In a region scarred by years of wars and displacement, climate change and water scarcity have become yet another threat for fragile contexts in Middle East and North Africa. In this region, populations’ ability to cope with the impacts of climate change is limited, thereby aggravating their overall vulnerability.
The region is already overwhelmed by displacement crises, the ruinous effects of climate change may push millions towards further displacement as a result of water scarcity, drought and extreme weather.
Over the last few years, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been researching the impact of climate change and water scarcity on rural and displaced communities in the region. In four countries researched – Iraq, Syria, Palestine and Libya – climate change, combined with displacement and conflict, is exacerbating existing suffering.
Water and agricultural infrastructure has in many cases been partially or completely destroyed to due conflict, rendering countries in the region more vulnerable to climate change. But scaling up climate financing to fragile and conflict-affected countries, and efforts to address climate impacts on displacement have been mostly ignored in past UN climate change conferences and agreements.
As world states come together for the annual UN climate change conference in the UAE, an ambitious climate financing and adaptation plan must prioritise support for conflict affected and displaced populations to overcome what will be a growing crisis across affected contexts, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa.
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