Shaping a New Middle Eastern Order for Climate Cooperation
Key Ideas
- The MENA region is facing severe climate crisis, necessitating urgent cooperation and adaptation measures to mitigate impacts.
- A 'New Middle Eastern Order' can be established with US leadership to foster climate and energy-related cooperation, along with efforts to resolve conflicts in the region.
- Opportunities for immediate cooperation exist, such as meteorological collaboration, and regional groupings can enhance these efforts.
- States are urged to prioritize climate and energy security alongside traditional security alliances to address the growing national security implications of climate change.
The article discusses the pressing issue of climate change in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, where the impacts are twice the global average. It emphasizes the need for cooperation among countries in the region to mitigate and adapt to the effects of global warming. The recent attack by Hamas on Israel and subsequent events have created an opportunity for rebuilding and peace in the region. The proposal for a 'New Middle Eastern Order' is outlined, with a focus on establishing strong intra-regional energy and climate-related cooperation, as well as resolving conflicts like the Israeli-Palestinian issue. The United States is encouraged to lead these efforts to counter perceptions of disengagement, with the aim of fostering sustainable energy resources and addressing climate challenges. Specific policy recommendations highlight the importance of immediate cooperation on climate issues, the role of regional groupings in facilitating cooperation, and the need to elevate climate and energy security to the level of traditional security alliances. Overall, the sentiment of the article is positive towards the potential for cooperation and proactive measures to address the climate crisis in the MENA region.