Description:
Yemen is particularly vulnerable to
climate change and variability impacts because of its water
dependence and current high levels of water stress. This
natural resource challenge is compounded by demographic
pressure, weak governance and institutions, and by a
deteriorating economic situation. The economic and social
outlook is not bright, and planning and international
support will certainly be needed to help Yemen to adapt to
the further stresses caused by climate change and
variability. In the light of these challenges, the
government has developed a National Adaptation Program of
Action (NAPA). In support of this, the World Bank
commissioned a series of studies of climate change in two
phases: the first phase projected climate change scenarios
for Yemen, and phase two assessed climate change impacts on
the agricultural and water sectors, and outlined possible
policy and program responses. The present study is
essentially a digest of the work done to date, and is
intended as a contribution to Government's process of
assessing vulnerability and adaptation options by: (i)
assessing possible impacts on the water balance and on
agriculture and rural livelihoods; and (ii) reviewing
adaptation options and the priorities for government
policies, strategies and investments.