Skip to main content

Environmental Degradation, Climate Uncertainties, and Human Vulnerabilities: Realm of Possible Actions toward a Shifting Security Paradigm in the Arab Gulf Monarchies

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Climate Change, Human Security and Violent Conflict

Part of the book series: Hexagon Series on Human and Environmental Security and Peace ((HSHES,volume 8))

Abstract

In view of the expected persistence and resilience of the driving forces of human-induced climate change, it is generally acknowledged that even a far-reaching global mitigation effort will need to be complemented by national proactive actions towards adapting to cope with the impacts of future climate uncertainty and its imminent threat to human security. There seems to be a consensus among social scientists that without tenacious preventive measures, prolonged environmental degradation along with climate change will overstretch many societies’ adaptive capacities, which may result in internal destabilization processes with diffuse conflict structures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Adger, W. Neil; Agrawala, Shardul; Mirza, M. Monirul Qader; Conde, Cecilia; O'Brien, Karen; Pulhin, Juan; Pulwarty, Roger; Smit, Barry; Takahashi, Kiyoshi, 2007: “Assessment of adaptation practices, options, constraints and capacity”, in: Parry, Martin; Canziani, O.F.; Palutikof, J.P.; van der Linden, P.J.; Hanson, C.E. (Eds.): Climate Change 2007 – Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (New York, NY: Cambridge University Press): 717–743.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adger, W. Neil; Vincent, Katharine, 2005: “Uncertainty in adaptive capacity” (IPCC Special Issue on ‘Describing Uncertainties in Climate Change to Support Analysis of Risk and Options’), in: Comptes Rendus Geoscience, 337,4: 399–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Awadhi, Jasem M.; Misak, Raafat F.; Omar, Samira S., 2003: “Causes and consequences of desertification in Kuwait: a case study of land degradation”, in: Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment, 62,2: 107–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ali, Syed, 2010: DubaiGilded Cage (New Haven – London: Yale University Press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Kolibi, Fahad M., 2002: “Possible effects of global warming on agriculture and water resources in Saudi Arabia — impacts & responses”, in: Climatic Change, 54,1–2: 225–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Mogrin, Saleh; Al-Maziad, Abdulaziz, 2002: Water Pricing Reform for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Riyadh: Ministry of Municipality and Rural Affairs).

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Naser, Waheeb Essa; Al-Naser, N. W., 2009: “Solar and wind energy potential in GCC countries and some related projects”, in: Journal of Renewable Sustainable Energy. 1: 1–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Roubaie, Amer; Al-Zayer, Jamal, 2006: “Sustaining development in the GCC countries: the impact of technology transfer”, in: World Review of Entrepreneurship, Management and Sustainable Development, 2,3: 175–188.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Shibani, Khider M.; Elani, Usama A., 2001: “An Investigation on the Long-Term Performance of a Silicon Solar Car”, in: International Journal of Renewable Energy Engineering, 3,2: 333–338.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Yousef, Yousef Khalifah, 2008: “When rulership becomes privileged booty (ghanimah): the condition of the Gulf Cooperation Council”, in: Contemporary Arab Affairs, 1,4 (October): 631–648; at: <http://www.darussalam.ae/library/ghanimah.pdf > (23 June 2010).

  • Al-Zubari, Waleed K., 2003: “Alternative water policies for the Gulf Cooperation Council countries”, in: Al-Sharhan, A. S., Wood, Warren W. (Eds.): Water Resources Perspectives: Evaluation, Management and Policy (Amsterdam: Elsevier Science): 155–168.

    Google Scholar 

  • Al-Zubari, Waleed K., 2009: “Water Resource Management Challenges in the GCC Countries – Four Scenarios”, in: Cronin, Richard; Pandya, Amit (Eds.): Exploiting Natural Resources Growth, Instability, and Conflict in the Middle East and Asia (Washington, D.C.: The Henry L. Stimson Center): 3–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amuzegar, Jahangir, 2001: Managing the oil wealthOPEC's windfalls and pitfalls (London/New York: IB Tauris & Co. Ltd.)

    Google Scholar 

  • Ayubi, Nazih N., 1999: Over-stating the Arab State: Politics and Society in the Middle East (London/New York: IB Tauris & Co. Ltd.).

