How Libya could become environmentally sustainable

AbstractThe main factors to be tackled if environmental sustainability becomes Libya's national goal are: first, to base desalination and pumping on renewable energy (e.g., solar, wind); second, to invest oil receipts to export solar electricity; and third, to achieve these two before oil or water are depleted. Because water is paramount for sustainability and economic development, if pumping fossil water and desalination become based on renewable energy, then low-cost freshwater can become the basis for sustainability. As Libya is so well placed to generate solar electricity, the most sustainable choice is to accelerate the transition to renewables before international climate treaties force coal and, later, oil to be left unused in the ground. Libya could lead in making Europe carbon-neutral through massive exports of solar electricity. This would be highly profitable for Libya and at the same time would help achieve sustainability. Quasi-sustainability of non-renewable resources (e.g., oil) could be achieved by investing oil receipts in Libya's sovereign funds, so that by the time hydrocarbons are exhausted a sustainable income is generated for Libyans in perpetuity. This could also provide social safety nets, create jobs and increase human capital formation.