Middle East, explained.
A street vendor takes shelter during a 2024 heatwave in Cairo, Egypt (Islam Safwat/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
And that means overcoming financial and cultural barriers to participation.
Subscribe to The Informer for monthly expert analysis, and to Events for advance notice of visiting world leaders and distinguished guests.
You may unsubscribe from Lowy Institute newsletters at any time. For information on our privacy practices and how to unsubscribe, see our Privacy Policy.
Empowering Middle East’s youth is key to climate resilienceEmpowering Middle East’s youth is key to climate resilience
Arid landscapes are not easy homes for rapidly growing urban centres. So cities across the Middle East are grappling with pressing environmental challenges, whether rising temperatures, water scarcity, or ecosystem degradation. All these factors add a further threat to the region’s long-term stability.
Yet a powerful force for change is emerging: the youth. Representing almost 30 per cent of the region’s population, young people are pioneering climate initiatives and championing sustainability. From sustainable farming to urban greening, their efforts reflect both creativity and adaptability, as noted in a 2022 United Nations forum.
In Lebanon, young innovators are developing portable solar energy solutions, such as the Solar Ray Amper project, to provide sustainable alternatives to traditional energy sources. In the United Arab Emirates, young advocates are driving sustainability efforts through initiatives including Masdar’s Youth 4 Sustainability program, which fosters innovation in energy-efficient technologies and sustainable urban development. Meanwhile, young people in Egypt, through the Shagrha initiative, are transforming urban spaces by planting fruit trees to combat rising temperatures and promote sustainability.
These efforts not only address localised climate issues but also contribute to broader regional transitions towards sustainability.
But enthusiasm alone cannot overcome all obstacles, with financial constraints being among the most pressing.
The regional impact of these initiatives underscores their interconnectedness. As climate change knows no borders, youth movements in one country often inspire similar actions elsewhere. This inclusive, cross-border approach is essential for addressing the shared climate challenges facing the region.
But enthusiasm alone cannot overcome all obstacles, with financial constraints being among the most pressing. According to the Arab Reform Initiative, grassroots environmental initiatives in the Middle East and North Africa region struggle to access funding compared to larger, more established projects, limiting their ability to scale up and achieve long-term impact.
Social and cultural factors also pose challenges. Traditional norms in parts of the Middle East, particularly those concerning gender roles, can discourage young people, especially women, from participating in climate advocacy. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) highlights that young people in the Arab States region, particularly young women, face additional barriers in climate advocacy, including societal restrictions and limited access to resources. These challenges hinder their full participation in environmental activism and decision-making. Moreover, inadequate climate education further limits youth involvement. Without access to comprehensive education on environmental issues, many young people lack the tools needed to engage effectively in climate action.
The remains of Lake Urmia in northern Iran (Ninara/Flickr)
This was evident at the 2022 COP27 in Egypt, where Ahmad, a Beirut teacher, emphasised the lack of climate education in his community. Despite living with power shortages, his students had limited knowledge of climate change. After taking the initiative to teach them and organise a sustainability camp, Ahmad is now working with Teach For Lebanon to train educators and create a climate education module. However, broader support is still needed to fully integrate climate education into curricula, and COP28 the following year in the UAE offered a crucial opportunity for countries in the region to lead the way.
Renewed efforts are needed to harness the full potential of youth-led climate action. Governments, NGOs, and international organisations could intervene with support, including:
Supporting youth-led initiatives is not just an investment in the region’s future – it is a critical step towards a sustainable and climate-resilient Middle East.
About the author
Hajrah Nasir
Hajrah Nasir is a participant in the Women in Strategic Policy (WISP) program run by the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University and Girls Run the World.
The most-pressing world events explained by Lowy Institute experts and global contributors, in your inbox, every Thursday.
You may unsubscribe from The Interpreter at any time. For information on our privacy practices and how to unsubscribe, see our Privacy Policy.