    Google Scholar 

  • Basedau, Matthias; Lacher, Wolfram, 2006: A paradox of plenty? Rent distribution and political stability in oil states. GIGA Research Program: Dynamics of Violence and Security Cooperation – Working Paper, No. 21 (Hamburg: German Institute of Global and Area Studies).

    Google Scholar 

  • Beblawi, Hazem, 1990: “The rentier state in the Arab world”, in: Luciani, Giacomo (Ed.): The Arab State (Berkeley – Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press): 85–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brauch, Hans Günter; Oswald Spring, Úrsula; Grin, John; Mesjasz, Czeslaw; Kameri-Mbote, Patricia; Behera, Navnita Chadha; Chourou, Béchir; Krummenacher, Heinz (Eds.), 2009: Facing Global Environmental Change: Environmental, Human, Energy, Food, Health and Water Security Concepts. Hexagon Series on Human and Environmental Security and Peace, vol. 4 (Berlin – Heidelberg – New York: Springer-Verlag).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brauch, Hans Günter; Oswald Spring, Úrsula; Mesjasz, Czeslaw; Grin, John; Dunay, Pal; Behera, Navnita Chadha; Chourou, Béchir; Kameri-Mbote, Patricia; Liotta, P.H. (Eds.), 2008: Globalization and Environmental Challenges: Reconceptualizing Security in the 21st Century. Hexagon Series on Human and Environmental Security and Peace, vol. 3 (Berlin – Heidelberg – New York: Springer-Verlag).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brauch, Hans Günter; Oswald Spring, Ursula; Mesjasz, Czeslaw; Grin, John; Kameri-Mbote, Patricia; Chourou, Bechir; Birkmann, Jörn (Eds.), 2011: Coping with Global Environmental Change, Disasters and Security – Threats, Challenges, Vulnerabilities and Risks. Hexagon Series on Human and Environmental Security and Peace vol. 5 (Berlin – Heidelberg – New York: Springer-Verlag).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, Gary; Peacock, John; Loughland, Ronald; Al-Hadrami, Ghaleb A., 2006: “Coastal and terrestrial ecosystem management requirements in the Arabian Peninsula”, in: Amer, Kamel Mostafa; et al. (Eds.): Policy Perspectives for Ecosystem and Water Management in the Arabian Peninsula (Ontario: United Nations University International Network on Water, Environment and Health -UNESCO): 89 – 104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown, Oli; Crawford, Alec, 2009: Rising Temperatures, Rising Tensions - Climate change and the risk of violent conflict in the Middle East (Winnipeg: International Institute for Sustainable Development).

    Google Scholar 

  • Burke, Edward, 2008: BahrainReaching a Threshold. Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE) Working Paper 61. [Project on Freedom of Association in the Middle East and North Africa] (Madrid: FRIDE).

    Google Scholar 

  • Burton, Ian; Diringer, Elliot; Smith, Joel, 2006: Adaptation to Climate Change: International Policy Options (Washington, D.C.: PEW Center on Global Climate Change).

    Google Scholar 

  • Burton, Ian; Huq, Saleemul; Lim, Bo; Pilifosova, Olga; Schipper, Emma Lisa, 2002: “From impacts assessment to adaptation priorities: the shaping of adaptation policy”, in: Climate Policy, 2: 145–159.

    Google Scholar 

  • Champion, Daryl, 2003: The Paradoxical KingdomSaudi Arabia and the Momentum of Reform (new edition) (London: Hurst).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cheema, Sujata Ashwarya, 2009: ”Development of Civil Society and Democratization in the Middle East”, in: Lex ET Scientia International Journal (LESIJ), 16,2: 445–455.

    Google Scholar 

  • CIA (Central Intelligence Agency), 2010: The World Factbook 2010 (Washington, DC: Central Intelligence Agency).

    Google Scholar 

  • CNA Corporation, 2007: National Security and the threat of climate change (Alexandria, VA: The CNA Corporation).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cordesman, Anthony H., 2003: Saudi Arabia Enters the Twenty-First Century – The Political, Foreign Policy, Economic, and Energy Dimensions (Westport: Praeger Publishers).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cordesman, Anthony H., 2010: Saudi National Security and the Saudi-US Strategic Partnership (Washington, D.C.: Center for Strategic & International Studies).

