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Chapter 2: State of the Environment and Policy Response


level and only increased in some countries, probably due to efforts to improve efficiency of production and consumption (Figure 2.6.10).


West Asia’s population has grown steadily, reaching 144.78 million inhabitants in 2013, and estimated at 154.21 million in 2015 on the basis of the population growth rates (World Bank 2015). Gross domestic product (GDP) in the region has for the most part increased over the past four decades. Average GDP per person per year in West Asia varies significantly by country. Qatar had the highest, followed by Kuwait, the UAE and Saudi Arabia (World Bank 2015).


Internal renewable water resources vary significantly in the region, with most countries feeling absolute water scarcity with less than 500 cubic metres per person per year. Iraq and Lebanon are the only two countries in the region with more than 500 cubic metres per person per year.


Due to the scarcity of renewable natural freshwater resources, the region relies significantly on unconventional freshwater sources such as desalination, which is highly energy intensive. As a result, the power and water sector in the region is a large emitter of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, desalination has other impacts on the environment that result from the intake of seawater, the discharge of warm brine into the aquatic environment and the emission of other air pollutants.


2.6.3 Policy responses for climate change mitigation and adaptation


Mitigation measures


Greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) can be reduced as a co- benefit of improving resource efficiency and productivity, with additional benefits for economic competitiveness and improvements in public health. Responses include the review of policies and policy instruments to build a low-carbon economy, such as through the promotion of the efficient use of water and energy, increasing the share of renewable sources in the energy mix, and the use of public transport and cleaner vehicles and fuels. Energy use per person is


currently rising, highlighting the need for increasing efforts to promote energy efficiency. The share of alternative and nuclear energy sources as a percentage of total energy use has fluctuated widely since 1971, having seen a recent increase of 2 per cent since 2009.


At the same time, actions aimed explicitly at mitigating GHG emissions are becoming more prominent. With the exception of Syria, all West Asian countries have presented an Intended Nationally-Determined Contribution (INDC) as part of the UNFCCC process that produced a new climate treaty in December 2015. While the INDCs vary in detail and ambition, they represent a commitment on the part of each country to periodically enhance and report actions to limit emissions.


targets, such as the UAE’s national goal of having clean energy (defined as both renewable and nuclear) contributing 24 per cent of the national mix by 2021. Most list sets of projects or policies that they will use to pursue these targets.


The actions most commonly presented include renewable energy and energy efficiency measures. Most set targets of reducing GHG emissions against business-as-usual scenarios rather than absolute goals. For instance, Jordan aims to reduce emissions by 12.5% by 2030 conditional on receiving appropriate international support. Saudi Arabia’s INDC aims to achieve mitigation co-benefits of up to 130 million tonnes of CO2


equivalent annually by 2030. Others have set sectoral


Mitigation action in the region will be facilitated by two important trends. First, renewable energy prices, particularly solar photovoltaic (PV), have fallen dramatically in recent years to the point that PV is now the cheapest option for new generation capacity in West Asia. Although price declines in 2014-15 have made natural gas more competitive, PV prices are well under 6 US cents per kWh of electricity produced and still falling.


The second is that budgetary pressures in many oil-producing countries have led to a reduction of fossil fuel subsidies. The UAE phased out transport fuel subsidies in 2015 and has steadily reduced subsidies in the utilities sector. Saudi Arabia and others are following suit. This is likely to support efforts to increase energy efficiency.


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