World Bank Officials: Cooperation in the Region Targets Development, Climate Protection

World Bank Officials: Cooperation in the Region Targets Development, Climate Protection

World Bank officials stressed that climate challenges in the Middle East included water scarcity, food shortage, and energy security, noting that the Saudi Green Initiative was an example to follow in order to address these threats.

Asharq Al-Awsat interviewed Paul Noumba Um, the Regional Director of the World Bank’s Infrastructure Department in the MENA region, and Marina Weiss, Regional Director for Egypt, Yemen, and Djibouti, on the sidelines of the COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh.

The two officials noted that the Bank paid great attention to the Middle East and North Africa region, saying that during the past year, it contributed about $32 billion in support to developing countries’ climate response.

“We believe that the climate problem is the most pressing issue of our time and for future generations, and (doing nothing) is not an option...Part of our action and our goal during our participation in COP27 is that we should not look at addressing climate change from the point of view of costs, but as a great opportunity that can be invested to obtain a better life…” they said.

Water scarcity

The two World Bank officials added: “In the Middle East and North Africa, 6 out of 10 people suffer from water scarcity. This is