COP 29 highlights the urgent threats of climate change in the MENA region, exacerbated by oligarchic governance and reliance on food imports. Key concerns include rising temperatures, droughts, and geopolitical instability impacting food security and population displacement. Only limited nations have effectively transitioned to renewable energy, indicating a need for greater collaboration and support to enhance climate resilience across the region.
As COP 29 convenes, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region faces significant threats from human-induced climate change, particularly those shared across borders. The European Centre for Development Policy Management has highlighted concerns such as rising temperatures, increased droughts, and sea-level rise that disproportionately affect countries like Egypt and Iraq. These challenges necessitate inter-governmental collaboration, which is currently lacking in the region, compounded by oligarchic governance structures that prioritize financial gains over sustainable practices. Food security represents a critical cross-border issue as many MENA countries depend heavily on grain imports. Events like the Russia-Ukraine War disrupted wheat supplies, revealing the vulnerability of these nations to global climate-induced crises. Additionally, the exploitation of water resources, illustrated by cultivation preferences for export crops such as citrus and olive, exacerbates food insecurity and environmental degradation. Several categories of cross-border threats are identified, including biophysical risks affecting trans-boundary ecosystems, financial implications due to decreased foreign investments, and trade vulnerabilities regarding climate-sensitive crops. Moreover, the plight of displaced populations, due to conflicts and environmental changes, poses severe humanitarian challenges. The geopolitical tensions in the region, further intensified by external conflicts, also highlight the intertwined nature of climate issues and political stability. While efforts from Europe have focused on transitioning MENA economies to renewable energy sources, significant financial support remains insufficient to enhance climate resilience. The MENA region’s demographic diversity and varying degrees of economic development further complicate its response to climate change. Notably, Morocco and Turkey stand out for their advancements in sustainable energy transitions compared to their regional counterparts.
The MENA region is experiencing its own unique set of climate challenges exacerbated by geographical diversity, political instability, and economic disparity. The reported rise in temperature, drought conditions, and the looming threat of sea-level rise pose complex issues that not only affect individual countries but also require cooperative regional efforts to address them effectively. The imbalance of power among governing bodies, particularly the prevalence of oligarchs benefitting from oil and gas, hinders efforts to promote sustainable agricultural practices and equitable resource management. This dynamic severely limits the ability of grassroots organizations to influence climate policy, potentially undermining collective resilience against climate threats.
In conclusion, the threats posed by climate change in the MENA region are not only immediate but also complex, requiring multifaceted responses and inter-country cooperation. The reliance on imported food, the concentration of economic power among elites, and the geopolitical landscape contribute to vulnerabilities that could escalate with future climate events. While there have been strides in renewable energy adoption in some nations, a broader commitment to fostering resilience and sustainable development across the region is imperative. Without a united approach, both environmental and humanitarian crises may worsen, intensifying conflicts and displacement.
Original Source: www.juancole.com
