Document Type
Report
Publication Title
Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistance Program
Abstract
Fresh water is a vital, finite2 and vulnerable resource. In many countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region3, fresh water stress and shortages are becoming a serious threat to economic growth, social cohesion and political stability. Fresh water, which is being used in an uncontrolled and unsustainable fashion, is unfortunately not planned on the basis of its present and future availability but rather is based on sectoral and geographical competing consumption needs. This will increasingly penalize certain economic activities and services, which will in turn disproportionately affect the poor. Moreover, despite important strides in curbing demographic growth in the MENA region, the growth rate remains relatively high (2 percent on average per year during this decade against 2.2 over the 1990-99 decade) in this fresh water-stricken region, which is translated by a growing urban densification (Map 1) that will put more pressure on water resources in the future.
Publication Date
2009
Recommended Citation
Gregoire, Gael, "Climate Change Adaptation in the Water Sector in the Middle East and North Africa: A Review of Main Issues" (2009). Egypt & Libya. 15.
https://repository.fit.edu/africa_el/15