Depletion rate well above global average: official

Rising temperatures and increasing saline intrusion are rapidly shrinking Bahrain’s freshwater resources, a spokesman for Bahrain’s environment council has told the Guardian. According to the official, the climate change effects are expected to reduce Bahrain’s freshwater resources by between 50 to 100 million cubic metres of water per year in the short-term. This, according to the environment council spokesman, is well above the global average and posing a unique risk to the kingdom’s water security.

“Bahrain’s application to the Green Climate Fund is about addressing the severe threat posed by global climate change to the kingdom’s freshwater supply,” the spokesman told the Guardian referring to Bahrain’s request for a $10 million assistance from the Green Climate Fund (GCF). “As a committed signatory to the Paris agreement, the Kingdom has already taken significant steps to counteract the impact of climate change, including the development of a new national water strategy. We now seek assistance from the GCF to help support these critical interventions,” the statement adds. Kingdom’s report will be discussed during the third and final meeting of the GCF Board this year which is being hosted by the Kingdom of Bahrain in Manama.

The meeting which began on 15 October and concludes on 21 October will consider 20 new funding proposals from its Accredited Entities valued at USD 1.1 billion, which are targeted at low-emission, climate-resilient development. Alongside the consideration of new project proposals, the board will also discuss the accreditation of 16 new project partners, as well as a number of policy proposals, including those designed to strengthen and streamline project approval processes.

The Green Climate Fund is governed by a Board of 24 members representing developed and developing countries equally. The meeting will be co-chaired by Paul Oquist and Lennart Båge, Board Co-Chairs for 2018. GCF board, in its March 2018 meeting, approved 23 projects, valued together at USD1,093.5 million of GCF funding. The approvals brought the GCF portfolio to a total of 76 projects and programmes, amounting to USD3,730.2 million in GCF funding to assist developing countries in their low emission and climate resilient development.

The meeting in Manama is being attended by more than 300 participants, including observers from civil society and private sector organisations, National Designated Authorities (NDAs), which are the national conduits to the Fund, and Accredited Entities and other partners who assist in delivering climate finance to developing countries.