    Google Scholar 

  • Cotula, Lorenzo; Vermeulen, Sonja; Leonard, Rebeca; Keeley, James, 2009: Land grab or development opportunity? Agricultural investment and international land deals in Africa (Rome – London: FAO, IIED and IFAD).

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, Christopher M., 2008: Dubai: the vulnerability of success (New York: Columbia University Press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Davidson, Christopher M., 2009: “Dubai: Foreclosure of a Dream”, in: Middle East Report, 251 (Summer): 8–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dawoud, Mohammed A., 2007: Water Scarcity in the GCC Countries: Challenges and Opportunities (Dubai: Gulf Research Center).

    Google Scholar 

  • Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), 2010: The GCC in 2020 – Resources for the future. White paper from the Economist Intelligence Unit – Sponsored by the Qatar Financial Centre Authority (Geneva: The Economist Intelligence Unit).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehteshami, Anoushiravan, 2003: “The politics of participation in the oil monarchies”, in: Najem, Tom Pierre; Hetherington, Martin (Eds.): Good governance in the Middle East oil monarchies (London: Routledge): 60–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elhadj, Elie, 2006: Experiments in Achieving Water and Food Self-Sufficiency in the Middle East: The Consequences of Contrasting Endowments, Ideologies, and Investment Policies in Saudi Arabia and Syria (Boca Raton, FL: Dissertation.com).

    Google Scholar 

  • Erskine, William; Moustafa, Ahmed T.; Osman, Ahmed E.; Lashine, Zaki; Nejatian, Arash; Badawi, Tamer; Ragy, Subhy M., 2004: “Date palm in the GCC countries of the Arabian Peninsula”, in: Proceedings of the Regional Workshop on Date Palm Development in the Arabian Peninsula (Aleppo: International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas): 1–7.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewing B., S. Goldfinger, A. Oursler, A. Reed, D. Moore, and M. Wackernagel. 2009: The Ecological Footprint Atlas 2009 (Oakland: Global Footprint Network).

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewing, Brad; Goldfinger, Steven; Wackernagel, Mathis; Stechbart, Meredith; Rizk, Sarah; Reed, Anders; Kitzes, Justin; 2008: The Ecological Footprint Atlas 2008 (Oakland: Global Footprint Network).

    Google Scholar 

  • FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations), 2009: The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2009 (Rome: Electronic Publishing Policy and Support Branch of FAO)

    Google Scholar 

  • Fasano, Ugo; Goyal, Rishi, 2004: Emerging strains in GCC labour markets. IMF Working Paper WP/04/71 (Washington, D.C.: International Monetary Fund).

    Google Scholar 

  • Fergany, Nader, 2000: “Science and research for development in the Arab region”, in: Rached, Eglal; Craissati, Dina (Eds.): Research and Development in the Middle East and North Africa (Ottawa: International Development Research Centre (IDRC)): 61–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fergany, Nader, 2006: “Islam and science: steps towards reform”, in: Nature, 444,2 (November): 33–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folke, Carl; Hahn, Thomas; Olsson, Per; Norberg, Jon, 2005: “Adaptive governance of social–ecological systems”, in: Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 30: 441–473.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freedom House, 2009: Freedom of the Press – 2009 Edition (Washington, D.C.: Freedom House).

    Google Scholar 

  • Giddens, Anthony, 2009: The Politics of Climate Change (Cambridge: Polity Press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Giles, Jim, 2006: “Oil rich, science poor”, in: Nature, 444,2 (November): 28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Global Footprint Network (GFN), 2006: Living Planet Report 2006 (Oakland: Global Footprint Network).

    Google Scholar 

  • GRAIN, 2008: Seized! The 2008 land grab for food and financial security (Barcelona: GRAIN)

    Google Scholar 

  • Haldén, Peter, 2009: “Climate Change and Security – A Planetary Danger or Military Threat?”, in: New Routes, 14,1 (Uppsala: Life and Peace Institute): 3 – 6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, Roger, 2004: “A Problem With Liquidity: The Challenges Of Water in Saudi Arabia”, in: Washington Report on Middle East Affairs, July/August: 44–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heydemann, Steven, 2007: Upgrading authoritarianism in the Arab world. Analysis Paper No. 13 (Washington, D.C.: Saban Center for Middle East Policy – Brookings Institution).

