You have probably already read about Syria’s drought — a drought that some argue (a bit too simplistically) contributed to the uprising in Syria.
Well, here’s news about Jordan’s drought.
In both cases – as is usually the case – climate change serves a threat multiplier, exacerbating the current environmental (and economic) problems.
excerpt:
Among the driest countries in the world, Jordan has an average of 145 cubic metres of water available per person annually (the water poverty line is 500 cubic metres). Its average annual precipitation is 111 millimetres.
Prime areas for agricultural cultivation, such as rain-fed areas, are shrinking, in part because of urbanisation and development. Between 1975 and 2007, according to research by Dr. Awni Taimeh from the University of Jordan, grain-cultivating areas decreased by 65 percent and vegetable-cultivating areas by 91 percent.
Farmers in Abu Waleed’s area have meanwhile noticed changes in weather in recent years. Along with a decrease in rainfall, temperatures have risen, leading to more pests and bugs and shifting growing seasons.
full article available here: Jordan’s Farmers Struggle to Weather Climate Change
