The recent agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to reestablish diplomatic ties and reopen their respective embassies has raised both hope and alarm among Western observers of the Middle East. Hope, because reduced animosity between the two rivals could help ease sectarian tensions and lead to a resolution of the Middle East’s most pressing security challenges. But there is one field in which they could participate in a diplomatic initiative that would both reassert their relevance and address a key issue that is in desperate need of attention: the threat of climate change to the Middle East. The Middle East and North Africa region is particularly vulnerable to the effects of global warming, especially as it pertains to water supply. Countries like Syria, Iran and Iraq are now experiencing significant increases in aridification that is disrupting living conditions and threatening economies.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 05, 2023 14:21 UTC