Is Green Tech the Answer to MENA’s Environmental and climate challenges?
Added: (Mon May 29 2023)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
The Middle East and North Africa must adapt to several significant environmental concerns, including food instability, water constraint, and climate change. The extraction and trade of oil and gas have promoted economic growth in the Mena region.
As a result, a collection of nations, particularly the GCC region, is now significantly pushing towards technology and green solutions as the globe moves away from fossil fuels. In reaction to global environmental and climate challenges and their effects on development and economic prosperity, the idea of a “green economy” emerged. Learn more about green tech below and how it can impact MENA’s environment.
Key Environmental Issues in MENA Countries
The Middle East region is most vulnerable to climatic shocks, significantly rising temperatures, and water scarcity due to its geographic location and arid meteorological conditions. The Middle East region is the most water-stressed region on Earth, with only 1% of the world’s total renewable freshwater supplies, according to the World Resource Institute’s Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas.
The most noticeable impact of climate change in the MENA region has been water shortage; experts frequently refer to this area as “the world’s most water-stressed.”
Other climate effects that are anticipated to have an impact on MENA residents, particularly those in rural areas and urban peripheries, migrants and refugees, informal sector workers, and other vulnerable communities, include desertification, population movements (both within the region and from elsewhere), food insecurity, and rising temperatures and their detrimental effects on health and productivity.
In a region with a water shortage, climate change intensifies the constraints already put on water supply by population growth. It will likely continue to reduce total and per capita water availability to harmful low levels. This is particularly true in nations like Iraq, where irrigated agriculture is a substantial industry. Some models predict that by 2025, between 80 and 90 million people in the region will experience water stress; Iran has already experienced demonstrations due to water shortages.
Green Tech Adoption In The Middle East
Fortunately, Middle Eastern nations are becoming more conscious of these climatic pressures and are dedicated to resolving them, particularly by constructing dams and expanding the use of water desalination. According to an IBM survey, most Middle Eastern CEOs and organizations prioritize sustainability and clean energy because they believe that such investments will hasten the expansion of their companies.
Additionally, a recent industry report showed that Qatar
is set to lead the expansion of the cleantech sector in the Middle East and Africa as its supportive government policies and cutting-edge tech infrastructure offer a $75 billion investment potential by 2030.
Based on research by Qatar’s Investment Promotion Agency, the gas-rich country is developing as a leader in the cleantech sector due to its sustainability initiatives, the wealth of natural resources, and early-mover advantage in green hydrogen generation.
Large-scale activities and projects have been started in the region, including renewable energy, recycling plastic and electronic waste, and supporting green businesses offering sustainable solutions. Environmental investment is one of the most crucial components of expanding employment possibilities and promoting economic development.