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Knowledge Center


Featured Research

ACRI Background Paper: Mapping of Climate Change Threats and Human Development Impacts in the Arab Region – Balgis Osman Elasha

Drawing on data from the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other studies, this paper outlines the range of projected impacts of climate change in key areas at stake for the Arab countries, including water scarcity and desertification, sea-level rise, agricultural production, exposure to extreme weather events, and human health, as well as the connections with possible impacts on broader human development.

 

ACRI Background Paper: Climate Change: Economic Challenges and Opportunities in the Arab Region – Ibrahim Abdel Gelil

This paper puts forward strategic and action-oriented recommendations for addressing economic challenges and seizing economic opportunities in the energy sector. Exploring both demand-side options related to energy efficiency, and supply-side options related to expanding investment in the renewable sector, the paper provides background for discussions and analysis on the energy-side of the climate-change equation.

 

ACRI Background Papers



Energy Subsidies in the Arab World

Mapping of Climate Change Threats and Human Development Impacts in the Arab Region

Climate Change Adaptation: Options and Good Practices for the Arab Region

Impact of Sea-Level Rise on the Arab Region

Climate Change and Energy: Economic Challenges and Opportunities in the Arab Regions

Climate Change Research on Energy Efficiency in the Arab Region

Local and Territorial Approach to Climate Change in the Arab Countries

Climate Change Data Center for the Arab States

Part of UNDP's Arabstats.org initiative, the Climate Change Data Center for the Arab States is a searchable database of up-to-date climate change and environment data on the twenty Arab countries covered by UNDP's Regional Bureau for Arab States.

 

ACRI Presentations and Speeches


Water Scarcity, Drought and Population Mobility

Ismail Ould-Cheikh Ahmed – UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for Syria
"Arab climate resilience initiative- Climate change impacts in the Arab region: water scarcity, drought and population mobility."

Fatma El-Mallah – Adivsor to the Secretary General, League of Arab States.
"Speech of LAS in the opening of regional consultation meeting on water scarcity, drought and population movement."

Adel Abdellatif - Regional Bureau for Arab States, UNDP
"Arab climate resilience initiative."

Eman Ghoneim - University of North Carolina
"Exploring new water resources to alleviate the impact of climate change on the Arab region." (N/A)

Hamed Assaf - ESCWA
"Climate change: projected impacts on water resources in the Arab region and adaptation options".

Naif Abou Lohom - Sana'a University
"The impacts of climate change on water resources." [Arabic Version]

Rachid Khanfir - Direction Générale des Ressources en Eau – MARH.
"Water and climate change adaptation – Tunisian case. "

Hassan Mohannadi - Vice-Chairman, Permanent Population Committee, General Secretariat for Development and Planning
"Water and climate change in Qatar."

Nadim Farajalla - American University of Beirut (AUB)
"Climate change and water resources in Lebanon."

Hassan Janabi - Official Representative of Iraq to the FAO in Rome
"Water security in Iraq"

Ali Ghazi - Ministry of Town and Country Planning, Environment and Tourism, Algeria.
"Impact of climate change on land – threat on land and food security in Maghreb countries."

Ismail Elgizouli – Environment Adviser, Higher Council for Environment and Natural Resources, Sudan
"Impact of climate change on the water and agriculture sectors in Sudan."

Mansour Almazroui - Center of Excellence for Climate Change Research, King Abdulaziz University
"Climate change studies at the center of excellence for climate change research." (N/A)

Zuhair Masri - Syrian Association for Development of the Environment (NADE)
"Addressing the impacts of climate change on agriculture and food security in Syria."

Boshra Salem - University of Alexandria.
"Impacts of climate change on land use: Threats to arable lands and food security."

Mahmoud El-Solh – Director General, International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
"Climate change, drought and desertification."

Essam Heggy – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Monitoring Drought with Satellite Imagery (N/A)

Zeyad Makhamreh - University of Jordan
"Exacerbate the problem of drought and desertification in Jordan."

Asma Ali Abahussein -  Arabian Gulf University
"Climate change and desertification in the Kingdom of Bahrain."

Ziad Mimi - Birzeit University
"Climate change: impacts, adaptations and policy-making process: Palestine as a case study."

