Water use innovations crucial to face climate change in Arab countries

Arab states must continue to seek innovations to overcome water scarcity in the face of climate change, said UN Food and Agriculture Organization Director-General José Graziano da Silva at an event co-hosted by the Arab League on the sidelines of FAO's biennial Conference.

In the Near East and North Africa region, the per capita renewable water availability is around 600 cubic metres per person per year - only 10 percent of the world average - and drops to just 100 cubic metres in some countries.

The Director-General praised Near East and North African countries' progress, despite the challenges, in areas such as desalination, water harvesting, drip irrigation and treating wastewater.

"It is fundamental to promote ways for agriculture, and food production in general, to use less water, and use it more efficiently," he said. "Population growth and the impacts of climate change will put more pressure on water availability in the near future. Climate change, in particular, poses very serious risks."

http://reliefweb.int/report/world/water-use-innovations-crucial-face-climate-change-arab-countries

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