It is in a remote eastern region of Libya, named Cyrene that the Green Mountain Sustainable Development Area is to be established. The plan is to create a carbon neutral green development zone in Cyrene which is centered on ancient Greek ruins. The development will cater primarily to tourism and will be a model of environmentally friendly design.

The development is ambitious.

The areas energy is to come from wind and solar power. Its waste is to be recycled, its trash converted to biofuel. Its buildings - resorts, hotels, villas and villages for locals - are to blend seamlessly into the rugged landscape.

The plan will protect Libya's Greek and Roman ruins, as well its fragile coastal ecosystem - one of the last remaining natural areas of the Mediterranean.

The plan is being assisted by a British architectural firm, Foster and Associates, who will be designing the "Green Mountain Conservation and Development" zone. And although on paper it presents well, the plan is still in its “vision” stage.

It is to be seen if the Green Mountain Sustainable Development Project will come to fruition.

But, it is positive that a country such as Libya is now taking the time to show their interest in the environment. As Saif Qaddafi, son of President Muammar el-Qaddafi stated, "In our area, it's not common practice to talk about environment and emissions and the like,….It's time now to join developed countries, so we make this statement about the environment, about culture”.

So, with the big promises it is now time to wait and see if Libya will in fact follow through on its very ambitious environmental project.

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