As COP 29 begins, a report reveals that the MENA region is significantly affected by climate change, notably heating twice as fast as the global average. Key issues include reliance on food imports, elite governance inhibiting effective response, and geopolitical risks tied to resource scarcity. Countries like Morocco and Turkey show promise in green energy transitions, while collaboration among MENA nations remains crucial yet challenging.
As COP 29 commences, a significant report by the European Centre for Development Policy Management highlights the alarming impact of human-induced climate change on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The report emphasizes the increasing threats posed by rising temperatures and severe droughts, particularly noting that the Middle East is warming at twice the global average. Nations such as Egypt and Iraq face heightened vulnerability to sea-level rises, with intergovernmental cooperation deemed essential to combat these cross-border climate challenges, although such collaboration remains elusive amid existing geopolitical tensions. The reliance of numerous MENA countries on imported food, primarily grains, compounds their vulnerability to fluctuations in global food prices fueled by climate events or conflicts, exemplified by the disruptions stemming from the Russia-Ukraine War. The report stresses that centralized power structures in the region, often monopolized by elites with vested interests in oil and gas, hinder effective climate change responses. Oligarchic practices promote water-intensive crops like citrus for export, neglecting local food security despite pressing hunger issues. Countries such as Tunisia exemplify this with an olive cultivation focus that could jeopardize agricultural diversity and exacerbate water scarcity. In Libya, where economy and food security are heavily tied to oil exports, climatic disruptions pose a dire threat, especially as global shifts towards electric vehicles may further strain local petroleum revenues. The authors categorize the cross-border risks associated with climate change into five critical categories: biophysical threats to ecosystems like international river basins, financial issues stemming from potentially reduced foreign investment, trade risks impacting the import/export dynamics of climate-sensitive crops, people-centered risks associated with displacement, and geopolitical tensions resulting from competition over dwindling resources. Despite European investment in aiding MENA countries’ transitions to renewable energy, financial assistance for enhancing climate resilience remains inadequate. The report underscores the varied landscape of MENA, highlighting its socioeconomic disparities, with poorer regions like Syria and Yemen facing acute poverty compared to emerging economies striving for greener futures, particularly Morocco and Turkey, which lead in renewable energy adaptation. The report paints a dire picture of the MENA region’s current state, indicating that without substantial cooperation and a shift to sustainable practices, the effects of climate change will irrevocably alter the landscape and stability of the region.
The MENA region faces critical challenges due to climate change, which threatens not only individual nations but also interconnected ecosystems and economies. The European Centre for Development Policy Management’s report sheds light on how the prompt action against climate change is complicated by entrenched political structures, socio-economic disparities, and interdependence between nations in this geopolitically sensitive area. With rising temperatures and ongoing geopolitical conflicts, the condition calls for unprecedented cooperation among nations to address cross-border climate threats effectively.
In conclusion, the report highlights the urgent need for regional cooperation to address the multifaceted impacts of climate change in the MENA region. The interconnected nature of environmental threats and socio-economic dynamics necessitates a collective response that transcends national borders. Without such collaboration, nations within MENA risk persistent vulnerability and instability, potentially exacerbated by climate events and geopolitical tensions. Moving forward, targeted initiatives fostering sustainability and resilience in the face of climate challenges will be paramount for securing the region’s future prosperity and stability.
Original Source: www.juancole.com