Philippe Boncour – Head of the International Dialogue on Migration Division, International Organization for Migration
"Managing Climate-Induced Migration: Regional Perspective"

Paul Rushton - International Organization for Migration (IOM)
"Climate and environment - activities and findings."

Mohammed Houmymid - National Coordinator of the Program for Sustainable Territorial Development of the Southern Provinces.
"Social Impacts of Climate Change: A Moroccan Perspective"

Hamed Bakir – Regional Advisor on Health and the Environment, World Health Organization
"Impacts on Vulnerable Groups: A Regional Perspective" (N/A)

Balgis Elasha - African Development Bank
"Regional synopsis of adaptation to climate change."

Ian Rector – UNDP
"Africa Adaptation Programme - programme overview presentation."

Amr Fadlelmawla - Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)
"Desalination role in Kuwait's water sector."

Mohammed Ouessar - Institut des Régions Arides
"Water harvesting and climate change adaptation in the dry areas of Tunisia."

Riad Balaghi - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Morocco
"Climate change and how to integrate environmental challenges within Green Morocco Plan."

Elie Kodsi - Drylands Development Centre, UNDP
"State of finance for adaptation and UNDP's strategy for supporting countries in the Arab states."

Fatma El-Mallah – Regional Advisor to the Secretary General, League of Arab States
"Climate change is an Arab priority."

 

Sea-level Rise and Coastal Erosion

James Rawley – UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for Egypt
"Remarks - Climate change impacts in the Arab region: sea level rise, coastal erosion and human development."

Adel Abdellatif – Regional Bureau for Arab States, UNDP
"Climate change impacts in the Arab region: sea level rise, coastal erosion and human development."

Fatma El-Mallah – Advisor to the Secretary General, League of Arab States
"Speech of LAS in the opening of regional consultation meeting on sea level rise, coastal erosion and human development."

Shaden Abdel Gawad - President, National Water Research Center, Egypt
"Climate change impacts in the Arab region: sea level rise, coastal erosion and human development."

Mohamed El-Raey - University of Alexandria
"Mapping of the impact of sea level rise on Arab states."

Essam Heggy – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
"Climate change and its impact on Egypt – when the unpredicted happens."

Roberto Pitea - International Organization for Migration
"Demographic change and human mobility in the Arab region."

Abdellatif Khattabi - Ecole Nationale Forestière d'Ingenieurs
"Vulnerability of Moroccan coastal zones to sea level rise and shoreline erosion."

Gamal Bawazir - Marine Biological Research Authority
"Loss of biodiversity"

Mansour Almazroui - Director, Center of Excellence for Climate Change Research, King Abdulaziz University
"Quality assurance and climatic extreme." (N/A)

Angela Santucci - International Organization for Migration
"Migration, climate change and the environment."

Mohammed Karrou - International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA)
"Adaptation of agriculture to climate change."

Benno Boer – Ecological Sciences Advisor for the Arab Regin, UNESCO
"UNESCO's climate change related activities and plans in education, science & culture in the Arab region with a notion on the importance of tourism."

Osama Hamad - World Bank
"Vulnerability to climate change and natural disasters of coastal cities of North Africa."

Ibrahim El-Shinnawy – Director, Coastal Research Institute (CoRI)
"Vulnerability assessment and adaptation policies for climate change impacts on the Nile Delta coastal zones."

Hassan Mohannadi – Vice-Chairman, Permanent Population Committee, General Secretariat for Development and Planning
"Sea level rise in Qatar: Impact and response".

Sabah Aljenaid - Arabian Gulf University
"The potential effects of climate change on sea level rise and coastal erosion and Human Development, Kingdom of Bahrain."

Suaad Al Harthi - Abu Dhabi Environment Agency
"Climate change and sea level rise impacts in the United Arab Emirates."

Amjad Abbashar - UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (UNISDR)
"Disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation."

Ante Baric – Global Environment Facility (GEF), UNEP Mediterranean Action Plan
"Coastal Zone Management: A Regional Approach"

Jan Dietrich – General Manager, NIRAS Egypt
"Meeting the Challenges of Sea Level Rise and Coastal Erosion... a Case Story Shoreline Management from The North West Coast of Egypt"

Jaap Kwadijk – Deltares
"Cross-comparison of Adaptation Strategies Across Large River Basins"

Abdelouahed Fikrat - Directeur de l'Aménagement du Territoire (DAT)
"Integrated management of the coast procedures and prospects."

