AN ARAB YOUTH MOVEMENT TO STOP CLIMATE CHANGE

Arab Spring Spawns Middle East Youth Climate Change Movement

January 9, 2013 (Sustainable Business)

“…Like the rest of the world, the Middle East is experiencing its share of impacts from climate change. Dry regions are becoming drier and flash floods are more frequent…During the [recent] United Nations [climate talks in Doha, Qatar], hundreds of youth activists from more than 10 Arab countries marched - chanting "It's Time To Lead," and "We Want Change." They are part of a group called the Arab Youth Climate Movement, which emerged as part of the Arab Spring.

“This was the first public demonstration in Qatar's history…By the end of the UN climate change conference… Lebanon committed to reduce emissions 12% – the only Arab country to end the conference with a formal pledge…The particular challenge, of course, is that the Middle East is home to OPEC oil producing nations, where establishing the need to address climate change on a regional and global basis is a thorny political challenge.”

“Given this conflict, there's has been notable progress in recent months…Saudi Arabia is aiming for 100% renewable energy, after adopting a target of 41 gigawatts of solar by 2032. Its first utility-scale solar plant is under construction, as is a solar polysilicon manufacturing facility.

“Qatar announced a solar target of 1.8 gigawatts by 2014 and Iraq announced it will invest in 400 megawatts of solar and wind over the next three years to the tune of $1.6 billion. Rather than consuming all their oil and gas resources, they see renewables as a way to supply domestic demand, leaving fossil fuels for export.”

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