CLIMATE ACTION FOR HUMAN SECURITY

IN THE ARAB REGION

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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction highlight that for development to be sustainable, it must be resilient to growing risks from climate change, natural disasters, and other socio-economic shocks. This is of critical importance in the Arab region which is already the world’s most water-scarce and food-import dependent region. The increasing impacts from climate change are creating even greater forms and magnitude of vulnerabilities.

While climate change poses a significant threat to the future of development in the Arab region, it also presents an opportunity to innovate and transition to a more resilient future in line with the vision set forth in national policies and the 2030 Agenda.

CLIMATE RESILIENCE IS KEY TO ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE ARAB REGION

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people in the Arab region by 2025

80-100 million

water scarcity is expected to impact

of the refugee population worldwide

53%

Arab states are home to

40% of the 60 million displaced people globally come from the Arab region

24 million

of the world's average annual precipitation falls in the Arab region

only 2.1%

by 2050 in the Arab region

75%

urban population is expected to increase by

the renewable energy share in the overall installed capacity is on the verge of

6%

in the Arab region

2-5 C

temperatures are rising faster than the world average

PROMOTING HUMAN SECURITY THROUGH SDGs-CLIMATE NEXUS

Climate change has emerged as a complex development challenge and a growing menace to sustainable growth, social stability and peace and security. This is particularly seen in the Arab region as most of the conflict affected contexts in the region are also some of the world’s top climate risk hotspots. The interconnectedness between climate and security is becoming an increasingly important agenda for policy makers in the Arab region and beyond.
By addressing the cross-cutting nature of climate related threats and impacts, climate action can be an important contributing factor to minimizing the threat of crises. When incorporated in post-crisis recovery policies and plans, it can help to build forward better, greener and more inclusive. This is the guiding framework on which the regional “SDG Climate Facility: Climate Action for Human Security” project is built on.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

Columbia University, December 2020

The fallout from the assault on our planet is impeding our efforts to eliminate poverty and food insecurity. [...] 70% of the most climate vulnerable countries are also those who are also among the most politically and economically fragile.

CLIMATE ACTION FOR HUMAN SECURITY IN THE ARAB REGION

Through joint actions, the project supports national and regional stakeholders to take effective climate action in a manner that also brings benefits across all SDGs, with tangible dividends for crisis prevention and recovery efforts. To this end, it aims to scale-up local partnerships and finance through diverse networks at regional and country levels.

The project facilitates collaboration among national, regional, and international partners, who each brings their comparative advantage to contribute to addressing the SDG-Climate-Security nexus. These collaborative approaches contribute to the three following outcomes:

Strengthened national and local capacities to integrate climate change considerations into development and crisis prevention/recovery policies, and to scale-up climate finance for local innovative solutions with co-benefits across the SDGs

Enhanced access to analysis, tools and strategies at the regional level to support a climate nexus approach to achieving SDGs, and crisis prevention/recovery goals.

Enhanced knowledge and coordination on climate-security among key stakeholders at the regional level to achieve climate action with co-benefits across the SDGs, and crisis prevention/recovery goals.

OUTCOME 1

OUTCOME 2

OUTCOME 3

Activities supported by the project will ultimately lead to the establishment of an SDG-Climate Facility. The Facility aims to become a partner of choice to provide technical solutions and financing options to address multi-dimensional risks in the Arab States, namely the SDGs-Climate-Security nexus, beyond the life-cycle of the project.

CLIMATE ACTION FOR HUMAN SECURITY IN THE ARAB REGION

THE PROJECT

THE FACILITY

The SDG Climate Facility is envisioned to address the SDG-Climate-Security nexus by:

Providing access to knowledge and information

Catalysing public and private finance

Producing policy-oriented research and analytical studies

Enhancing partnerships and network

Providing support to operationalize and implement bankable projects

CLIMATE ACTION FOR HUMAN SECURITY IN THE ARAB REGION

PARTNERS OF THE CLIMATE ACTION FOR HUMAN SECURITY PROJECT

CURRENT BUDGET OF THE PROJECT:

The project is a partnership among leading regional organisations including the League of Arab States, the Arab Water Council (AWC), and multiple UN partners such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), the UN Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat), and the World Food Programme (WFP), who are active in the Arab States region.

