Cascading Climate Risks and Options for Resilience and Adaptation in the Middle East and North Africa
Publisher: Chatham House
Author(s): Glada Lahn and Greg Shapland
Date: 2022
Topics: Climate Change, Economic Recovery, Gender, Humanitarian Assistance, Livelihoods, Renewable Resources
This report assesses the current situation and future projections of possible and likely biophysical climate impacts in the MENA region, based on a literature review, news articles and CASCADES climate impact data analysis. The authors adopt a water–food–energy nexus perspective, given that this resonates with environmental interests in the region. However, this concept remains open to new understandings that put a greater emphasis on ecosystems and well-being – for example, air quality, biodiversity and nutrition. Irrigation for crops and agricultural processing, water for energy, energy for potable water as well as oil and gas revenues to pay for food imports are some of the dependencies that climate change is challenging in the region. These are also some critical areas offering opportunities for resilience-building.