From CANAW board
There is No country in the world that is not directly affected by the serious impacts of climate change. Greenhouse gas emissions are still rising; today they are 50 per cent higher than in 1990. Moreover, global warming is causing long-term changes in our climate’s system, threatening to irreversible consequences if we do not take the necessary actions and take the adequate measures towards mitigation and adaptation. The Arab region today is one of the regions that bear the brunt of the burden related to addressing climate phenomena.
According to the statistics of the United Nations Development Program on the Arab countries, "the Arab region is witnessing a rise in temperatures faster than the global average, where temperatures are expected to rise to 4 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. Droughts have become more frequent and severe, threatening to decrease agricultural production by 20 percent by 2080, and climate change is expected to reduce renewable water in the region by 20 percent by 2030. Forced climate-induced displacement - both due to drought and sea-level rise - is a particular threat, as it lives about 9% of the population of the Arab region in coastal areas which will be about five meters below the sea level. Today, all Arab countries have developed national plans under the Paris Agreement to expand their investments in enhancing their capabilities to adapt to climate change. ”
From the deep conviction of climate action network in the Arab world about the importance of the roles that Arab civil society can play in accelerating the efforts of Arab countries in supporting the issue of environmental protection and resisting climate hazards, we seek to play an effective role in protecting the climate globally and from the Arab region in a way that ensures equity, social justice, equality, inclusion of youth and women, geographical balance and sustainable development among peoples through:
- Strengthen civil society in the region and improving climate action.
- Develop knowledge in climate change at the regional level.
- Strengthen and build capacities and competencies inside the network for the entire membership.
- Plead and strengthen the pressure on governments.
- Work to activate the role of private sector and ensure its commitment.
- Ensure an effective participation of youth and women.
- Call for experts’ participation and building on the scientific method.
- Produce and publish articles, reports, statistics, studies, political papers and research.
In this context, we cannot fail to acknowledge the efforts made by all member organizations, structures, workers, actors, and partners in order to improve the work in the climate action network in the Arab world, to improve climate action, and we hope that the outputs of these scientific papers will be a breakthrough and a reference for the exchange of information, Developing research and knowledge in the field of climate change, and helping us to achieve our strategy.
Hamza Oudghiri
Chairman of Climate Action Network-Arab World.