Climate Change in Palestine: Hazards, Vulnerabilities, and the Intersection with Conflict

Monday, 24 February 2025 | 12:30 to 14:30 EST | Room 280N, Second Floor, York Lanes, Keele Campus, York University

With Ahmed Abu Shaban, Visiting Scholar at the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change, York University; Al Azhar University, Gaza

 Palestine is among the most climate-vulnerable regions in the world, facing a wide range of climate hazards that severely impact its population. Rising temperatures, water scarcity, and increasing drought frequency threaten both livelihoods and food security. Over time, Palestine has experienced significant temperature increases, and projections suggest a continued alarming rise in the coming decades. The region also faces severe water scarcity, with water availability well below the levels needed to avoid stress. This situation is further worsened by reduced rainfall and increasing droughts, which are expected to become more frequent and intense, putting further strain on agriculture and livelihoods. These challenges are compounded by political and economic instability. The ongoing Israeli occupation, conflict, and destruction of infrastructure have weakened Palestine’s adaptive capacity, hindering the implementation of climate resilience strategies. For instance, recent studies have shown that the war in Gaza has caused significant CO2 emissions due to the destruction of buildings, further accelerating climate degradation. Despite similarities to other Asian countries facing climate risks, Palestine’s situation is more dire due to its limited governance over natural resources, severe water scarcity, and conflict-induced vulnerabilities. The presentation will explore the intersection of climate change, political conflict, and socioeconomic impacts in Palestine, highlighting the need for localized, conflict-sensitive adaptation strategies.

Ahmed Abu Shaban is a Visiting Professor from Palestine and previously served as Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Al Azhar University, Gaza. He teaches climate justice and policy at York University. Dr. Abu Shaban has worked with UN agencies and international non-governmental organizations on climate change adaptation and economic empowerment programs in conflict-affected areas. His roles include serving as a Climate Change Consultant for the World Food Programme (WFP).

This event is part of the Climate Dystopias in Asia series, which is co-presented with the Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change.