March 2018 – Number 164 Z` ______________________________________________________________________________ Climate Change in MENA: Challenges and Opportunities for the World’s most water stressed region Lia Carol Sieghart and Mahlette Betre1 have severe implications for regional food security, livelihoods, public health and large Introduction: The Middle East and North Africa coastal cities (Figure 1). (MENA) region is no stranger to extreme temperatures. It is predicted that these extremes Figure 1. Climate Change impacts in the MENA will only worsen in the coming decades. region. (Source: Infographic developed for the World Compounded by changing precipitation Bank 2014, Turn Down the Heat: Confronting the patterns, water insecurity and projected sea level New Climate Normal) rise, the region is set to experience significant challenges to its development, particularly in the areas of agriculture, livelihoods and food security i . On the other hand, there are also significant opportunities to be realized and several countries in MENA are already taking steps towards advancing their global climate commitments and transitioning to a low-carbon, climate resilient economy. Recognizing that climate change poses an acute threat to its mission, the World Bank Group has made strong commitments to tackle the climate challenge and to work with countries to meet their climate goals. With the adoption of a Climate Change Action Planii, the Bank has laid out concrete actions for how it intends to scale up climate action, integrate climate change across its operations, and work more closely with others, through collective action and partnerships, to implement new and innovative solutions. In the MENA region, climate change is expected to result in sea level rise and an increase in heat extremes, which will put intense pressure on According to the WB report, Turn Down the Heatiii, already scarce water resources. These in turn will crop yields could decrease by up to 30 percent at 1.5–2°C and by almost 60 percent at 3–4°C. At the 1 The authors are in the Environment and Natural Resources Global Practice same time, migration and climate-related wastewater infrastructure, which will include the pressure on resources might increase the risk of construction of a service reservoir with a total conflict. capacity of 135,000 cubic meters to ensure improved water supply quality and reliability for MENA Countries Respond: Aware of their over 550,000 people. vulnerabilities to the impacts of climate change, MENA countries have begun to act. Almost every In Tunisia, the Bank is supporting a US$ 100 country in the region has submitted a plan for million project to improve landscape how they will contribute towards the global management and access to economic framework under the Paris Agreement that opportunities for targeted rural communities in drives collective action toward a zero-carbon, the North West and Center West regions of climate-resilient future iv . To help countries Tunisia. The project, which is targeting poorer implement these national plans, the MENA rural communities, is aimed at promoting Climate Action Plan was launched and aims to sustainable management of natural resources, increase the portion of financing dedicated to which are currently being threatened by climate climate action with a focus on protecting the change, overgrazing and, deforestation. The poorest that are most vulnerable to the impacts of integrated landscape development approach has climate change. The plan sets out five the potential of raising the value of the regions commitments: output nearly five-fold from the current US$16 million to US$75 million, with the potential to 1. By 2020, 30% of WBG finance to MENA will create around 25,000 jobs go towards climate action (this is above the Bank’s institutional target of 28%) Next Steps: Looking forward, the Bank’s MENA 2. Significantly increase the share of adaptation region will focus on achieving all of their financing (up to 50%) ambitious targets. The examples from Iraq and 3. Support policy reforms that lay the Tunisia both demonstrate how the Bank is foundations for a green future actively working with countries to help them 4. Crowd in private finance by leveraging the deliver on and exceed their Paris ambitions as whole WBG, including IFC and MIGA well as highlight the tremendous potential in the 5. Enable collective action to increase security region for increasing resilience to climate impacts in key cross-border challenges and reducing emissions, while advancing development goals. In Iraq, the Bank is supporting a US$210 million project to improve the quality of drinking water supply and wastewater services in Baghdad. Contact MNA K&L: Leakage of untreated wastewater and the Samia Msadek, Director, Strategy and Operations. improper disposal of sewage contributes to MENA Region, The World Bank outbreaks of waterborne diseases and aggravates Regional Quick Notes Team: Omer Karasapan, & health and environmental problems for residents. Mark Volk - Tel #: (202) 473 8177 These issues are only compounded by climate change. The Baghdad Water Supply and The MNA Quick Notes are intended to summarize lessons Sewerage Improvement Project will tackle these learned from MNA and other Bank Knowledge and issues through institutional strengthening for Learning activities. The Notes do not necessarily reflect the views of the World Bank, its board or its member urban water and utility management and countries. investments in drinking water supply and 2 i WBG Climate Action Plan, 2016 317301468242098870/pdf/927040v20WP00O0ull ii ibid 0Report000English.pdf iii iv http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/ http://unfccc.int/paris_agreement/items/9444. php 3