    Google Scholar 

  • Human Rights Watch (HRW), 2006: Building towers, cheating workers. Exploitation of Migrant Construction Workers in the United Arab Emirates, 18,8 (Washington, D.C.: Human Rights Watch).

    Google Scholar 

  • Human Rights Watch (HRW), 2009: Bahrain: Labor Reforms a Major Advance. (Washington, D.C.: Human Rights Watch, 13 May).

    Google Scholar 

  • International Energy Agency (IEA), 2009: CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion“Highlights” – 2009 Edition (Paris: OECD/IEA).

    Google Scholar 

  • Janssen, Marco A.; Ostrom, Elinor (Eds.), 2006: “Resilience, Vulnerability, and Adaptation: A Crosscutting Theme of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change”, in: Global Environmental Change, 16: 237–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jill, Crystal, 2005: Political Reform and the Prospects for Democratic Transition in the Gulf (Madrid: Fundación para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Diálogo Exterior (FRIDE)).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaufmann, Daniel; Kraay, Aart; Mastruzzi, Massimo, 2009: Governance Matters VIII: Aggregate and Individual Governance Indicators, 1996–2008. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 4978 (Washington, D.C.: The World Bank).

    Google Scholar 

  • King, David A., 2004: “Climate change science: adapt, mitigate, or ignore?”, in: Science, 303,5655: 176 – 177.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kotwicki, Vincent; Al-Sulaimani, Zaher, 2009: “Climates of the Arabian Peninsula – past, present, future”, in: International Journal of Climate Change Strategies and Management, 1,3: 297–310.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lemos, Maria Carmen; Boyd, Emily; Tompkins, Emma L.; Osbahr, Henny; Liverman, Diana, 2007: “Developing adaptation and adapting development”, in: Ecology and Society, 12,2 (Art. 26): 1–4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, Kristin M., 2008: A new millennium of knowledge? The Arab Human Development Report on Building a Knowledge Society, Five Years On. Analysis Paper No. 12. (Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution).

    Google Scholar 

  • Luciani, Giacomo, 1990: “Allocation vs. Production States: A Theoretical Framework”, in: Luciani, Giacomo (Ed.): The Arab State (Berkeley – Los Angeles, CA: University of California Press): 65–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maas, Achim; Tänzler, Dennis, 2009: Regional Security Implications of Climate ChangeA Synopsis. Adelphi Report (Berlin: Adelphi Consult, January).

    Google Scholar 

  • McGray, Heather; Hammill, Anne; Bradley, Rob, 2007: Weathering the Storm – Options for Framing Adaptation and Development (Washington D.C.: World Resources Institute).

    Google Scholar 

  • Meadows, Donella H.; Meadows, Dennis L.; Randers, Jørgen; Behrens, William W., 1972: The Limits to Growth: a Report for the Club of Rome's Project on the Predicament of Mankind (New York: Universe Books).

    Google Scholar 

  • Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA), 2005: Ecosystems and human well-being. Current State and Trends (Washington, D.C.: Island Press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Moaddel, Mansoor, 2002: “The Study of Islamic Culture and Politics – An Overview and Assessment”, in: Annu. Rev. Sociology, 28: 359–386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neep, Daniel, 2004: “Dilemmas of democratization in the Middle East: the ‘forward strategy of freedom’”, in: Middle East Policy, 11,3 (Fall): 73–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, Gerald C.; Bennett, Elena; Berhe, Asmeret A.; Cassman, Kenneth; DeFries, Ruth; Dietz, Thomas; Dobermann, Achim; Dobson, Andrew; Janetos, Anthony; Levy, Marc; Marco, Diana; Nakicenovic, Nebojsa; O'Neill, Brian; Norgaard, Richard; Petschel-Held, Gerhard; Ojima, Dennis; Pingali, Prabhu; Watson, Robert; Zurek, Monika, 2006: “Anthropogenic drivers of ecosystem change: an overview”, in: Ecology and Society, 11,2 (Art. 29): 1–31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niblock, Tim, 2007: The Political Economy of Saudi Arabia (London – New York: Routledge)

    Google Scholar 

  • NIC (National Intelligence Council), 2008: Global Trends 2025 – A Transformed World. NIC 2008–003 (Washington, D.C.: US Government Printing Office).

