A report released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) on October 18 highlights the alarming impact of climate change on the lives of more than 500 million individuals in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.
According to the report, the Middle East is on track to experience a temperature surge of four degrees Celsius by 2050, significantly surpassing the 1.5 degrees Celsius limit established by the 2015 Paris Agreement. The study further reveals that the region’s temperatures are escalating at a rate twice the global average.
Despite holding approximately 50% of the world’s confirmed oil reserves and contributing around 30% to global oil production, the MENA region faces imminent threats from climate change.
The report, titled “Closing the Climate Action Gap: Accelerating Decarbonization and the Energy Transition in MENA,” coincides with the upcoming COP28 conference in Dubai. It emphasizes that urgent action is needed to address climate challenges and provides a roadmap for decarbonization initiatives that could generate new economic opportunities.
Farmers in Egypt, for instance, are grappling with the adverse effects of climate change, with heat stress adversely affecting humans, livestock, and crops, leading to reduced productivity and economic losses.
The MENA region must accelerate efforts to reduce emissions, build resilience against climate change impacts like water scarcity, and foster collaborative initiatives among government entities, businesses, and international organizations, according to the WEF report. The urgency of the situation necessitates immediate and strategic actions to secure a sustainable future for the region.
