Marat Terterov, an expert from the Brussels Energy Club, participated in the recent Carnegie MENA Climate Vulnerability Conference, held in Amman, Jordan, on October 4-5, organized by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Middle East Program and funded by Sweden's International Development Cooperation Agency.
The high-level conference gathered regional researchers, policymakers, and civil society activists to address climate change vulnerabilities in the MENA region and enhance public awareness of climate issues. The conference featured various panels, including discussions on Key Climate Risks and Challenges Across the MENA Region, Vulnerability of Health Systems and Livelihoods in Rural Areas, Governance and Policymaking Challenges Across MENA Region, Resource Management in MENA Region: Water and Energy, Energy Systems: MENA’s Path to Energy Efficiency and Environmental Sustainability, and Climate-Related Vulnerabilities in Urban Areas.
Marat Terterov, alongside other experts such as Reem Halaseh, SDG integration and urban specialist at UNDP, and Karim Elgendy, an urban sustainability and climate consultant, participated in the panel dedicated to Climate-Related Vulnerabilities in Urban Areas. Terterov emphasized the need to focus on practical solutions as a means of overcoming barriers to addressing climate vulnerabilities in the MENA region.
During his presentation, Mr. Terterov highlighted several key points, including the climate challenges specific to MENA, the conference's focus on governance and society, Europe's remarkable energy transformation, the drivers behind the energy transition in Europe, challenges faced in climate action, MENA's efforts in climate action, and the role of market solutions, policy measures, social pressure, and justice approaches in addressing climate issues. Terterov noted that in MENA, investments in renewables and hydrogen are attracting significant foreign direct investment. However, climate action in the region appears to be driven more by external factors, including donor influence and commercial interests, rather than comprehensive public policies.