Ivo Bastings – Director of Coastal & Waterways, Gulf Region, Royal Haskoning
"Coastal resilience".

 

Sustainable Energy

H.E. Dr. Abdul Hussain Bin Ali Mirza -Minister of Oil and Gas Affairs, Chairman of National Oil and Gas Authority, Bahrain
"Towards sustainable energy" [Arabic Version]

Adel Abdellatif – Regional Bureau for Arab States, UNDP
"Climate change impacts in the Arab region: Toward sustainable energy – resources, Challenges, and opportunities."

Ibrahim Abdel Gelil – Arabian Gulf University
"Energy efficiency and renewable resources in the Arab region."

Walid Al-Deghaili - ESCWA
"Towards integration of the electric linkage projects - Considerations and potential."

Chandrasekar Govindarajalu - Senior Energy Specialist MENA Energy Unit, World Bank
"The Middle East and North Africa in a changing climate... Building resilience and reducing emissions."

Samir Hassan – Executive Director, Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE)
"The current initiatives in renewable energy and energy efficiency across the Arab region."

Noura Laroussi Ben Lazreg – Director General, Agence Nationale pour la Maitrise de l'Energie (ANME)
"Energy conservation and renewable energy, technology and financing mechanisms and the role of the private sector."

Ibrahim Yassin - UNDP GEF
"Energy efficiency improvement and Greenhouse gas reduction project."

Amal Haddouche – General Director, Centre de Développement des Energies Renouvelables (CDER)
"Alternative and renewable energy - Morocco: Integrated approach solar plan."

Izourar Abderahmane Zino - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Algeria
"Renewable energy in Algeria."

Ali Ebraheem Hajiah - Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR)
"Sustainable energy in Kuwait––challenges and opportunities."

Sarfraz Dairkee - Coordinator of Technical Committee, UAE Green Building Council
"The Pursuit towards sustainable energy - resources, challenges and opportunities."

Najib Saab – Secretary General, Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED)
"Report on Climate Change" (N/A)

Nesreen Ghaddar - American University of Beirut (AUB)
"Climate change impacts in the Arab region: Towards sustainable energy – resources, challenges and opportunities."

Yousef El-Yousef - Energy Research Institute, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST)
"Renewable energy research and development in Saudi Arabia; role of KACST."

Waheeb Al Naser - University of Bahrain
"Renewable energy to combat climate change for GCC countries."

Patrick Linke - Qatar Foundation
"Towards sustainable energy – Knowledge and technology transfer." (N/A)

Jihad Jaafar - RAED Bahrain National Coordinator - Bahrain Women Association
"The role of civil society in the rationalization and improvement of energy efficiency."

Hussein Makki - National Oil and Gas Authority (NOGA)
"Climate change and technology transfer."

Michael Jefferson - International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics (IIIEE), Sweden
"Climate resilience – Balancing sound energy initiatives against future challenges."

Shaza Ghaleb Al Jondi - International Labour Organization (ILO)
"Green jobs: A double dividend?"

Benoit Lebot - UNDP Environment and Energy Group
"Financial mechanisms to address climate change."

Albertus Kleinveld - Dubai electricity and water authority
"Dubai carbon center of excellence (DCCE)."

Ibrahim Abdel Gelil – Arabian Gulf University
"Major challenges - Synthesis of challenges, priorities, and opportunities."