    Google Scholar 

  • Noland, Marcus; Pack, Howard, 2007: The Arab Economies in a Changing World (Washington, D.C.: The Peterson Institute for International Economics).

    Google Scholar 

  • Nonneman, Gerd, 2006: Political Reform in the Gulf Monarchies – From Liberalisation to Democratisation? A Comparative Perspective. Sir William Luce Paper No. 6. (Durham: Durham University).

    Google Scholar 

  • Noreng, Øystein, 2004: “The Predicament of the Gulf Rentier State”, in: Heradstveit, Daniel; Hveem, Helge (Eds.): Oil in the Gulf: obstacles to democracy and development (Burlington, VT: Ashgate Publishing): 9–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nour, Samia Satti O. M., 2005: “Science and technology development indicators in the Arab region — a comparative study of Arab Gulf and Mediterranean countries”, in: Science Technology & Society, 10,2: 249–274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, John E., 2006: “The Kingdom of Enigma: Review Essay”, in: Survival, 48,2 (Summer): 147–156.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, John E., 2009a: “Life after Oil – Economic Alternatives for the Arab Gulf States”, in: Mediterranean Quarterly, 20,3: 1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peterson, John E., 2009b: “The Promise and Reality of Bahraini Reforms,” in: Teitelbaum, Joshua (ed.): Political Liberalization in the Gulf (New York: Columbia University Press): 157–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • Population Reference Bureau (PRB), 2009: 2009 World Population Data Sheet (Washington, D.C.: Population Reference Bureau).

    Google Scholar 

  • Report of the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED) (Beirut: Technical Publications and Environment & Development Magazine).

    Google Scholar 

  • Reporters Without Borders (RWB), 2009: World Press Freedom Index 2009 – The Rankings (Paris: RWB).

    Google Scholar 

  • Richardson, Katherine; Steffen, Will; Schellnhuber, Hans Joachim; Alcamo, Joseph; Barker, Terry; Kammen, Daniel M.; Leemans, Rik; Liverman, Diana; Munasinghe, Mohan; Osman-Elasha, Balgis; Stern, Nicholas; Wæver, Ole, 22009: Synthesis Report from ‘Climate ChangeGlobal Risks, Challenges and Decisions’ (Copenhagen: University of Copenhagen).

    Google Scholar 

  • Russell, James A., 2009: “Environmental Security and Regional Stability in the Persian Gulf”, in: Middle East Policy, 16,4 (Winter): 90–101.

    Google Scholar 

  • Samad, Ziad Abdel, 2007: “Civil society in the Arab region – its necessary role and the obstacles to fulfilment”, in: International Journal of Not-for-Profit Law, 9,2: 3–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sayigh, Yusif Abdalla, 1991: Elusive DevelopmentFrom Dependence to Self-Reliance in the Arab Region (London: Routledge).

    Google Scholar 

  • Selim, Mohammad El-Sayed, 2004: “The concept of environmental security in the Arab world”, Paper presented at the annual meeting of the International Studies Association, Le Centre Sheraton Hotel, 17–20 March, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sfakianakis, J., 2008: “Giving a boost – Helping cope with the rising cost of living”. SABB Economic Reports (Riyadh: Saudi British Bank [SABB], February).

    Google Scholar 

  • Smaller, Carin; Mann, Howard, 2009: A Thirst for Distant Lands: Foreign investment in agricultural land and Water (Winnipeg: International Institute for Sustainable Development).

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, Benjamin, 2004: “Oil wealth and regime survival in the developing world: 1960–1999”, in: American Journal of Political Science, 48,2: 232–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, Mike; Al-Maskati, Hana, 2007: “The effect of tariff on water demand management: implications for Bahrain”, in: Water Supply, 7,4: 119–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spiess, Andy, 2008: “Developing adaptive capacity for responding to environmental change in the Arab Gulf States – Uncertainties to linking ecosystem conservation, sustainable development and society in authoritarian rentier economies”, in: Global and Planetary Change, 64: 244–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stern, Nicolas Herbert, 2007: The Economics of Climate Change — The Stern Review (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Stilwell, Brian; Lindabury, Shawn, 2008: “Masdar” (Ithaca, NY: Cornell University).

