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

ARAB ENVIRONMENT: CLIMATE CHANGE 15
Declaration on <strong>Climate</strong> <strong>Change</strong>, which constitutes
the basis for future action and reflects the
Arab position in dealing with climate change
issues. The declaration stated that “Mitigation
programs shall focus on: the production and
use <strong>of</strong> cleaner fuels, improving the efficiency <strong>of</strong>
energy use in all sectors, diversifying energy
sources in accordance with the prevailing economic
and social conditions, expanding the use
<strong>of</strong> cleaner production techniques and environmental
friendly technologies, as well as expanding
the use <strong>of</strong> economic incentives to encourage
more efficient products, along with speedy
endeavours to conclude negotiations in the
WTO to define lists <strong>of</strong> environmental goods so
as to reduce or lift customs restrictions in
accordance, and the utilization <strong>of</strong> carbon trading
and its markets” (CAMRE, 2007).
Currently, CAMRE is leading efforts to develop
an Arab climate change action plan.
II. THE ARAB ENERGY SECTOR
The energy sector in the Arab region has been
and will continue to play a critical role in the
region’s socioeconomic development. Oil revenues,
estimated at $419 billion in 2006, have
been the major source <strong>of</strong> income in most <strong>of</strong> the
Arab countries, especially in the Gulf region.
According to the Arab Unified Economic
Report, the oil and gas sector makes up about
40% <strong>of</strong> the total Arab GDP. The same report
estimated that Arab countries hold nearly 58% <strong>of</strong>
the world’s oil reserves, and nearly 30% <strong>of</strong> the
world’s gas reserves. In 2006, the region accounted
for nearly 32% <strong>of</strong> the world’s oil production,
and 12.5% <strong>of</strong> the world’s gas production (LAS,
2007). The Arab countries rely heavily on oil and
gas to meet domestic energy demand, they both
account for nearly 97.5% <strong>of</strong> the total Arab energy
consumption. The average per capita energy
consumption level in the Arab countries (nearly
1.5 tonnes <strong>of</strong> oil equivalent, or TOE) lies
between some developing countries such as
China (1.3 TOE), India (0.5 TOE), and Brazil
(1.1 TOE), and some developed economies such
as the US (7.2 TOE), Japan (4.3 TOE), and
Australia (5.8 TOE). There are remarkable disparities
in per capita energy consumption
amongst different Arab countries depending
mainly on income levels, standard <strong>of</strong> living,
degree <strong>of</strong> urbanization and climatic conditions.
The figure ranges from as low as 0.33 TOE in
Yemen to as high as 22.07 TOE in Qatar (IEA,
2008).
Industry is the major energy consuming sector in
the Arab countries, accounting for about 45% <strong>of</strong>
the total consumption followed by the transport
sector (32%). The residential, commercial and
agricultures sectors make up the rest. This pattern
<strong>of</strong> energy consumption determines the
major sources <strong>of</strong> the GHG emissions, and in
many instances identifies the policy priorities and
measures needed to reduce such emissions.
Measures to mitigate GHG emissions
Measures to mitigate GHG emissions include
those which reduce GHG emissions from different
anthropogenic activities as well as those
which enhance carbon sinks. Major sources <strong>of</strong>
GHG emissions are the energy sector, industrial
sector, and the agriculture sector. In the energy
sector, measures to mitigate GHG emissions
cover the supply and demand sides. Measures in
the supply side include energy efficiency in
power generation and oil refining, use <strong>of</strong> combined
heat and power to produce electricity and
water, fuel switching away from carbon fuels,
electricity imports though regional electricity
networks, reduction <strong>of</strong> losses in transmission and
distribution, and power generation using renewable
energy resources such as wind and solar.
On the demand side, measures to improve energy
efficiency in the major consuming sectors such
as industry, transport, and residential and commercial
sectors, include efficient lighting systems,
improving efficiency <strong>of</strong> cooling and refrigeration,
combustion efficiency improvements, recovery <strong>of</strong>
waste heat, and many others.
These measures include improving energy efficiency
throughout the economy, diversifying
away from fossil fuels, and promoting the use <strong>of</strong>
renewable energy alternatives. The national communication
reports listed a set <strong>of</strong> planned projects
in the energy supply sectors. These are related
primarily to more efficient production and a
wider adoption <strong>of</strong> renewable sources. Some <strong>of</strong>
the projects proposed were to evaluate the market
potential <strong>of</strong> solar, photovoltaic and wind technologies,
to decentralize electrification by photovoltaic
systems, and to adopt a combined cycle