The World Bank is committed to assist developing countries in their efforts to address the climate challenge through a variety of analytical tools and of financial services including the Proposed Climate Investment Fund. This web site contains information on the main activities undertaken or planned by the World Bank to address climate change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), both in terms of enhancing country resilience to climate change impacts and of reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. Adaptation. MENA is one of the regions that is most vulnerable to climate change, on accounts of the highest level of water scarcity in the world, a significant dependence on climate-sensitive agriculture, the concentration of populations and economic activity in flood-prone urban coastal zones, and the presence of conflict-ridden areas in which climate induced resource scarcity could escalate violence and political turmoil even beyond the region's boundaries. 
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Mitigation. While MENA's share in overall greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change is low (4.5%), the region has the second largest volume of emissions per unit of GDP, and one of the fastest rates of growth in emission. Both are largely due to a relatively inefficient use of energy, which will hamper the region's competitiveness in the long term. In addition, the high carbon content of MENA's energy mix, and the high energy intensity of its growth result in a number of negative externalities, such as air pollution, and traffic congestions, which have high social and economic costs. See: MENA CO2 Emissions Chart Further background information on climate change in the region can be found in the draft regional business plan. For more information, please contact Raffaello Cervigni (rcervigni@worldbank.org), Regional Coordinator for Climate Change. |
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