In a low-carbon economy.

• Author: Hmaidan, Wael

No matter what the future holds, the Arab world will continue to play an important role in providing the planet with energy. However, whether this energy will be clean and will insure the planet against climate change, does not depend only on the region, but also on world leaders. The opportunity to do so is only a month away in Copenhagen.

When it comes to the subject of energy in the Middle East, we instinctively think of oil--the black gold that has been the source of stable and healthy economies in the region. Nevertheless, this is about to change. With the lead up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Governments are realizing the imminent threat of climate change, and that there is no choice but to act fast. According to the "2009 World Economic and Social Survey: Promoting Development, Saving the Planet", (1) we need to transform our economy similar to a wartime setting. When United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced that he will convene an unprecedented Climate Change Summit at UN Headquarters on 22 September 2009, he said that we have less than ten years to halt the rise in greenhouse gas emissions if we are to avoid catastrophic consequences for people and the planet. Small Island Developing States that are under the threat of rising sea levels are calling for a peak in emissions by the end of 2010, and to stabilize greenhouse gas concentration at 350 parts per million (ppm) [CO.sub.2] equivalent as fast as possible.

This rapid transformation has of course raised tremendous concern in the oil-rich countries of the Arab region, whose economies are mainly dependent on oil trade. The cost of climate change is too high to accept. Even the Arab region will suffer, especially with agriculture and water resources. Sea level rise will also threaten many low-lying countries and agricultural areas in the region, such as Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and the Nile basin. Lebanon is currently battling with increased forest fires that are devastating its forests. Therefore, the overall transformation of our societies to a low-carbon economy needs to happen. The question for the region should be, "What is our role in the campaign for a low-carbon economy?"

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