UNDP host meeting on Water and Climate Change Adaptation in Middle East, set to be hard hit by Global Warming

The United Nations Development Programme will host a meeting on Water and Climate Change Adaption in the Middle East in Stockholm on August 19. The gathering is organized together with Stockholm International Water Institute during World Water Week (August 16-22) to highlight that the region will be among the hardest hit by Global Warming, causing increased scarcity of already limited water resources.

A press conference will take place at the Press Center of the World Water Week (www.worldwaterweek.org) at 1400 the following day, Thursday August 20. Senior UNDP officials and experts are available for interviews during World Water Week.

Senior representatives from 10 countries in the Middle East are expected to participate, with discussions mainly set to focus on Water and Climate Change impacts and the development of adaptation strategies to respond to these challenges in the region.

Even though the countries of the Middle East historically were among the lowest contributors to Global Warming, research shows that Climate Change will have a disproportionally severe impact on the region and its development.

Of the many social, economic and environmental factors being impacted by Climate Change, among the most affected will be the region's water resources - already quite scarce - which are critical to people's lives and the economies of the area.

The consequences are far reaching, and are likely to have the largest impact on the poorer countries and the most vulnerable, including indigenous peoples, women, children, the elderly, poor, marginalized and disadvantaged. Despite an increasing body of research highlighting these expected severe challenges, little has been done to prepare for them.

UNDP hosts the gathering to increase awareness of how Climate Change will impact the Middle East among the countries of the region and the International Community. It is hoped a better understanding will spur the development of effective adaptation strategies responding to Climate Change impacts and dwindling water resources.

While the meeting on August 19 is closed to the media, a press conference will take place at 1400 the following day (Thursday, August 20) at the Press Center of the World Water Week.

Senior UNDP officials and experts - including Mr. Paolo Lembo, Director of UNDP-Iraq and instigator of the initiative, and Mr. Hosny Khordagui, Director of UNDP's Water Governance Program in the Arab States - are available for interviews, both at the World Water Week and by telephone.


For more information and to organize interviews, please contact Mr. Paal Aarsaether at paal.aarsaether@undp.org or mobile +962 79 7204 209.