ESCWA Publication: E/ESCWA/CL1.CCS/2025/Policy brief.1
Country: Arab region
Publication Type: Policy briefs
Cluster: Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability
Focus Area: Climate change, Natural resource sustainability
Initiatives: Climate Resilience through Regional Cooperation
SDGs: Goal 2: Zero Hunger, Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
Keywords: Arab countries, Climate change adaptation, Climate change mitigation, Development finance, Financial flows, Food and nutrition, Food security, Food supply
Climate finance flows to food systems in the Arab region
July 2025
This policy brief reviews the challenges and financial needs of food systems in the Arab region in the context of climate change. It comes at a time when Arab food systems are unable to address the malnutrition prevailing in the region even as they are increasingly vulnerable to climate change. It highlights that, the Arab region only received $10.2 billion in international public climate finance in 2022, of which $2.1 billion was directed towards food system sectors. A review of the major characteristics of climate-related finance in terms of purpose, providers and types of financing accompanies a look at the distribution of funds at the country level. The brief emphasizes the urgent need for increased and targeted investments to enhance the resilience and sustainability of the region’s food systems amid the mounting impacts of climate change.
Related content
Climate change, Natural resource sustainability
This policy brief reviews the challenges and financial needs of food systems in the Arab region in the context of climate change. It comes at a time when Arab food systems are unable to address the malnutrition prevailing in the region even as they are increasingly vulnerable to climate change. It highlights that, the Arab region only received $10.2 billion in international public climate finance in 2022, of which $2.1 billion was directed towards food system sectors. A review of the major characteristics of climate-related finance in terms of purpose, providers and types of financing accompanies a look at the distribution of funds at the country level. The brief emphasizes the urgent need for increased and targeted investments to enhance the resilience and sustainability of the region’s food systems amid the mounting impacts of climate change.
