16-17 December 2024, Athens, Greece
Background:
Since October 2023, escalating violence across the Middle East has impeded efforts to address climate impacts through science-based adaptation. Even before the current escalation, adaptation finance for the region was low – especially finance for nature-based solutions and disaster risk reduction. Climate action is constrained by lack of national adaptation planning capacity, as well as the impediments conflict-affected states face in accessing climate finance. Meanwhile, efforts to reduce emissions in line with the target of 1.5 degrees are not on track.
Climate impacts such as extreme temperatures, droughts, floods and desertification are projected to intensify. Regional states, and regional and international analysts, have already highlighted the destabilizing effects of climate change – both in specific locations, and via cascading impacts across the region. But despite recognition of risks, action to address these risks remains limited and fragmented. This is partly because so many elements need to be aligned to generate action at scale.
What happened:
During 2023-24, UNEP initiated dialogues on transboundary climate risks and adaptation with regional states, working with the Royal Scientific Society of Jordan and the Walker Institute, and building on a transboundary climate risk assessment prepared by scientists at the Walker Institute. Through this work, we have sought to highlight the opportunities presented by cooperation on transboundary climate risks, while working on adaptation initiatives in the field which incorporate both local and transboundary dimensions. Regional partners in these initiatives have welcomed the science-based approach and opportunity to learn from adaptation best practices globally and elsewhere in the region.
The Athens workshop (16-17 December 2024) provided an opportunity for partners working on climate, environment, peace and security to better understand whether a shared climate adaptation and resilience “mission” can be articulated to support conflict-affected countries, with a focus on the MENA region; and whether key partners with an interest in this agenda could more closely align workstreams and capacities to deliver such a mission. The workshop was intended as a first step towards articulating shared goals and exploring the potential for complementary partnerships, while recognizing each entity’s distinctive mandate, capacity and defined role.
- During Day 1 of the workshop, through examining our respective work programmes in the region, we explored what is working and discussed the challenges and barriers to planning and delivering climate action in conflict-affected MENA settings.
- During Day 2 we worked towards a defining a “mission” and its component parts, potentially including exploring joint activities or programs that solve particular problems and, in so doing, help to achieve broader shared objectives and greater positive impact.
The outcomes of this workshop are being followed through in our on-going transboundary work with UNEP and RSS.