Impact of Climate Change on Arab Countries - (IPCC) - Working ...

ARAB ENVIRONMENT: CLIMATE CHANGE
9
showed among different education and income
levels, it was interesting to note that the percentage
<strong>of</strong> females who deplored the inadequacy <strong>of</strong>
government action was much higher than that
<strong>of</strong> males (62% to 47%).
9- In your opinion what are the main 3
measures to mitigate climate change
causes and adapt to it Choose up to 3
from: Reduce consumption (mainly
energy); forest development and protection;
ratify and implement international
treaties; educational and awareness
campaigns; scientific research;
protection <strong>of</strong> low-lying coastal areas;
develop crops that need less water;
environment planning and monitoring
<strong>of</strong> mega-projects.
Reducing consumption, mainly <strong>of</strong> energy, was
voted the number one measure to mitigate climate
change, at both the regional level for the
total sample (64%) as well as in the sub-regions,
with minimal variations. Education and awareness
campaigns followed in second place in total
sample (50%) as well as in the Gulf (54%),
while forest development and protection took
second place in the Levant (53%), and ratifying
and implementing international treaties scored
second place in Arab African countries (52%).
The third place at the regional level covering the
total sample went for international treaties,
while at the sub-regional level the third place
was occupied by education in the Levant and
the Arab African countries, and international
treaties in the Gulf countries. It is to be noted
that protection <strong>of</strong> low-lying coastal areas scored
lower than 10% in most sub-regions, while it
got 33% in Qatar, 19% in Saudi Arabia, 17% in
Syria and 15% in Egypt. Scientific research
scored remarkably high in Qatar, with 51%.
Two results stood out in Oman: environment
planning and monitoring <strong>of</strong> mega-projects
scored first at 83% compared to a total average
<strong>of</strong> 41%, and protection <strong>of</strong> low-lying coastal
areas got zero, in spite <strong>of</strong> the damage caused by
hurricane Gonu in 2007.
IV. CONCLUSION
The outcome <strong>of</strong> the 2009 AFED survey on Arab
public opinion regarding climate change reveals
outright recognition <strong>of</strong> the problem at all levels
and in all countries <strong>of</strong> the region. The high percentage
<strong>of</strong> those who thought in 2009 that climate
change posed a serious threat to their countries
(84%) reveals a sharp increase compared to
a pan-Arab survey carried out in 2000 by Al-Bia
Wal-Tanmia (Environment & Development
Magazine - EDM) when only 42% thought so
(Arab Public Opinion and the Environment,
2000, EDM, UNEP, CAMRE). The results likely
reflect the high pr<strong>of</strong>ile climate change has
acquired in both global political agendas and
international media.
It is, however, interesting to note that 14% <strong>of</strong>
those who agreed that the climate is changing
globally, still did not think that this presented
real challenges to their own country. This leads
us to conclude that Arab public perception <strong>of</strong>
climate change is largely derived from international
media, in the absence <strong>of</strong> real work in the
countries <strong>of</strong> the region to identify local and
regional ramifications <strong>of</strong> the climate threat and
make them available to the public. However, the
survey clearly proves that the general opinion in
Arab countries recognizes climate change as a
reality, and largely accepts that it is mainly
caused by human activities. It is significant that
the majority thought that changing consumption
patterns every where, mainly sustainable
use <strong>of</strong> energy, is the prime measure needed to
mitigate to the threat.
In conclusion, the Arab public seems to be ripe to
accept and be part <strong>of</strong> concrete national and
regional action to deal with climate change.