 

Regional Forum on Addressing Climate Change Impacts in Arab Countries

Opening Statement, Day 1 - Bruno Pouezat (UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Representative, Morocco) (French)

Opening Statement, Day 1 - Fatma El-Mallah (Advisor to the Secretary General on Climate Change, League of Arab States) (Arabic)

Presentation on ACRI - Adel Abdellatif (Chief, Regional Programme Division, UNDP Regional Bureau for Arab States)

Panel 1: Coping with Climate Change Challenges and Potential for Agriculture and Food Security in Arab Countries - Mahmoud El Solh (Director General, ICARDA)

Panel 2: Presentation of Consultation Findings on Sea Level Rise, Coastal Erosion and Human Development - Mohamed El-Raey (Professor, University of Alexandria)

Panel 3: Presentation of Consultation Findings on Sustainable Energy - Ibrahim Abdel Gelil (Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain)

Panel 4: Territorial Approach to Climate Change in Morocco - Abdallah Rattal (Deputy Director, Sec. of State of Water and Environment, Morocco) (French)

Panel 4: Local and Territorial Approach to Climate Change in the Arab Countries - Meriem Houzir (Expert) (French)

Opening Statement, Day 2 - Ms. Amat Al Alim Alsoswa (Assistant Secretary General, Assistant Administrator and Director of the Regional Bureau for Arab States, UNDP)

 

Climate Change and the Road to Rio
Preparatory Workshop for Delegates to the UN Climate Change Conference (COP-17) and the UNCSD Rio+20
Opening

H.E. Mr. Mourad Medelci, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Algeria

Mr. Mamadou Mbaye, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative of Algeria

Mr. Adel Abdellatif - Chief, Regional Programme Division, UNDP RBAS
“Overview of Climate Change and the Road to Rio”
The Political Process

Mr. Mootaz Khalil - Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Minister’s Office, Egypt
“Introductory Remarks on the Political Process”

Ms. Fatma El-Mallah - Advisor to the Secretary-General on Climate Change, League of Arab States (LAS)

Mitigation

Mr. Fernando Castellanos Silveira - Programme Officer, Executive Direction and Management Programme, UNFCCC Secretariat
“Climate Change Mitigation State of Play in the Negotiations “

Mr. Thomas Athanasiou - Executive Director, Ecoequity
“Greenhouse Development Rights: An approach to equitable global burden-sharing”
Sustainable Energy

Mr. Badis Derradji - CEO of New Energy Algeria (NEAL), Ministry of Energy and Mines, Algeria “Opening Remarks”

Mr. Guillermo Jiménez-Blasco - UNIDO Representative in Algeria
“Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development”

Ms. Rabia Ferroukhi - Senior Policy Officer, IRENA
“Climate Change and the Road to Rio: Renewable Energy Options”
Adaptation

Mr. Fernando Castellanos Silveira - Programme Officer, Executive Direction and Management Programme, UNFCCC Secretariat
“Adaptation to Climate Change”

Mr. Martin Frick - Programme Leader, Third Generation Environmentalism (E3G)
“Some thoughts on climate and security”

Mr. Shivsharan Someshwar - Director, Asia Pacific Regional Program, International Research Institute for Climate and Society, Columbia University
“Science for climate resilient development”
Food Security

Mr. Mohamed El Mourid - Regional Coordinator for North Africa Program, ICARDA & Mr. Rachid Serraj - Director of Diversification and Sustainable Intensification of Production Systems Program, ICARDA
“Climate Change and Food Security in Arab Countries: Improving Dryland Systems Resilience & Adaptation to Climate Change”

Mr. Hassan Haji Ibrahim - Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Somalia
“Somalia and the Impact of Climate Change”
Financing

Mr. Waddah Ghanem - Vice Chairman, Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence
“Carbon Market Initiative”

Mr. Mark Fulton - Managing Director and Global Head of Climate Change Investment Research and Strategy, Deutsche Bank
“GET FiT Programme: Scaling-up renewable energy in developing countries”

Mr. Michael Clark - Senior Interregional Adviser, UNCTAD
“An Alternative Approach to Climate Finance”
Technology Transfer

Ahmed Abdel Latif - Senior Programme Manager, Innovation, Technology and Intellectual Property ICTSD
“The Technology Mechanism and the role of intellectual property rights in technology transfer”

Mr. Mongi Hamdi, Head of the Science, Technology and ICT, UNCTAD
“Technology transfer options for low-carbon development”
Green Economy

Mr. Mootaz Khalil - Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Minister’s Office, Egypt
“The Green Economy: Challenges, Risks, and Opportunities”

 

 

The Arab Climate Resilience Initiative (ACRI) is a UNDP programme that aims to address the challenges of climate change by connecting stakeholders in the Arab States to innovative knowledge, partnerships and solutions. More on the Initiative