Rainfall in the region with the world's lowest endowment of fresh water is projected to become even more unreliable, and flash floods more frequent. "The climate of Arab countries will experience unprecedented extremes," warned the report. "Temperatures will continue to reach record highs, and in many places there will be less rainfall. Water availability will be reduced, and with a growing population the already water-scarce region may not have sufficient supplies to irrigate crops, support industry, and provide drinking water.
"Climate change will not only challenge the status quo: it will threaten the basic pillars of development." Negotiators from nearly 200 countries are gathered in the Qatari capital to thrash out a deal on reducing Earth-warming greenhouse gas emissions and provide funding to help developing nations, many in this region, deal with a changing climate.
The World Bank said climate change has, or soon will, affect most of the 340 million people in the Arab region - but the 100 million poorest, with fewer resources to adapt, will feel it most. It will affect livelihoods - causing a cumulative drop in household incomes of about seven percent in Syria and Tunisia and 24 percent in Yemen, said the report.