Biography:

Dr. Saad Hassan is a Professor of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, former dean of the Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt and the Head of the Reference Laboratory, at the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA). He received his PhD in Analytical Chemistry in 1969 and DSc in Chemistry/Environment in 1991.
He established the first scientific school in microanalysis and the technology of sensors in Egypt, and the first accredited lab in the Egyptian Universities that is internationally recognized (received ISO 17025) at Ain Shams University. The scope of his research work deals with the development of chemical and biological sensors and their applications in medical diagnosis, microanalysis of inorganic, organic, pharmaceuticals, narcotics, military gases, industrial pollutants, and biochemical markers .He published more than 250 technical papers and 22 books in the most prestigious international journals and publishers. He supervised more than 180 PhD and MSc theses and 20 national and international projects dealing with analytical and environmental chemistry, hazardous wastes, persistent organic pollutants, chemical sensors, recycling, water quality and air monitoring.
He is the Egyptian National representative at the United Nation Environmental Program (UNEP), International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). He is a member of many national and international committees and societies and on the editorial board of many international journals. He acted as a visiting professor at the universities of Delaware, North Carolina, Michigan, Iowa State and others.
He has been awarded several international and national awards such as the British Royal Society Chemistry Award in 1979, Golden Medal of the American Chemical Society in 1982, the Award of the Third World Academy of Sciences, Italy 1986, Decoration of Science and Arts, First Order in 1977, the National Recognition Award in Basic Sciences in 1999 and the Nile high technology Award in 2008.

Abstract:

Green Growth Opportunities in Egypt for Saving Energy, Minimizing Pollution, Reducing Poverty and Maximizing Jobs

Egypt faces critical problems and challenges in both environment and economy. During the last 4 years, the hard currency reserve have fallen from $36 to $16.5 billion. The domestic product growth is now estimated at less than 2%, the unemployment rate is about 13% meaning that at least 3.5 million people are searching for jobs. The drop in the per capita share of water by more than 30% by 2025, the 36% increase in the production of solid waste since 2000 and the 3.78% annual increase in the depletion of natural resources cause major problems.
Shortages in water, food and energy are evidence of the mismanagement of the natural resources, which is doupled with increasing levels of pollution, a depletion of natural resources, degradation of the ecosystem and the absence of social justice. However, It possible to limit these trends and reverse them through interventions in strategic policies that would accelerate sustainable development by implementing an inclusive green economy strategy. If Egypt shifted to the path of a green economy, it could achieve annual savings of more than $1.3 billion in the agriculture sector, $1.1 billion in the water sector, $1.0 in addition to lowering carbon dioxide emissions by 13% and reducing water and energy consumption by 40% and 30%, respectively.
Policy approaches can be adopted for �greening� four priority sectors (agriculture, water, energy and waste). Conversion of 20% of the total agricultural land, i.e., 1.44 million feddan from conventional to sustainable and organic cultivation, could result in a savings of about 700,000 tons of chemical fertilizers and the producing compost from agricultural residues could provide more than 22 million tons of organic fertilizers annually, Moreover, producing organic fertilizer from 500,000 tons of rice hulls would reduce the amount of carbon emissions by 32,000 tons annually.
Proposed green interventions to reverse the demand for water is to invest in non-conventional water resources development, such as desalination of seawater, using treated wastewater, and improving the efficiency of water usage at the national level. The green interventions to overcome the increasing gap between energy supply and demand is to invest in renewable energy sources, such as the infrastructure for solar and wind energy. This will reduce the subsidizing budget in this sector (~ $100 billion annually) and creates new jobs. The increase in solid waste generation (currently 20-25 million tons annually) increases the environmental damage and pose negative impacts on health. Green investments in waste includes conversion into organic fertilizers, biofuel and recycling.