Energy Security and Climate Policy Implications in Destabilizing the Middle East and North Africa Region

摘要

Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is a region with strong dependence on fossil fuels, as a high share of its Gross Domestic Product depends on the revenues from the energy industry. The region has large oil and gas reserves, as shown in Table 1, and therefore the capability to influence global energy markets. At the same time, the 13 states that comprise the so-called MENA region are responsible for 5% of the world's GHG emissions (World Bank, 2016) and most of them face a severe climate problem - water scarcity. During the Arab Spring, demonstrations led by the people of several MENA countries resulted, affecting the oil and gas markets and discussion of energy security issues.