Yemen, already struggling with the impacts of a prolonged conflict, is facing increasing threats from climate change. The World Bank Group's newly released Yemen Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) highlights the urgent need for investments that are responsive to climate challenges. These investments should address critical issues such as water scarcity, agriculture, and disaster risk management while taking into account the country's fragile state due to ongoing conflict.
The report details how Yemen is experiencing rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall patterns, and more frequent extreme weather events. These changes significantly impact vulnerable populations and threaten economic stability. Currently, half of Yemen's population faces at least one climate hazard like extreme heat or flooding. Without intervention, these risks are expected to worsen, potentially causing an average annual GDP decline of 3.9% by 2040 due to reduced agricultural productivity and infrastructure damage.
Despite these dire predictions, the CCDR identifies opportunities for resilience-building through strategic investments in areas like water storage and adaptive agriculture techniques. Such measures could increase crop production by up to 13.5% under optimistic scenarios from 2041 to 2050. However, the fisheries sector remains at risk of losing up to 23% by mid-century because of rising sea temperatures.
"Yemen is facing an unprecedented convergence of crises — conflict, climate change, and poverty," said Stephane Guimbert, World Bank Country Director for Egypt, Yemen and Djibouti. "Immediate and decisive action on climate resilience is a matter of survival for millions of Yemenis."
The report also emphasizes that any future development in Yemen will require peacebuilding efforts alongside significant international support. Humanitarian aid can help households cope with immediate climate shocks but achieving sustainable peace is crucial for unlocking necessary financing for long-term resilience against climate change.
Disaster risk management is highlighted as essential due to increasing flash floods affecting urban areas and critical infrastructure. Without adaptation strategies in place, economic shocks will continue to disproportionately impact fragile communities. Climate-related health costs could exceed US$5 billion by 2050 if not addressed through integrated public health planning focusing on vulnerable groups such as women and children.
Renewable energy presents a promising opportunity for Yemen’s recovery efforts by reducing reliance on fossil fuels while building resilient power infrastructures crucial for essential services like healthcare and food distribution in conflict zones.
"The private sector has a critical role to play in addressing Yemen’s pressing development challenges," stated Khawaja Aftab Ahmed, IFC’s Regional Director for the Middle East.
The CCDR calls attention to flexible decision-making processes that incorporate risk assessment tailored according to political conditions within Yemen—whether progressing towards peace or further conflicts escalating—allowing appropriate adaptation levels yielding maximum benefits under varying circumstances.
World Bank Group's Country Climate and Development Reports aim at guiding countries toward impactful actions reducing greenhouse gas emissions whilst enhancing adaptations aligning broader developmental objectives based upon comprehensive research data analysis identifying primary pathways addressing vulnerabilities alongside potential opportunities present therein aiding governments' citizens’ private sectors’ developmental partners engaging collectively within this agenda-driven initiative ultimately directing funding allocations appropriately where most needed effectively supporting transitions towards low-carbon resilient futures envisioned herein proposed therein documented explicitly outlined throughout said reports made publicly available intending informing respective audiences accordingly thereby facilitating informed engagements promoting shared understanding mutual cooperation envisaged sought after desired outcomes achieved realized attained reached successfully 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