Overcoming the Environmental Challenge in the MENA Region

Solomon, Hussein; Tausch, Arno

The triple challenge of climate change, increasing populations and rapid urbanization is creating unique challenges to MENA countries. Whilst coastal cities like Alexandria risk falling into the sea due to rising sea levels, the Dead Sea is drying up and Jeddah experiences annual floods. The challenges are made worse by government mismanagement through poor town and regional planning or looking for short-term solutions to waste-management as opposed to seeking more sustainable solutions. Environmental challenges can be mitigated through innovative forward-looking solutions with MENA states working in partnership with civil society, the private sector, neighbouring states, and international stakeholders such as the World Bank. Morocco’s partnership with the World Bank and the private sector to arrive at a more sustainable waste management system, Jordan and Israel working together to save the Dead Sea, and the nascent promise of the Nile Basin Initiative are all different facets of attempts at overcoming environmental challenges posed.