Changing Climate

Adaptation to a Changing Climate in the Arab World

With its vast tracts of desert, the Arab world will be one of the regions hardest hit by climate change. What is not known is how climate variability and change will impact this large area. And even less is known in the way of practical guidance and how to adapt to what happens. To address this serious knowledge gap, the World Bank and the League of Arab States have launched a joint program to produce the first body of knowledge addressing climate change adaptation for all 22 Arab countries. The report will be prepared with local partners, including researchers and experts on climate change and related issues.

Harvesting knowledge to face a different tomorrow

Endorsed by the League of Arab States, environment ministers and regional researchers over the course of 2010, the first comprehensive Arab world climate change report is expected in early 2012. Its eight tentative chapters hint at the range of thinking so far: “Climate Variability and Change and their Economic and Poverty Impacts”; “Ways Forward for Climatology in the Arab Region”; “Options to Reduce Water Stress”; “Improving Rural Livelihoods and Food Security”; “Improving Livelihoods and Living Conditions in Urban Areas”; “Improving Health in a Changing Climate”; “Opportunities for Different Genders in a Changing Climate”; and “A Country Model for Adaptation to Climate Variability and Change.”

 

“Raising international and regional awareness of the possible impact and what measures can be adopted now to face them, is becoming a question of survival for many people in the region,” says World Bank Climate Change Coordinator, Dorte Verner. “This is especially urgent for the poor and vulnerable who mostly do not have the assets to cope.”

GHarvesting knowledge to face a different tomorrow Harvesting knowledge to face a different tomorrow
Some basic facts:
The region faces the worst water scarcity in the world—up to 100 million people could be under water stress by 2050, e.g., Sanaa may be the first city to run out of water.
The Arab countries are expected to see increased temperatures of at least 2° Celsius in 15-20 years; and an increase of +4° C by 2100 is also likely.
The region is facing increased risk of floods, droughts, and landslides. Moreover, increases in temperature will exacerbate these climate-related hazards.
Because of its reliance on rainfed agriculture – the region’s agricultural output could decrease 20-40% by 2080 with decreased rainfall.
Water and vector-borne diseases are increasing due to increases in temperature.
Displacement and migration is becoming an increasingly important issue due to the changing climate.

Good development policy is good climate policy

Climate change is the defining challenge of our time. More than an environmental issue,climate variability and change threaten to reverse recent progress in poverty reduction and economic growth.

“For any economic, social and environmental policy to be sustainable it needs to address climate change up front—both in terms of adapting to climate change and to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions,” says Verner.

Across the Arab world, environmental degradation affects water availability, farmlands, rangelands, fisheries, and wildlife, with social implications affecting food security, livelihoods, health, and habitat. Excessive stress from these factors may cause additional impacts such as conflict, migration, and increased poverty and inequality. Hence, climate change is a threat to the economic development of the Arab world and its member countries, and if not addressed will further exacerbate the vulnerability of the poor.

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