Lecture: Climate Change and the UAE: Issues and Challenges by Dr. William Dougherty

Notes : The Earth’s climate is changing. Already in many parts of the world, coastal waters have warmed, temperatures have risen, and rainfall patterns have noticeably been altered. Globally, sea levels and temperatures are predicted to rise further, and extreme weather is expected to become more common. For the UAE, where much of the country’s population, infrastructure and economic activity are located in coastal zones, the vulnerability to sea level rise, salt-water intrusion, and more frequent extreme weather events is significant. The talk will review the issues and challenges posed to the UAE by climate through a review some of the key issues associated with a changing climate and some of the emerging findings from recent and ongoing studies.

About the Speaker:

Dr Dougherty has worked over the past 18 years on a wide variety of climate change related issues, with an emphasis on greenhouse gas mitigation and adaptation to climate change. He has assisted governments in the development of national GHG mitigation and adaptation strategies, led vulnerability assessments, formulated project documents, analyzed energy efficiency and renewable energy options for achieving emission reductions, and contributed to the development of methodological approaches, training programs and software tools that are used throughout the world. Dr Dougherty has been invited as a speaker or expert participant in meetings of the World Bank, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, the United Nations Development Programme, the African Development Bank, and the United Nations Environment Programme. He has worked throughout North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East in support of national government agencies, multi-lateral organizations, and development banks. He has authored or co-authored over 100 technical reports.