Middle-east Arab News Opinion | Asharq Al-awsat

FAO Representative: $100 Billion Allocated to Face Climate Change | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
Select Page
Media ID: 55359876
Caption:

The logo of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is seen on the door, Reuters


Cairo- FAO Regional Representative for Near East and North Africa Abdessalam Ould Ahmed revealed that world organizations and institutions have allocated 100 billion dollars approximately to invest in agriculture and irrigation projects in countries most damaged by current global climate change.

Climate change has affected agricultural produce sizably. In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper, the Food and Agriculture Organization representative mentioned the considerable experience the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has when dealing with natural phenomena caused by climate change, and the strategic plans and framework it has established to confront them, placing it on top of the list for agricultural production.

Mr. Ahmed also gave details on the upcoming Marrakech, Morocco Climate Change Conference, to be held 7-18 November, 2016. A preliminary meeting was held at the League of Arab States (LAS) HQ, which brought together 14 Arab states, said Mr.Ahmed.

Climate change is considered a great challenge facing the world, especially the Arab region, which is considered relatively low on water supply— droughts will spread through the region, effecting agricultural produce. More so, pollution will also increase due to deficiency in water supply.

Food rates will be influenced by the aftermath of climate change, creating even a wider economic impact, added Mr. Ahmed.

Delegates from Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Libya, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates and Yemen, in addition to a FAO mission have come together at the preliminary meeting to address strategies on sustainability in face of climate change, said Mr. Ahmed. He also cited representatives from the Green Climate Fund attending the session.

The Paris Agreement was reviewed during the meeting as well, said Mr. Ahmed.

In the concluding session, partakers decided on a list of priorities and areas requiring immediate collective intervention, in addition to setting the guidelines on cooperation with the international body, FAO.

Mr. Ahmed stated that Saudi Arabia has presented a revolutionary roadmap to enhance irrigation and agriculture back home, in which the kingdom employs state of the art technology. The exemplary module would aid in setting a regional action plan to combat droughts and regulate agricultural production during hard times.