Cost of Environmental Degradation Ministry of Environment Service of Environmental Guidance Viviane Sassine Environmental Specialist SMAP III Regional Meeting, Villa Valmer, Marseilles, France 29 June 2009

Outline Cost of Environmental Degradation (Why?) Study on the Cost of Environmental Degradation in Lebanon (CED-L) Economic Assessment of Environmental Degradation due to July 2006 hostilities

Why do we Need to Know the Cost of Neglecting the Environment? To speak a non-environmentalist language Community Decision makers Next

Study on the Cost of Environmental Degradation in Lebanon (CED-L) Funded & implemented: World Bank- METAP Implementation region: 7 countries: Lebanon, Syria, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia

Objectives Provide an estimate of the cost of environmental degradation in Lebanon using the most recent data Provide analytical framework that can be applied periodically by professionals in Lebanon to assess the COED over time Provide a basis for training program for all interested stakeholders to incorporate assessments of COED into policy making and environmental management.

Total Cost 565 million USD 2.8- 4.0% GDP

Coastal Zones & Cultural heritage What? Water Quality Solid waste Air Quality Total Cost Coastal Zones & Cultural heritage Land & Wild life Next

Republic of Lebanon Economic Assessment of Environmental Degradation due to July 2006 hostilities Funded & implemented: World Bank

Aim and Objectives Prepared by the World Bank upon the request of MoE Assessment of Environmental Degradation caused by 34 day hostilities on Lebanon Ultimate goal: Present the overall picture of environmental degradation Identify the natural resources mostly affected by the Israeli war on Lebanon

Total Cost 729 million USD 3.6% GDP

Overall cost of environmental degradation Impacts US$ million min max average % of GDP[1] Waste 206.8 373.5 290.2 1.4 Oil spill 166.3 239.9 203.1 1.0 Water 131.4 0.6 Quarries 15.4 175.5 95.5 0.5 Forests 7.0 10.8 8.9 0.0 Total environmental cost caused by hostilities 526.9 931.1 729.0 3.6% [1] Based on an estimated GDP for 2006 of US$20.5 billion (Economic Intelligence Unit, 2006)

Environmental damages by categories Next

Damage cost (US$ million) Waste Total estimated costs Damage cost (US$ million) Minimum Maximum Construction & Demolition Waste 141.8 159.3 Military Waste (UXO) 65.0 214.2 Medical Waste 0.02 0.05 Total 207 373 Back

Oil Spill Estimated costs of damage and clean-up due to the oil spill (million US$) Mean estimate Damage Costs: Hotels, Beach resorts, Marinas, Palm Islands Nature Reserve, Byblos, Restaurants, Commercial fishing, Sea-shore fishing, Cost of oil fuel burnt, … 139.6 Oil Spill Clean Up: Expenses already made, Oiled waste, Monitoring expenses 63.5 Total 203.1 Back

Water The additional costs of getting water and the cost of reservoir rehabilitation are valued at US$131.4 million. This figure underestimates the real value of the damage cost linked to water resources, as it does not include the impact of water degradation on health. Back

Quarries Overall damage caused by the added pressure on quarries to supply needed aggregate and sand for the reconstruction is estimated to range between US$ 15 and 175 million (or an average of US$95.5 million). Back

Forest Overall damage to forests and to national reforestation program ranges between US$7.0 – 10.8 million, with an average of US$8.9 million. Back

Water Quality 175 Million USD/ 1.0-1.2 percent of GDP Health Impacts 79 – 105 M USD Reduced Quality of potable water 82- 89 M USD Morbidity Mortality Purchase of Bottled Water Medical Care

Air Quality 170 Million USD/ 0.7-1.3 % of GDP Health impacts from Lead 28-40 M USD Health Impacts from PM10 61-124 M USD Health Impacts of Indoor air pollution 10-46 M USD Quality of Life 12- 16 M USD

Land & Wild Life 100 Million USD/ 0.5-0.7 % of GDP Deterioration of estate prices around 3 quarries 14 – 16 M USD Degraded Terraced Land 60 – 90 M USD كلفة تدهور الأراضي المجللة – الكلفة الإنتاجية الخائر السياحية:مراقبة الطيور، wtp فرص ترفيه معتمدة على الطبيعة Deterioration of Tourism opportunities 4-14 M USD

Coastal Zones & Cultural Heritage 110 Million USD/ 0.6-0.75 % of GDP International tourism losses 63-74 M USD Domestic recreational losses 9 – 12 M USD كلفة الخسائر على صعيد الترفيه الداخلي: كلفة السفر الى شواطئ طرابلس، جونيه، بيروت كلفة الخسائر الإيكولوجية: عدم الاستعمال (السلاحف) Ecological losses & Non-use value 27-40 M USD

Mismanagement of Municipal Solid waste 8 Million USD/ 0.05% of GDP Mismanagement of Municipal Solid waste 8 M USD

Comparison of 2 studies The first study (CED-L) estimated the annual costs of environmental degradation in 2000 at about US$565 million or 3.4% of GDP A comparison between the two estimates shows that the damage caused by the 34-day hostilities (729 million USD) is almost equivalent to one year of environmental degradation in times peace.

Service of Environmental Guidance Directorate General of Environment Ministry of Environment Lazarieh Center, Downtown Beirut P.O. Box 11-2727 Lebanon Tel: 00 961 (0) 1 976 555 Fax: 00 961 (0) 1 976 530 E-mail: sga@moe.gov.lb v.sassine@moe.gov.lb Visit: www.moe.gov.lb