Climate change has devastating effects on Egypt

ANSAmed: Storms, heat waves and floods have a devastating effect: a study by the EU-supported FEMISE research network measuring the effects of climate change in Egypt in 2050 asserts that if no action is taken, climate change will reduce Egypt's GDP by as much as 10% in that year.

The study recommends quickly implementing measures, such as making irrigation systems more efficient and providing better protection for coastal and plantation areas, to mitigate the impact of climate change. These first few steps alone would enable Egypt to restrict its GDP loss in 2050 to 4%.

According to the report, temperatures rose by between 3C and 3.5C between 1960 and 1990, and they are expected to increase by another 2C by 2050. The country's tourist industry is likely to suffer from this, but many other sectors will also be affected.

There could be significant damage to farming, which is particularly vulnerable to deviations in temperature and rainfall. Egypt felt the full force of climate change during the heat wave of 2010. The country's farms, which are concentrated in the Nile valley and delta, were hit hard, resulting in a sharp increase in prices. Agricultural productivity is a certain casualty of rising temperatures.

The experts also highlighted the impact of power cuts on production systems, and particularly on refrigeration systems. This is something that could eventually put investors off. As well as the impact on consumption and investment, property depreciation must also be taken into account, particularly in coastal areas as a direct result of rising sea levels....