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

ARAB ENVIRONMENT: CLIMATE CHANGE 41
FIGURE 11
CAIRO METROPOLITAN AREA HAS DOUBLED IN LESS THAN 20 YEARS
(CRS-BU, E. Ghoneim - AFED 2009 Report)
economic growth and employment opportunities
in this city caused an influx <strong>of</strong> labour migration.
Local increase <strong>of</strong> population plus migrants
caused the city to expand rapidly and in an
uncontrollable fashion. As shown in Figure 11,
the Cairo metropolitan area has doubled in size
in less than 20 years (1984-2003). Presently,
the city has a population <strong>of</strong> about 17.5 million
people, making it the largest and most populous
metropolitan area in the Arab world.
FIGURE 12
12% OF THE FARMLAND
AREAS IN THE VICINITY OF
CAIRO WERE LOST IN 20 YEARS
As Cairo grows outward, a host <strong>of</strong> problematic
issues are raised. The first <strong>of</strong> these issues is the
loss <strong>of</strong> prime cultivated lands to urban expansion
and development, due to the increase in
housing demand. Analysis shows that about
12% (~62 km2) <strong>of</strong> the farmland areas in the
vicinity <strong>of</strong> Cairo were lost in 18-year time span
between 1984 and 2002 (Figure 12). Many
large cities <strong>of</strong> the MENA region (for example
Beirut, Figures 14 and 15) show the same disturbing
trend <strong>of</strong> green cover and agricultural
land loss for urban expansion. Once these lands
have been converted to urban use, green areas
and agricultural lands are generally lost forever,
cutting down the carbon sinks, and in the long
term could cause food scarcity.
Another problematic issue that relates to urbanization
is the Urban Heat Island effect (UHI),
for which the temperatures <strong>of</strong> central urban
locations are several degrees higher than those
<strong>of</strong> nearby rural areas <strong>of</strong> similar elevation.
(CRS-BU, E. Ghoneim - AFED 2009 Report)