Climate Change: Causes, Effects and What It Means for Jordan and the Arab World
What is climate change? A clear guide to its causes, the greenhouse effect and its impacts, why Jordan and the Arab region are among the most affected, and what can be done.
Hotter summers, less rain or heavier downpours, and droughts that keep coming back. Climate change is no longer a distant topic we only read about in the news; it has become part of daily life. So what exactly is climate change, why is it happening, and how does it affect Jordan and the Arab region?
What is climate change?
Climate change means long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns on Earth. The climate has changed naturally throughout history, but the change we have seen since the 19th century is mainly caused by human activity, especially burning fossil fuels: coal, oil and gas.
It’s important to separate weather from climate:
- Weather: conditions over a day or a week, like “rain tomorrow”.
- Climate: the average weather in a region over many decades.
How does the greenhouse effect work?
Earth is wrapped in a layer of gases that acts like a blanket, letting sunlight in and trapping some of the heat. This natural process is called the greenhouse effect, and without it Earth would be too cold for life.
The problem is that humans have greatly increased these greenhouse gases, making the “blanket” thicker and warming the planet. The main ones are:
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂): from burning fuel and cutting down forests. Its concentration has risen from about 280 parts per million before the Industrial Revolution to more than 420 parts per million today.
- Methane: from farming, livestock, landfills and gas leaks.
- Nitrous oxide: from fertilisers and some industries.
Causes of climate change
- Generating electricity from coal, oil and gas.
- Transport: cars, trucks, planes and ships.
- Industry: such as cement and steel production.
- Deforestation, since trees absorb carbon dioxide.
- Agriculture and waste, both major sources of methane.
How much has Earth warmed?
According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global average temperature in 2011–2020 was about 1.1 °C higher than before the Industrial Revolution. Data from the World Meteorological Organization show that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with warming above 1.5 °C.
One and a half degrees may sound small, but it’s enough to cause major changes in weather systems around the world.
Did you know? Scientific studies suggest the Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East is warming at nearly twice the global average rate, making it one of the regions most exposed to climate change.
Effects of climate change
- Longer, more intense heatwaves.
- More frequent droughts in some places, and sudden floods and heavy rain in others.
- Rising sea levels from melting ice and warming oceans expanding; sea level has risen by about 20 cm since 1900.
- Melting glaciers and polar ice.
- Threats to food and water security as farming and water sources are affected.
- Health impacts, such as heat stress and the spread of some diseases.
- Risks to biodiversity, such as coral bleaching.
Climate change in Jordan
Jordan is one of the most water-scarce countries in the world, which makes it very sensitive to any change in climate. Key challenges include:
- Declining and erratic rainfall, putting pressure on dams and groundwater.
- Rising temperatures and more summer heatwaves.
- Impacts on agriculture, especially rain-fed crops.
- Higher demand for water and electricity in summer.
In response, Jordan raised its emissions-reduction target to 31% by 2030 (part of it conditional on international support), has expanded solar and wind power significantly, and is working on the National Water Carrier project to desalinate Red Sea water in Aqaba and pump it to Amman and other governorates.
What is the world doing?
In 2015, countries signed the Paris Agreement, which aims to keep warming well below 2 °C while pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5 °C. Arab countries have hosted the UN climate summits, including Egypt in Sharm El-Sheikh in 2022 and the UAE in Dubai in 2023.
How can you help?
- Save electricity: switch off unused devices and use LED bulbs.
- Use water wisely; it’s precious in our region.
- Drive less when you can, or share rides.
- Consider solar power for your home if possible.
- Reduce waste and recycle, and don’t waste food.
- Plant a tree, and raise awareness among family and friends.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between global warming and climate change?
Global warming is the rise in Earth’s temperature caused by greenhouse gases. Climate change is broader: it includes the warming plus all the resulting changes in rainfall, wind and extreme events.
Is it too late to stop climate change?
No. Every fraction of a degree avoided makes a big difference, and the shift to clean energy is speeding up worldwide.
Key takeaway
Climate change is driven mainly by greenhouse gases from human activity, and its effects are clear in heatwaves, droughts and rising seas. Jordan and the Arab region are among the hardest hit, so solutions, from solar power to saving water, are not a luxury but a necessity.