Climate governance in the Middle East and North Africa will play a significant role in shaping the region’s political stability and economic resilience as climate impacts intensify and the global energy transition accelerates. MENA governments are under growing pressure to act, but the way climate policies are designed and implemented will determine their effectiveness and durability. Two main climate governance frameworks dominate the region. The first is a rights-based, participatory approach that emphasizes the role of public and institutional consultation in policymaking and project design. The second is a technocratic, hierarchical system that prioritizes swift implementation and investment. This paper argues that an adaptive approach that uses elements of both frameworks may offer the best chance of achieving sustainable climate action in the Middle East and North Africa. By combining input legitimacy with capacity, an adaptive approach can mobilize finance, scale renewable energy, manage social impacts and maintain public trust.
How the Middle East and North Africa can benefit from adaptive climate governance (Karim Elgendy – Chatham House)
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