Climate change is seen as the most critical problem facing humanity worldwide. This is also visible in the Arab region, despite its low contribution to global CO2 emissions, and even lower if the oil-producing Middle Eastern countries are excluded. The key question is how can we cope with its impacts (adaptation), and how can we limit future climate change (mitigation)?’
Higher education while being criticised for leading to the current sustainability crisis and climate change, it can play a unique and critical role that is often underestimated or even neglected. Questions to be asked include are: How curricula will be changed to address climate change and sustainability policy? How can we empower disadvantaged groups to face climate change impacts? What are the solutions with climate change?
Climate change requires to bridge the isolated academic fields in order to develop sustainable alternatives and to facilitate policy choices towards climate change risks. There is a critical need for Middle East universities in light of the climate change challenges their region is facing to cultivate interdisciplinary expertise among their future leaders across many of the societal sectors.