Climate change in Yemen: risks and opportunities
Climate change threatens Yemen, and countries worldwide. It is now a problem, not only for researchers but also for communities, businesses, and governments. Although the currently difficult security situation gets the most media attention, climate change in Yemen is even more threatening to the country as a habitable land. “Our crops dry up, while we desperately wait for rain”, moaned a dejected Hajjah Zuhra from west of Sana’a.
Generally, disastrous climate events, occurring statistically “once-in-a-century” are now frequent in Yemen. The country’s agriculture, natural resources, and coastal zones already suffer from short-term effects while long-term existential crises loom. Nonetheless, climate change also brings lucrative opportunities for Yemen impact investment.
These include irrigation investment in Yemen agriculture, renewable energy, carbon capture, etc. Organic Yemen (OY) can profit from these opportunities through climate-smart investments that also promote economic growth. The company’s arid farms, development of climate-suitable export crops, flood monitoring tools, research partnerships, and other expertise make it an ideal partner for Yemen investors.
Effects of climate change in Yemen
A World Bank report in 2010 predicted economic stress for Yemen from climate change. Another shortly indicated that Yemen would get hotter and drier. It would specifically warm faster than global averages and experience increased variability of rainfall patterns. It would also experience more frequent intense rainfall events leading to more Yemen flood risks. These predictions are already apparent.
In 2015, two main cyclones (Chapala and Megh) hit Yemen within one week, and two more hits in 2018.
During 2020 and early 2021, the country experienced several destructive floods and downpours nationwide
Major sectors affected by climate change in Yemen
In Socotra, two rare cyclones uprooted thousands of unique species (Source: IUCN)
In the last few decades, Yemen's climate change has affected three main sectors: agriculture, natural resources, and coastal zones. Among others, effects include:
Unpredictable rainfall patterns reducing agricultural production. Indeed, rain-fed agriculture has declined by almost 30 percent.
Agricultural desertification (presently affecting 3–5 percent of land annually) is set to keep worsening or persisting. Coupled with submersion of coastal areas, population displacement leads to migration and fuels risks of wider conflicts.
Temperature variability leading to more incidences of crop pests, insects, and diseases.
Heat and cold waves, increasing the need for electricity via renewable energy options.
Irreparable damage to UNESCO world heritage sites like Socotra and Hawf. In November 2015, two rare cyclones hit Socotra Archipelago, uprooting thousands of unique species, flora, and fauna, etc.
Increasing flooding threatens lives and property, and also collapsed or undermined the foundations of hundreds of historic buildings in Sana’a City and elsewhere.
Submersion of coastal areas displaces people causing migration (Source: IUCN)
How can climate change in Yemen be an opportunity for OY and investment partners?
Climate change, despite its risks, also brings a host of lucrative opportunities for OY and its partners. Unlike in the past, investors are increasingly pushing for action by big companies to plan for climate change. Investor analysis and use of climate risks in investment decision-making are also growing. Overall, there is increased investor interest in climate change investment.
In large part, this is because the benefits of climate change investment dramatically outweigh upfront costs. For example, according to the 2019 World Bank data, a green economy investment of US $1 on average yields US $4 in benefits. Also, bold climate action will yield direct economic gain of US $26 trillion by 2030, according to the 2018 Climate Economy Report. Overall, the potential for climate-smart investment in emerging economies, including the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is very high.
Indeed, investing US $1.8 trillion between 2020 and 2030 could globally generate US $7.1 trillion in total net benefits in five areas. These include:
improved dryland agriculture crop production
climate-resilient infrastructure
more resilient water resources
global mangrove protection
Investing US $1.8 trillion between 2020 & 2030 could globally generate US $7.1 trillion in total net
Climate-smart investments in Yemen
In Yemen, there are significant opportunities for investment in climate-smart agriculture and renewable energy. This includes measures that increase agricultural productivity, reduce greenhouse gasses, enhance resilience and address food security.
Organic Yemen can capitalize on investor interest in climate-smart solutions to these areas based on expertise, infrastructure, and research partnerships. We particularly recommend agricultural and renewable energy investments to fight climate change:
By adapting to arid environments, and helping farmers make money with new crops designed with future climate and market sales conditions in mind.
Capturing carbon from the air, and selling carbon credits to companies.
Using wind and solar energy to meet electricity needs, without creating more pollution. Indeed, there is currently a rapid boom in the Yemen solar energy industry.
Organic Yemen is your perfect partner for climate-smart investments
Growing investor interest in impact projects that fight the effects of climate change brings lucrative opportunities for Organic Yemen and its investors. Fortunately, Organic Yemen is uniquely placed to help Yemen fight the effects of climate change. For example,
OY has is passionate about using detailed data, research and analysis to inform agricultural investment planning, agriculture production maximization, renewable energy generation and many other data-driven applications.
OY has a deep experience in Yemen flood monitoring, which enables it to help partners design early warning systems and manage destructive flood events.
OY has built strong working partnerships with universities and agriculture research stations spread across the whole country, enabling it to deploy pilot projects in geographically diverse areas and scale them up quickly.
Going forward, Organic Yemen is set to undertake a series of lucrative agricultural and renewable energy investments in Yemen. Investors are welcome and can contact us.