The League of Arab States is at the forefront of regional social and economic development through its role in policies and support. The Arab League plays a leading role in regional efforts to implement sustainable development goals and link them to national development plans. The establishment of the "Department of Sustainable Development and International Cooperation" is an indication of the Arab League's desire to play a major role in assisting Arab countries in achieving the goals of sustainable development. The Department of Sustainable Development and International Cooperation is also the technical secretariat of the high-level Arab Committee for follow up the implementation of sustainable development goals in the Arab region, which is the main political platform for member states and stakeholders to discuss all issues related to progress in achieving sustainable development goals in the Arab region.

League of Arab States

PERIOD OF THE PROJECT:

2019-2022

PARTNERS OF THE CLIMATE ACTION FOR HUMAN SECURITY PROJECT

AWC is a regional nongovernmental organization engaged in technical activities in the region on integrated natural resources management, climate change, water, food energy nexus and related aspects. It aims at creating effective partnerships that harness cross-sectoral, multi-stakeholder cooperation and collective approaches across international, regional and national actors towards enhancing water security, strengthening integrated solutions and tangible implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Arab Water Council

PERIOD OF THE PROJECT:

2019-2022

The project is a partnership among leading regional organisations including the League of Arab States, the Arab Water Council (AWC), and multiple UN partners such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), the UN Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat), and the World Food Programme (WFP), who are active in the Arab States region.

CURRENT BUDGET OF THE PROJECT:

USD 9.97 MILLION

PARTNERS OF THE CLIMATE ACTION FOR HUMAN SECURITY PROJECT

UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP is the UN’s largest provider of grant assistance for climate change and the environment globally.

UN Development Programme

PERIOD OF THE PROJECT:

2019-2022

The project is a partnership among leading regional organisations including the League of Arab States, the Arab Water Council (AWC), and multiple UN partners such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), the UN Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat), and the World Food Programme (WFP), who are active in the Arab States region.

CURRENT BUDGET OF THE PROJECT:

USD 9.97 MILLION

PARTNERS OF THE CLIMATE ACTION FOR HUMAN SECURITY PROJECT

UNEP-FI is a partnership between UNEP and the global financial sector. It aims to mobilize private sector finance for sustainable development. UNEP-FI works with more than 350 members – banks, insurers, and investors – and over 100 supporting institutions to help create a financial sector that serves people and planet while delivering positive impacts.

UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative

PERIOD OF THE PROJECT:

2019-2022

The project is a partnership among leading regional organisations including the League of Arab States, the Arab Water Council (AWC), and multiple UN partners such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), the UN Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat), and the World Food Programme (WFP), who are active in the Arab States region.

CURRENT BUDGET OF THE PROJECT:

USD 9.97 MILLION

PARTNERS OF THE CLIMATE ACTION FOR HUMAN SECURITY PROJECT

UN-Habitat promotes socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities and envisions well-governed and efficient cities and other human settlements, with adequate housing, infrastructure, and universal access to employment and basic services.

UN Human Settlement Programme

PERIOD OF THE PROJECT:

2019-2022

The project is a partnership among leading regional organisations including the League of Arab States, the Arab Water Council (AWC), and multiple UN partners such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), the UN Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat), and the World Food Programme (WFP), who are active in the Arab States region.

CURRENT BUDGET OF THE PROJECT:

USD 9.97 MILLION

PARTNERS OF THE CLIMATE ACTION FOR HUMAN SECURITY PROJECT

UNDRR oversees the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, supporting countries in its implementation, monitoring and sharing experience in reducing existing risk and preventing the creation of new risk. It brings governments, partners and communities together to ensure a safer, sustainable future.

UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction

PERIOD OF THE PROJECT:

2019-2022

The project is a partnership among leading regional organisations including the League of Arab States, the Arab Water Council (AWC), and multiple UN partners such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), the UN Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat), and the World Food Programme (WFP), who are active in the Arab States region.

CURRENT BUDGET OF THE PROJECT:

USD 9.97 MILLION

PARTNERS OF THE CLIMATE ACTION FOR HUMAN SECURITY PROJECT

WFP is the leading humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. WFP supports countries in ensuring no one is left behind by continuing to build resilience for food security and nutrition and addressing the growing challenges posed by climate change and rising inequality.

World Food Programme

PERIOD OF THE PROJECT:

2019-2022

The project is a partnership among leading regional organisations including the League of Arab States, the Arab Water Council (AWC), and multiple UN partners such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP-FI), the UN Human Settlement Programme (UN-Habitat), and the World Food Programme (WFP), who are active in the Arab States region.

CURRENT BUDGET OF THE PROJECT:

USD 9.97 MILLION

With financial support from

For more information please contact Ms. Sujala Pant - Regional Project Manager