Climate Change Vulnerability and Sustainable Tools for Mitigation and Adaptation Achievement in MENA Region

Climate change and its damageable consequences have been over the last decades a central subject of academic research, government policies, and corporate strategies. The MENA region is the location of harsh climatic conditions, such as extremely high temperatures, limited groundwater and rainfall, and a scarcity of agriculture. These conditions generate vulnerability and impact human societies and ecosystems. Since the majority of the region’s countries are arid or semi-arid, the negative effects of climate change contribute to the intensification of water scarcity, food insecurity, health risks, and migration. In addition, if some countries have succeeded in developing national strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation, other countries are constantly behind, and some environmental indicators are still alarming. According to studies, Egypt has the highest risk and vulnerability compared with Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria. Regarding sustainable actions, Middle Eastern countries are significantly more responsive to financial sustainability, and their growth has been exponential. Moreover, several tools are providing solutions to deal with the sustainability problems faced by the region, such as the circular economy and green finance. Furthermore, there is a growing interest in adopting clean fuels for public transport fleets and developing solar energy. This chapter consists of three sections. The first section investigates climate change vulnerability, devoting attention to its consequences for humans and ecosystems. The second section highlights the different sustainable actions and programs put in place by the countries to face the effects of climate change, and the last section exposes the tools for climate mitigation and adaptation to be promoted within the countries.