Million cubic metres
Chapter 2: State of the Environment and Policy Response
Figure 2.1.8: West Asia blue water withdrawals, by sector (2000 and 2012)
10 000 20 000 60 000 80 000 100 000 120 000 140 000 160 000 180 000
0 2000 = 84 039 2012 = 153 582 Withdrawals by the agricultural sector
Withdrawals by the domestic sector Withdrawals by the industrial sector
Source: Abuzeid 2014; CEDARE et al. 2014 Groundwater depletion Extreme weather events
The overexploitation of groundwater resources throughout West Asia has resulted in a deterioration of water quality, seawater intrusion, depletion and salinization of aquifers, and rising pumping costs. Depletion of non-renewable groundwater has been observed with the expansion of agriculture in desert areas. Although the agricultural expansion in desert areas may be motivated for food security purposes, it has been argued that it is not economically feasible to use scarce water reserves for high-consumptive uses and it could be more strategic to preserve groundwater water reserves for drinking purposes in potential emergency situations (Abuzeid 2014).
Extreme weather events are, for the most part, unpredictable. However, statistical records of such events could provide useful information for development plans. Figure 2.1.9 shows the number of flood events that occurred in West Asia in the last two decades according to the flood observatory of Dartmouth University.
15 304 13 148
2 967 5 204
75 867
Climate change impacts on freshwater resources 125 130
Climate scenarios project changes in the region’s temperature, rainfall and sea level (Figures 1.2.10 and 2.6.7), which will have impacts on both the availability and use of water resources. Changes in precipitation patterns – amount, intensity, duration, distribution and seasonality – will influence the availability and dependability of water resources (UNDP 2006). According to most global climate models, projections suggest a decrease in rainfall in the region by 20 per cent over the next 50 years, while in the Mashriq sub-region it may diminish by 25 per cent with 40 per cent reductions in some locations (Meslemani 2008).
Recent studies indicate that the degree of expected impacts will vary between countries, with the GCC countries particularly affected. The climate change global index study classified countries in different parts of the world according to their degree of exposure to climate change (Abdel Hamid 2009). This index classified Iraq as the fifth most vulnerable country in the world to decreased water and food availability, extreme temperatures and associated health problems. The rest of the GCC countries are rated as highly vulnerable and Yemen as extremely vulnerable.
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