Russia-Ukraine War
DAVID BASSIOUNI DAVID BASSIOUNI

REPowerEU: Europe’s Energy Plan to Mitigate the Energy Crisis & Russia-Ukraine War

The Russia-Ukraine war has caused a soaring increase in global energy prices as well as energy security concerns. European Union member states have a heavy dependence on gas, oil, and coal imports from Russia. Given the energy and security concerns, the EU is planning to circumvent Russia’s energy supply and seek a faster green transition.

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Rebuilding Syria: Who will Help?
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Rebuilding Syria: Who will Help?

It has been eleven years since the uprising against the president of Syria turned into a full-scale civil war. The war in Syria has led to millions of people experiencing food security, poverty, and terrorism, and being internally displaced within the country’s borders and externally into other parts of the Middle East and Europe. On June 30, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs published the 2021 Annual Report for the Syria Humanitarian Fund (SHF) mentioning five major issues in Syria in 2021, including food security and malnutrition crisis, water crisis, disease outbreak, protection crisis, and internal displacement. Meanwhile, According to the estimation of the United Nations, the cost of reconstruction would be $250 billion, which is about four times Syria’s pre-war GDP and forty-seven times Syria’s 2022 estimated budget ($5.3 billion). How to rebuild Syria? Who will help rebuild Syria? Obstacles to humanitarian aid and reconstruction may indicate that it will take more than a decade to rebuild Syria.

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Colombia’s New President (Gustavo Petro): Analysis of Environmental Policies
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Colombia’s New President (Gustavo Petro): Analysis of Environmental Policies

Colombia has elected Gustavo Petro as president, making him the South American country’s first leftist head of state. Petro beat Rodolfo Hernández, a business mogul and former mayor of the city of Bucaramanga, with 50.47% of the vote in a runoff election on June 19th and will take office in a context of deepening discontent over inequality and rising costs of living. Hernández had 47.27% of the valid votes, highlighting the current scenario of polarization. Petro’s election marks a unique shift for Colombia, a country that has never before had a Leftist president, and follows similar victories for the Left in Peru, Chile and Honduras. (…)

Petro’s victory might represent an important step towards the improvement and enforcement of environmental regulation. Deforestation and clean energy were important topics in his campaign, different to what is seen in other neighboring countries, like Brazil.

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Climate Change and Latin America: Why Have Latin American Countries Fallen Short Of Their Climate Promises?
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Climate Change and Latin America: Why Have Latin American Countries Fallen Short Of Their Climate Promises?

It is no secret that climate change and extreme weather threaten human health and safety in Latin America. Because climate change is not just a problem for Latin America but the entire world, there have always been climate negotiations between post-industrial countries in the Global North and developing countries in the Global South. So, who's at fault that Latin American countries continually fall short of their climate promises? To answer this question, we must examine how climate negotiations are shaped.

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Analysis: Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis
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Analysis: Sri Lanka’s Economic Crisis

While Europe is in the midst of an energy crisis mainly due to less reliance on Russia’s Natural Gas imports, Sri Lanka has suffered from a serious energy shortage for months. Vehicles in Sri Lanka have been lining up for petrol and diesel. Food prices soared. Students cannot go to school. Protests took place in cities. What happened to this island nation in South Asia? How can they solve the “severe economic crisis in its history”?

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Saudi Arabia’s Green Initiative: Challenges and Opportunities
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Saudi Arabia’s Green Initiative: Challenges and Opportunities

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) faces a unique Energy/Climate Change predicament. Even though KSA is vulnerable to climate change, it is the world's largest producer and exporter of Oil and one of the top 10 CO2 emitters global producers. In recent years, KSA announced its "Green Initiative" action plan to fight against climate change. What are the challenges and opportunities facing Saudi’s Green Initiative?

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Europe’s Energy Crisis : An Opportunity for Africa?
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Europe’s Energy Crisis : An Opportunity for Africa?

Europe’s phase-out of Russian energy pushes the EU to look for solutions to the energy crisis. The African continent, a resource giant, might have an opportunity to develop their energy (export) markets while also investing in renewable energy production. A balanced approach is critical.

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Amazon’s Recent Threats: Deforestation and Violence
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Amazon’s Recent Threats: Deforestation and Violence

Ending deforestation - mainly in the Amazon rainforest - was considered one of COP26’s first major deals and was endorsed by more than 100 world leaders. Biden and Brazil’s president Jair Bolsonaro also agreed during the Summit of Americas to join efforts to combat deforestation. However, this issue still seems far from a resolution.

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TBG’s 2022 Summer Internship Team
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TBG’s 2022 Summer Internship Team

We are pleased to introduce you to The Bassiouni Group's 2022 Summer Internship Team. This marks the 11th edition of the Program and we are excited to have another strong team in place. Meet the team members.

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Climate Change News
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Climate Change News

At TBG Purpose, we curate the latest and most interesting articles on Climate Change, Climate Action and Sustainability. Click for more, bookmark and visit often.

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Earth Day 2022: Climate Change Solutions
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Earth Day 2022: Climate Change Solutions

Happy Earth Day 2022. It is easy to get stressed and anxious about Climate Change but we have to shift the focus on solutions. On that front, we have never had so many solutions that are readily available and the ClimateTech and Energy Transition is fully underway. We cannot be paralyzed by Climate Anxiety — we must focus on Climate Action. Click for a full list for a solutions.

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Ukraine War Threatens to Create Global Food Crisis
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Ukraine War Threatens to Create Global Food Crisis

A global food/hunger crisis is just one of the many pitfalls of the war in Ukraine. The country, long known as Europe’s Bread Basket, is now dealing with massive hunger crisis and a destabilized agriculture sector that could lead to a global food crisis. Ukraine and Russia account for a quarter of global grains trade and the war will severely impact production and trade. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that food prices could surge by as much as 20 percent, a significant spike that could exacerbate global food insecurity. Nearly 283 million people in 81 countries currently face acute food insecurity or are at high risk, according to the World Food Program, with 45 million on the brink of famine.”

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