Yemen experience on Climate Change

Global Climate Change Alliance

Bangkok, 14-18 March 2012

Geographic Location and Land Area

Yemen is an arid Middle Eastern country, occupying an area of527,970 km2

It has a 2,250-km coastline along the Gulf of Aden and the RedSea

Cont. Geographic Location and Land Area

Yemen is characterized by five major ecologicalsystems:

1. Hot-humid Coastal Plain,

2. Temperate Highlands,2. Temperate Highlands,

3. Yemen High Plateaus and Hadramout –Mahrah Uplands,

4. The Desert Interior and

5. The Islands Archipelago.

Vulnerability of Yemen to Climate Changes

Water scarcity;

Short and heavy storms;

Floods;

Long dry periods;

Desertification;

Land degradation and soil erosion.

Adaptation priorities under NAPA

key sectors identified:

Water Resources

Agriculture

Coastal zones

Cross cutting issues ( awareness, capacity building, education,and databases)and databases)

12 high priority projects

Cost: About USD30 millions

Water: Average annual per capita share of water resources is

137 m3

Extraction of ground water has exceeded the level ofreplenishment capacity causing water depletion

Over 90% of water consumption is used for irrigation Over 90% of water consumption is used for irrigation

Water needs are estimated at 3,521 million m3 in 2010

deficit of about 700 million m3 in 1995, expected toincrease to 921 million m3 in 2010 would result in thedepletion of 12,157 million m3 of ground water by 2010.

Agriculture: Remains the most important sector employing 54% of

Yemen labor force

Contributed around 21% in the total GDP

Yemen current total cultivable area is about 16,700 km2 ofwhich:which:

72% uncultivated utilizing rain-fed, flood, and groundwater irrigations schemes

Rangelands together with forest and woodlands comprise 34%of total area.

Other land, mostly desert with limited use potential constitutesabout 49% of the total area

Coastal and Fisheries: Coastal line long is about 2250 Km, with185 Islands

Coastal Cities, Harbors, Infrastructure, Fish CommunitiesVillages and Facilities

Coastal sensitive Habitats (Mangroves, Coral Reef, Seagrass,Palm Groves, Wetlands, Lagoons, Sabkhas, Rocky Shores,Sandy Beaches)Sandy Beaches)

Rich of fish and other marine resources species

Fisheries contribution to GDP more than 2.4%, it is exportvalue reach more than 213 Million US$ per year

Fisheries Provides locals with high quality food

Contribute on Poverty alleviation, by providing workopportunity for more than 350 thousands people

Aden is one of the top 20 citiesin the world where the mostpeople will be at the greatestrisk from sea level rise andstorm surges in the developingworld (Dasgupta, et. al; Centerworld (Dasgupta, et. al; Centerfor Global Development,September 2009

Vulnerability ofYemen’s Fisheries Sector to Climate Change

Vulnerability of national economies of potentialclimate change impacts on fisheries (integratesexposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity) underIPCC scenario B2 (local development, loweremissions).

60,000 to 80,000fishermen and theirfamilies depend onfishing for theirlivelihoods

Ranked priority adaptation projects (1)

Project title Sector Time frame Budget(USD)

1 Develop and implement integrated coastal zone management Marine & coastalareas

4 years 3.2 million

2 Water conservation through reuse of treated waste water and greywater from mosques, and irrigation saving techniques

Water andagriculture

3 years 3.2 million

3 Awareness raising on adaptation to climate changes Public awareness 2 years 0.65 million

4 Establishment and maintaining of climate change database Cross-cutting 2 years 0.35 million

5 Planting and re-planting of mangroves and palms for adaptation tosea level rise

Marine & coastalareas

5 years 2.45 million

6 Develop and implement programs to improveYemen’s preparednessto cope with extreme weather events

Cross-cutting 4 years 5 million

Ranked priority adaptation projects (2)

Project title Sector Timeframe

Budget(USD)

7 Rainwater harvesting through various techniques including traditional methods Water and agriculture 3 years 2.81 million

8 Rehabilitation and maintenance of mountainous terraces Agriculture and landresources

5 years 4.78 million

9 Promotion of research on drought, heat and salinity tolerant varieties Agriculture and land 4 years 3.15 million9 Promotion of research on drought, heat and salinity tolerant varieties Agriculture and landresources

4 years 3.15 million

10 Sustainable land management to combat desertification and land degradation Agriculture and landresources

3 years 2.33

million

11 Sustainable management of fisheries resources Marine & coastal areas 5 years 1.18

million

12 Incorporation of climate change and adaptation into school education Education & awareness 2 years 0.82

million

Proposed criteria for setting up priorities

Contribution to Sustainable Development;

Livelihood security of Local Communities;

Poverty reduction to enhance adaptive capacity;

Synergy with other multilateral environmental agreements and conventions; and Synergy with other multilateral environmental agreements and conventions; and

Cost-effectiveness

Climate Change Institutional Structure

Establishment of CC Board, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister for Economical Affairs, Minister ofPlanning and International Cooperation and membership of the following institutions:

Ministry ofWater and Environment (MWE)

Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (MAI)

Ministry of FishWealth (MFW)

Ministry of Finance (MOF) Ministry of Finance (MOF)

Ministry of Local Administration (MOLA)

Ministry of Oil and Minerals (MOM)

Ministry ofTransportation (MT)

Ministry ofTelecommunication and InformationTechnology (MTIT)

Environment Protection Authority (EPA)