(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Ayeni Olusegun |
The Peninsula
Doha: The climate conditions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region are no secret. The region's hot and dry climate with an arid and semi-arid environment makes it one of the most vulnerable places on earth.
According to reports, the Middle East is warming much faster than the planet. The United Nations had set 1.5 degrees as the ceiling beyond which temperatures should not be allowed to rise. According to experts, that point is coming faster than anticipated if nothing is done to mitigate it.
Climate change will bring a paradigm shift in economic and social challenges. As it takes a toll, youth in the region are pushing for more commitment from policymakers and governments to tackle the problems.
Speaking to The Peninsula, Neeshad Shafi, Executive Director, AYCMQ, a prominent Qatar-based climate action NGO, said the recent MENA Climate Week was a significant platform for youth in the region to consolidate their ideas, and explore partnerships to encourage faster and more committed actions toward climate change.
The MENA Climate Week, held in the United Arab Emirates, is a precursor to COP27 set to take place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, later this year.
“It was a good event for us to build and renew networking and connecting with partners,” Shafi said.“A lot of programmes and partnerships (regionally) have been put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Climate Week was a platform to renew interests and solidify commitments to the climate action cause in the region.
“Many youth climate action organisations also had the chance to communicate, share information on what is being done in their countries, and propose ideas on what can be done. We had groups from Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan and other parts of North Africa — youth organisations were well represented,” he added.
“So many organisations have been working in silence, so it was important that we were able to have face-to-face meetings to discuss funding challenges and collaborative partnership towards the summit in Egypt. It also gave us a space to meet some younger organisations taking up the climate challenge.”
The AYCMQ team to the MENA Climate Week also included Sayeed Mohammed, Director of Policy and Research.
The organisation held several events during the Climate Week, including a panel discussion in partnership with World Bank Group's Connect4climate, UNESWA, and ILO, which explored the role of youth and just transition.
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