Climate Change in the Middle East & North Africa

Arab World countries have some of the highest wind and solar energy potentials in the world. Exploiting this wind and solar potential would strongly help Arab countries, enabling them to decrease the vulnerability of their existing energy systems Using wind and solar energy will also increase electricity production, which is important as demand in the majority of the countries is expected to increase steeply in coming decades due to demographic and economic development as well as to the increasing need for space cooling as temperatures rise.

The Middle East and North Africa is the most water stressed region in the world. The combination of rapid population growth and urbanization will put increased pressure on already scarce natural water resources. With rainfall projected to decline by 20 to 40% in a 2°C hotter world, and up to 60% in a 4°C world, the region’s capacity to provide water to its people and economies will be harshly tested. 

With 70 percent of the region’s agricultural production rain-fed, the sector is highly vulnerable to fluctuations in temperature and precipitation as a result of climate change. Impacts will vary, but it is often poorer, rural communities that are hit hardest by lost crops and livestock. Climate-smart agriculture can protect livelihoods while making the sector more sustainable and resilient.

The region is already suffering the impacts of climate change, and models predict it will only get worse. Temperatures will continue to rise and rainfall decline, while droughts will be longer, deeper, and more frequent. Countries are aware of the dangers and have begun taking action, but it will take the involvement of all segments of society to meet the climate challenges ahead.