Middle East Almanac

Climate change and environmental issues have only recently become a subject of public discussion in the Gulf. In the run up to COP21 in Paris in 2015, a group of young people formed the Arab Youth Climate Movement – Qatar (AYCM) to address this issue, becoming the first fully independent youth-led association in Qatar focused on youth and climate issues. Will Todman writes about AYCM's efforts in mainstreaming climate discussions in the Gulf. 

As Gulf governments increase their collaboration on environmental issues, CSIS convened a private roundtable with Gulf civil society actors to explore the role that civil society actors can play in bolstering state-level collaboration efforts and driving environmental action. Participants included academics, activists, and analysts from Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, and Qatar. They debated avenues to strengthen regional collaboration, pathways for civil society actors to influence government policy, and ways in which international actors can bolster their efforts. 

The Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Middle East Program held a virtual discussion on the Water and the Future of the Middle East initiative on June 26, 2023. Panelists explored the connections between water insecurity and displacement, particularly in Iraq, Yemen, Syria, and Gaza, with experts Giorgi Gigauri, Niku Jafarnia, and Michael Talhami. Natasha Hall, senior fellow, moderated the discussion.

A book review from the Middle East Program on Leon McCarron's new book The Wounded Tigris: A River Journey Through the Cradle of Civilization

Event summary for CSIS Middle East Program private roundtable on water security in the Middle East. 

Art is often a disruptive form that seeks to change political and social realities. In the Middle East, art has been used to prompt policy changes around environmental issues.