Climate change, heat waves and their consequences in the MENA region

Description

The MENA region is plagued by extremely hot and dry summers and extended warm spells and the region is known as a “climate change hot spot”. results of numerical climate models indicate heat waves lasting up to 90 days with temperauterers of more than 50° C in the late 21st century. Enhanced warming in larger cities lead to outside conditions that become unbearable and pose extreme risks to human health. Decreases in precipitation are enhanced through heat-related processes and result in extreme water scarcity. Effective adaptation strategies that reduce the risks to human communities and natural ecosystems rely on established methods in the framework of a Water-, Energy- and Food-Nexus.

Manfred A. Lange is the Director of the Future Earth MENA regional Center and serves on the steering Committee of MedECC. Previously he was Director of the Arctic Center in rovaniemi, Finland (1992-1995), Professor of Geophysics at the University of Münster in Germany (1995-2007) and the founding Director of the Energy, Environment and Water research Center at the Cyprus Institute in Nicosia, Cyprus (2007-2015). His research includes the assessment of climate change impacts with a focus on water- and energy security, renewable energy sources and energy- and water use efficiency in the built environment.