تغير المناخ في دول مجلس التعاون لدول الخليج العربية و سياسات الاستجابة

Abstract EN

Climate change and its potential impacts considered as one of the most important enviro-nmental issues for more than half century.

Most of the studies show that the anthropogenic activities such as fossil fuels consumption and land use change are the main responses of GHG's emissions that contributed to the enhanced greenhouse effect known as "global warning".

Although the contribution of GCC's countries to the global climate change is less than 1%, their environmentally sensitive, fragile ecosystems as well as its biodiversity and habitats will be affected by this phenomenon.

Climate change could increase temperatures and causes inundation of low lying coastal areas and aggravate the countries vulnerability to natural disasters, which include, in addition to drought and food shortage, flash floods, dust storms, health impacts and may leave the societies in the region more susceptible to extreme events.

This study shows the causes and consequences of climate change on GCC's countries, the DPSIR model (Driving force Pressure State, Impacts) applied to assess the environmental impacts of climate change in integrated way.

According to the main ecosystems that might be affected in the region, a policy matrix for implementing mitig-ation, and adaptation measures and response strategies are formulated.

The study also suggests a plan for public awareness campaign of climate change aiming to encourage participation of all communities in the GCC's to assess, address and mitigate its impacts and implications.

The study highlights the importance of formulating a regional climate change committee to follow the impacts.

In addition, there must be coordination in the area of research and studies of the ecological, social and economic climate change impacts on different sectors.

Also, the study elaborates the need to integrate climate change into national planning and policy-making towards sustainable development.

Finally, the study stressed the importance of public awareness on the issue.