Gaza in climate firing line
The upcoming COP27 conference in Egypt offers a valuable opportunity to consider the impacts of climate change on the Middle East and its most vulnerable people. Neighboring Egypt, the people of the Gaza Strip face some of the most devastating climate impacts, while having the least agency to respond.
Gaza already faces environmental disaster. With more than 2 million people living within 365 sq km, it is one of the most crowded territories on Earth. Surrounded by walls, the vast majority of Palestinians living in Gaza are unable to escape their deteriorating environment. Gaza suffers from debilitating shortages of water and electricity and lacks the necessary resources to fully treat sewage. Pollution of the aquifer, groundwater and the ocean has contributed to extensive public health problems.
Political factors are the primary causes of the area’s environmental problems. The blockade by Israel and Egypt heavily restricts goods into the territory, which creates enormous obstacles to maintaining — let alone updating — infrastructure. Israeli policies also strangle Gaza’s economy. The Hamas takeover of Gaza in 2007 added to the territory’s problems, as most international agencies and governments will not work with Hamas. The Palestinian Authority is one conduit for providing funds to
Gaza while trying to bypass Hamas, but conflict between the Palestinian factions has led to electricity shortages and salary cuts.
Climate change is now exacerbating Palestinians’ suffering in Gaza and threatens to further worsen the economy, agriculture, health and security. Extreme heat, shifts in precipitation patterns and
rise pose the greatest climate threats to Gaza.
Gaza lies alongside the ocean and overcrowding has pushed people to live close to the water. Some Gazans have already recognized that the sea level is rising, which will increase into the future. Rising seas erode beaches and increase saltwater intrusion into the aquifer. In some cases, it directly threatens homes and infrastructure.
Climate change’s impacts on Gaza have received little attention from the international community, Israel and the Palestinian leadership. The multiple immediate and severe challenges facing Gaza make it difficult to devote energy to longer-term risks. However, a few organizations and the Palestinian Authority have attempted to provide some recommendations.
But the political reality undermines all options for developing Gaza’s resilience. It is easy to see how Palestinians’ lack of sovereignty, Hamas’ control of the territory and Israel’s blockade make any efforts to adapt to climate change extremely difficult.
The Palestinians of Gaza have contributed very little to climate change. However, they are especially vulnerable to its effects and have extremely limited ability to adapt. They will need outside help but, fundamentally, they need an end to their isolation and a resolution to the conflict with Israel.
Kerry Boyd Anderson is a writer and political risk consultant with more than 18 years of experience as a professional analyst of international security issues and Middle East political and business risk. Her previous positions include deputy director for advisory with Oxford Analytica.