Urban Resilience and Climate Change in the MENA Region (Routledge Focus on Environment and Sustainability)

This book provides an overview of the geopolitical context and climate change risk profile of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region.

Mapping existing scientific literature and key reports on MENA climate change impacts and future projections, Nuha Eltinay and Charles Egbu establish links between the Conference of the Parties (from COP26, COP27 to COP28) Glasgow–Sharm el-Sheikh Work Program for Progress on the Global Goal on Adaptation, and regional climate adaptation financing targets, national government investments, and human security in local case studies. They also address gaps in disaster risk reduction institutional governance for sustainable development in the region. The authors move beyond the existing theoretical understanding of urban resilience to investigate how it is being measured and assessed in MENA in alignment with the IPCC’s climate change adaptation indicators. Finally, they explore how disasters and conflict displacement vulnerabilities and fragility affecting the communities most in need are being measured and integrated into cities’ resilience action plans and national disaster risk policies.

Providing guidance and policy recommendations based on empirical research and key stakeholder engagement observations, this book will be of great interest to students, scholars, and professionals who are researching and working in the areas of climate change, urban planning, and environmental policy and governance.

As this book comes out just after the closure of The United Nations Climate Change Conference COP28 negotiations, it sets the scene for pre-COP regional context, and paves the way for researchers and practitioners to undertake post-COP28 key takeaways and multi-level government commitments into action, for better climate mitigation and adaptation investments, resilient and sustainable future for all.

Nuha Eltinay is an award-winning spatial planner, a PhD holder in urban resilience from London South Bank University (LSBU), and a master’s degree holder in international planning and sustainable development from the University of Westminster, London. In her current role as Senior Expert in Urban Resilience and Climate Adaptation at ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability (European Secretariat), she leads activities of project management, consultations, and acquisition in sustainable urban development, Ukraine post-war recovery, climate adaptation financing, and urban resilience assessments at cities, local communities and EU regional governments level.

Charles Egbu is Vice Chancellor, Leeds Trinity University. Prior to UEL, he was formerly Pro-Vice Chancellor (Education & Experience) at the University of East London, UK, and former Dean of School of the Built Environment and Architecture at London South Bank University, England, where he also holds the chair in project management and strategic management in construction. Professor Egbu has over 25 years of experience in higher education, has written 12 books, and has lectured nationally and internationally in areas such as sustainable development, resilient communities, construction economics, and innovation and knowledge management in complex environments.