University students join forces to spread awareness about air pollution
Students from several Lebanese universities pledged to raise awareness about air pollution, after an AUB-led study found that pollution levels in all major Lebanese cities exceeded acceptable standards.
Acting within the framework of a project launched by the Association for Forests, Development, and Conservation (AFDC)—a Beirut-based environmental NGO—students from more than 10 universities met at the American University of Beirut on July 15 and discussed the results of a research study conducted by AUB's Atmospheric Chemistry Group, which is led by Chemistry Professor Najat Saliba.
In 2007, AFDC launched a project, which was funded by the United Nations Development Programme, to set youth priorities with respect to environmental problems.
More than 120 university students had participated in that initiative, coming out with a "Youth Declaration on Environmental Policies" in four main topics: air pollution, waste, water and sewage, and land management.
Of the 120 initial participants, at least 40 committed to follow up on the project. They came from several Lebanese universities, including AUB, Universite Saint Joseph, Lebanese American University, Lebanese University, Balamand University, and Beirut Arab University. Students were also given the opportunity to participate in workshops on communication skills, leadership, planning, and conflict resolution.
As part of the first phase of their initiative, the students decided to work on air pollution. The result was the launch of a USAID-funded project titled, "Towards the Implementation of the Youth Declaration for the Environment: Air Pollution levels in Major Urban Lebanese Cities."
The project, whose closing ceremony was held at AUB today, involved collecting air pollution data from Beirut, Tripoli, Sidon, and Chtaura, over three months.
Air pollution measurements revealed a disturbing scenario:
Air samples from Beirut, Tripoli, and Sidon were found to exceed acceptable international pollution levels by at least 10 units, whereas Chtaura's air pollution level was at the upper acceptable limit.
Based on the collected data, students created an air pollution map which they will use to raise awareness in their own communities about the problem and to contact decision-makers, including the parliamentary committee for the environment, in order to start lobbying them for change.
"This is an excellent start," said Sawsan Bou Fakhreddine, AFDC director-general. "Student enthusiasm was impressive. Of course, the road is still long, but if we manage to achieve awareness about air pollution, we'd feel that we have achieved a lot."
Rami Diab, who graduated from AUB this spring with a degree in environmental health, said he was very hopeful about the future.
"If we students manage to raise awareness in our own communities, then the communities themselves will pressure policy-makers to make changes."
Over the past months, Diab has come to realize the severity of air pollution in the country. "But we are determined to do something about it. We will not stop here."
Student Imad Shmaytilleh, a third-year engineer from the Hariri Canadian University, also expressed his excitement about the project. "We, the young people, are the only hope for this country," he said. "With the right plan and data, we can achieve a lot."
