The economics of climate change in Palestine
An assessment of the economic impact of climate change in Palestine was presented at a national workshop held in Ramallah on 13 February 2017. The event, hosted by the Palestinian Environment Quality Authority in partnership with the EU-funded ClimaSouth project, was attended by representatives of key government ministries, civil society organizations, research centers and universities, as well as several bilateral donor agencies, including AFD, SIDA, and the Belgian and Czech Embassies.
The assessment was focused on the agriculture, water, agri-food and food security sectors. These sectors were selected due to their importance for the Palestinian economy and their vulnerability to climate change. Agriculture makes a significant contribution to GDP, employment, exports and food security, while being particularly sensitive to the effects of rising temperatures, reduced precipitation and extreme weather events. Water is already under significant pressure in Palestine and negative impacts on this resource have knock-on implications on a range of other sectors, including agri-food and food security.
The risk of drought and water scarcity in Palestine is growing and expected to deteriorate in view of climatic and socio-economic changes. A NASA study has found that the drought which began in 1998 in the eastern Mediterranean Levant region, is likely the worst of the past nine centuries. Climate models predict an overall drying of the Eastern Mediterranean region, and although the magnitude of projected changes varies, recent results suggest average annual precipitation reductions of up to 30% by the end of the century, compared to the 1961-1990 period.
The way forward. The total costs of implementing the agriculture, water and food-related adaptation options proposed for Palestine have been estimated at over USD 3 billion in the National Adaptation Plan, respectively USD 1.66 billion in the West Bank and USD 1.38 billion in the Gaza strip. The key recommendations put forward during the workshop include the downscaling of global and regional climate models, conducting detailed climate risk and economic impact assessments to sustain investment decisions, mobilize private capital and engage the private sector in climate action.
Economics of Climate Change in Palestine: Presentation | Assessment Report