Trends and Outlook of Natural Resource Use in West Asia report is framed by the set of initiatives rolled out by the Global Opportunities for Sustainable Development Goals (GO4SDGs) in West Asia to enhance the knowledge and capacity of policymakers
The report provides a regional overview of natural resource use and environmental impacts in West Asia, and projects future trends under two scenarios: Historical Trends and Towards Sustainability. It is the first attempt to translate the Global Resources Outlook 2019 approach to a regional level, and aims to inform regional and country consultations on sustainable resource use.
Key takeaways:
- Natural resource use in West Asia is increasing, driven by population growth, economic development, and urbanization.
- This is putting significant pressure on the region's environment, including air and water pollution, land degradation, and biodiversity loss.
- Under the Historical Trends scenario, natural resource use and environmental impacts are projected to continue to rise.
- Under the Towards Sustainability scenario, natural resource use and environmental impacts can be decoupled from economic growth, but this will require significant changes in policy and practice.
Read/Download the report here