The warming of Earth’s climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and the rising global mean sea level.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has declared in 2008 that water resources are amongst systems and sectors that are particularly vulnerable to climate change and stand to be strongly impacted by it.
The Middle East – North Africa (MENA) Region is one of the most waterless areas on Earth. The hydrology of arid regions will be most affected by climate change since the accelerating hydrological cycle will decrease scarce water resources of these regions. The MENA Region faces water challenges and possible solutions that are quite unique in comparison to the rest of the World.
In light of the above, the Ministry of Regional Municipalities and Water Resources, Sultanate of Oman, and the Regional Centre on Urban Water Management – Tehran will be holding the First International Conference on Water Resources and Climate Change in the MENA Region, in Muscat, The Sultanate of Oman, 2-4 Nov. 2008.
The conference aims at providing an opportunity for hydrologists, climatologists, meteorologists, and decision makers to exchange their ideas, research results and concerns on climate change and its impacts, adaptation and mitigation in the water sector regarding the sensitivity, importance and the role of water resources management on sustainable development in the MENA region.
