Prioritizing Sustainability in MENA: Mapping Critical Environmental Issues for Regional Businesses
Following the high-profile commitments made at the UN’s Climate Change Conference in Dubai in December 2023 (COP28) and in alignment with global trends , the MENA region faces increasing pressure from different stakeholders – including investors, regulators and global markets – to enhance transparency around corporate sustainability practices and transition to more sustainable business models. The region needs to accelerate its progress and MENA companies must be prepared to remain competitive in the global economy, attract international investors and support the region’s economic diversification goals.
Prioritizing Sustainability in MENA: Mapping Critical Environmental Issues for Regional Businesses
Following the high-profile commitments made at the UN’s Climate Change Conference in Dubai in December 2023 (COP28) and in alignment with global trends , the MENA region faces increasing pressure from different stakeholders – including investors, regulators and global markets – to enhance transparency around corporate sustainability practices and transition to more sustainable business models. The region needs to accelerate its progress and MENA companies must be prepared to remain competitive in the global economy, attract international investors and support the region’s economic diversification goals.
The Water, Energy, and Food Security Nexus in Asia and the Pacific
The combined region of Central and South Asia presents some unusual challenges and interesting opportunities. Some major regional-scale challenges include food insecurity, land degradation, energy insecurity, scarcity of water resources, and gender inequities; these challenges are further exacerbated by global drivers such as climate change, urbanization, population growth, and more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Water, Energy, and Food Security Nexus in Asia and the Pacific
The combined region of Central and South Asia presents some unusual challenges and interesting opportunities. Some major regional-scale challenges include food insecurity, land degradation, energy insecurity, scarcity of water resources, and gender inequities; these challenges are further exacerbated by global drivers such as climate change, urbanization, population growth, and more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research Journeys to Net Zero
If we fail to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the floods and fires we have seen around the world will get more frequent and more fierce, crops will be more likely to fail, and sea levels will rise driving mass migration as millions are forced from their homes. Above 1.5°C, we risk reaching climate tipping points like the melting of arctic permafrost – releasing millennia of stored greenhouse gases – meaning we could lose control of our climate for good.
Research Journeys to Net Zero
If we fail to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, the floods and fires we have seen around the world will get more frequent and more fierce, crops will be more likely to fail, and sea levels will rise driving mass migration as millions are forced from their homes. Above 1.5°C, we risk reaching climate tipping points like the melting of arctic permafrost – releasing millennia of stored greenhouse gases – meaning we could lose control of our climate for good.
Pathways to Sustainability: An Essential Book Catalogue
As an internationally recognized author and consultant, Robert Brears has dedicated his career to advancing water security, green growth, and comprehensive environmental stewardship. He is the founder of Our Future Water, addressing urgent water-related challenges, and Global Climate Solutions, which explores cutting-edge ideas and actionable insights across multiple areas such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and resilient urban development.
Pathways to Sustainability: An Essential Book Catalogue
As an internationally recognized author and consultant, Robert Brears has dedicated his career to advancing water security, green growth, and comprehensive environmental stewardship. He is the founder of Our Future Water, addressing urgent water-related challenges, and Global Climate Solutions, which explores cutting-edge ideas and actionable insights across multiple areas such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and resilient urban development.
Beating the Heat: A Sustainable Cooling Handbook for Cities
We are living in an increasingly warming world. According to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2020 was the hottest year on record, with the average global surface temperature around 1.3 degrees Celsius (°C) higher than the late 19th-century average – despite the absence of the short-term warming effect of El Niño (Barbosa 2021). The seven-year period from 2014 to 2020 was the hottest in 140 years of record keeping. This, researchers say, is a clear indicator of the ever-increasing impact of greenhouse gas emissions.
Beating the Heat: A Sustainable Cooling Handbook for Cities
We are living in an increasingly warming world. According to the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 2020 was the hottest year on record, with the average global surface temperature around 1.3 degrees Celsius (°C) higher than the late 19th-century average – despite the absence of the short-term warming effect of El Niño (Barbosa 2021). The seven-year period from 2014 to 2020 was the hottest in 140 years of record keeping. This, researchers say, is a clear indicator of the ever-increasing impact of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Future of Water: Economic Risks and Sustainable Solutions
Water is the foundation of life on Earth, essential for ecosystems, human survival, and economic development. Beyond its direct use in drinking and sanitation, water is the silent force that drives industries, fuels agricultural productivity, and powers energy production. Its availability and efficient management are crucial to the global economy. Yet, the world faces an alarming water crisis that threatens economic stability, exacerbates inequalities, and undermines the resilience of businesses.
The Future of Water: Economic Risks and Sustainable Solutions
Water is the foundation of life on Earth, essential for ecosystems, human survival, and economic development. Beyond its direct use in drinking and sanitation, water is the silent force that drives industries, fuels agricultural productivity, and powers energy production. Its availability and efficient management are crucial to the global economy. Yet, the world faces an alarming water crisis that threatens economic stability, exacerbates inequalities, and undermines the resilience of businesses.
Sustainable Cooling | How to Cool the World without Warming the Planet
A perfect storm is brewing for global cooling demand. Rising temperatures, due in part to climate change, are making people everywhere seek relief from the heat. At the same time, growing populations, greater energy access, and increasing incomes, particularly in developing Asia and the Pacific, mean more people can afford cooling technologies like air conditioners. This confluence of factors is driving a surge in the demand for cooling solutions around the world.
Sustainable Cooling | How to Cool the World without Warming the Planet
A perfect storm is brewing for global cooling demand. Rising temperatures, due in part to climate change, are making people everywhere seek relief from the heat. At the same time, growing populations, greater energy access, and increasing incomes, particularly in developing Asia and the Pacific, mean more people can afford cooling technologies like air conditioners. This confluence of factors is driving a surge in the demand for cooling solutions around the world.