‘Impact of Climate Change on the Arab World’ is the second of a series of annual reports produced by the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED). The first AFED report, published in 2008 under the title ‘Arab Environment: Future Challenges’, covered the most pressing environmental issues facing the region, and went beyond stating the facts to provide policy-oriented analysis. The report was presented to AFED’s annual conference which convened in Manama in October 2008. The conference issued recommendations based on the report’s findings, which were consequently endorsed by various organizations, and resonated in public statements and policy commitments across the region.

The present report identifies the major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the Arab world, found to contribute merely 4.2% to the global emissions. However, the impact of climate change on the fragile environment of the region and its people is expected to be immense, which demands urgent planning for adaptation measures.  AFED hopes that the report will provide guidelines and policy options which will assist Arab countries to be active parties in global endeavors.