Over the past century, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has undergone huge changes. According to 2007 estimates, its population has risen from less than 50 million a century ago to over 331 million, and is expected to reach some 385 million people by 2015. During this same period, the environment has deteriorated and natural resources have dwindled due to development patterns which were largely unsustainable. In most cases, policies were overwhelmingly sets of provisional short-term measures, meant to tackle momentary challenges rather than engage in long-term planning. Some parts of the region have seen unprecedented growth, bringing both economic and social prosperity to millions of Arabs, thanks largely to income from oil. Has this economic development, however, come at a cost? Can the patterns of development which some Arab countries are experiencing continue while sustaining livelihood and quality of life for future generations? The Middle East’s physical environment stands at a pivotal juncture, threatened by numerous current and imminent problems. At the same time, awareness of the issues, as well as signs of political and social willingness to act, provide hope for timely intervention. The growth of cities and towns poses particular challenges. Accelerating urbanization is straining already-overstretched infrastructure and creating overcrowded, unhealthy, and insecure living conditions in many cities. In 1970, 38% of the Arab population was urban. By 2005, this figure had grown to 55%, and is likely to surpass 60% by 2020.[1] The two major environmental threats in the region are those related to water scarcity and desertification and land degradation. Although the MENA has 5% of the world’s population, it has less than 1% of the world’s available water supply. Meanwhile, the rate of water consumption is straining this supply. Per capita water use in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), for example, is about four times that of Europe; consumption in Abu Dhabi is 550 liters of water per person per day, two to three times the world average of 180–200 liters.
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 22:49:45 +0000
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