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Who in the Middle East is Concerned about Climate Change? Evidence from Recent Surveys
Abstract
The Middle East faces a number of challenges today due to the effects of climate change: extreme heat, recurring droughts, water and soil salinization, air pollution, and more. Yet relatively little is known about how people in the region perceive the threat of climate change, or the factors associated with perceiving it as more or less of a threat. This study analyzes the findings from face-to-face surveys with more than 13,700 people in 12 Middle Eastern countries conducted by the Arab Barometer Project in 2018-2019. About 65 percent of people said that climate change is a somewhat serious or very serious problem today. Just 11 percent view it as not at all a problem. Middle Easterners are similar to people in other regions in the way that education, pro-democratic and progressive politics, internet use, certain types of media consumption, and strong national economies are positively linked to viewing climate change as a problem. Yet the Middle East breaks from other regions because people who are older, more religious, and reside outside urban areas tend to be more concerned about climate change compared to their counterparts. No discernible differences emerge according to gender or a person's economic situation. People in Lebanon are more likely to perceive climate change as a problem whereas Algerians, Iraqis, Palestinians, Yemenis, and particularly Kuwaitis are less likely to do so.
Discipline
Political Science
Geographic Area
All Middle East
Sub Area
Environment