    Google Scholar 

  • Tolba, Mostafa K.; Saab, Najib W. (Eds.), 2008: Arab EnvironmentFuture Challenges.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turner, Graham M., 2008: “A Comparison of The Limits to Growth with 30 Years of Reality”, in: Global Environmental Change, 18: 397–411.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ulrichsen, Kristian, 2009: Gulf securitychanging internal and external dynamics. Working Paper, Kuwait Programme on Development, Governance and Globalization in the Gulf States (London: London School of Economics and Political Science).

    Google Scholar 

  • UNDESA (United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs), Population Division Department of Economic and Social Affairs Population Division, 2009:

    Google Scholar 

  • World Population Prospects. Table A.1 (New York, NY: UNDESA).

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), 2006: Global Deserts Outlook (Nairobi: United Nations Environment Programme).

    Google Scholar 

  • UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), 2007: Sudan Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment (Nairobi: United Nations Environment).

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Development Programme – Regional Bureau for Arab States (UNDP/RBAS), 2009: Arab Human Development Report 2009 — Challenges to Human Security in Arab Countries (New York: United Nations Publications).

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Development Programme and Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development, 2002: Arab Human Development Report 2002 – Creating Opportunities for Future Generations (New York: UNDP/RBAS).

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Development Programme and Arab Fund for Social and Economic Development, 2003: Arab Human Development Report 2003 – Building a Knowledge Society (New York: UNDP/RBAS).

    Google Scholar 

  • United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA), 2006: Arab Region State of Implementation on Climate Change (Beirut: ESCWA/UNEPROWA/League of Arab States).

    Google Scholar 

  • United States, Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, 2010a: Background Note: Bahrain (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of State).

    Google Scholar 

  • United States, Department of State, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, 2010b: Background Note: Saudi Arabia (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of State).

    Google Scholar 

  • United States. Department of State. Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, 2010c: Background Note: United Arab Emirates (Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of State).

    Google Scholar 

  • Walters, Timothy N.; Kadragic, Alma; Walters, Lynne M., 2006: “Miracle or mirage — is development sustainable in the United Arab Emirates?”, in: The Middle East Review of International Affairs, 10,3 (September): 77–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, John W.; Jackson, Stephen T.; Kutzbach, John E., 2007: “Projected Distributions of Novel and Disappearing Climates by 2100 AD”, in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS), 104,14 (April): 5738–5742.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, Rodney; Al-Salamah, Abdullah; Malik, Monica; Al-Rajhi, Ahmed, 2004: Economic development in Saudi Arabia. Durham modern Middle East and Islamic World Series (London – New York: Routledge Curzon).

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank, 2008: MENA Development Report: The Road Not Traveled — Education Reform in the Middle East and North Africa (Washington, D.C.: The World Bank).

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank, 2009: Improving Food Security in Arab Countries (Washington, D.C.: The World Bank).

    Google Scholar 

  • World Trade Organization (WTO), 2009: International Trade Statistics 2009 (Geneva: World Trade Organization).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, Steven, 2008: Fixing the Kingdom: Political Evolution and Socio-Economic Challenges in Bahrain. Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS) Occasional Paper No. 3 (Doha: Georgetown University School of Foreign Service).

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamani, Mai, 2008: “The Two Faces of Saudi Arabia”, in: Survival, 50,1: 143–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Young, Oran R.; Lambin, Eric F.; Alcock, Frank; Haberl, Helmut; Karlsson, Sylvia I.; McConnell, William J.; Myint, Tun; Pahl-Wostl, Claudia; Polsky, Colin; Ramakrishnan, P. S., Schroeder, Heike; Scouvart, Marie; Verburg, Peter H., 2006: “A portfolio approach to analyzing complex human–environment interactions — institutions and land change”, in: Ecology and Society, 11,2: 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andy Spiess .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Spiess, A. (2012). Environmental Degradation, Climate Uncertainties, and Human Vulnerabilities: Realm of Possible Actions toward a Shifting Security Paradigm in the Arab Gulf Monarchies. In: Scheffran, J., Brzoska, M., Brauch, H., Link, P., Schilling, J. (eds) Climate Change, Human Security and Violent Conflict. Hexagon Series on Human and Environmental Security and Peace, vol 8. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-28626-1_20

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics