The International Institute for Sustainable Development, IISD, published an interesting report on this subject. “Syria, Lebanon, Israel and Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territories have suffered from more than 60 years of bloody conflict” warns the institute, noting “Climate change -- by redrawing maps of water availability, food security, disease prevalence, population distribution and coastal boundaries -- may hold serious implications for regional security," if the situation is left unchecked.
As summarized by United Press International (UPI), the report lists six main threats the region will be forced to address because of the changing climate : The scarcity of water resources may complicate any peace efforts. The intensifying of food scarcity could spur "the return or retention of occupied land." Changes in the climate could slow down economic growth and worsen poverty, causing social instability. Climate changes could also lead to increased tensions over refugee populations, and the diminishing of natural resources in the region could increase militarization of strategic natural resources. Failure to act could encourage further mistrust and resentment by Arab countries toward Israel and the Western world, the report warns.
BUT, as reminded by the Institute …” Nevertheless (…) there is much that national governments and authorities, civil society and the international community can do address the challenge of climate change, and in so doing, address some of the threats it may pose to regional peace and security. They can promote a culture of conservation in the region, help communities and countries adapt to the impacts of climate change, work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and foster greater cooperation on their shared resources.”
The 42 pages report "Rising Temperatures, Rising Tensions: Climate Change and the Risk Of Conflict in the Middle East" was published by the IISD, an independent environmental policy research institute and can be downloaded here.
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