Events

Climate Change and Adaptation Programs

Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury Health Sciences Center, Auditorium-Byblos Campus

The School of Arts and Sciences in collaboration with the School of Engineering is pleased to invite you to the lecture “Climate Change and Adaptation Programs in Selected MENA Countries: Challenges and Impacts,” by Atif Kubursi- Professor Emeritus of Economics at McMaster University, Canada.

About the speaker

Dr. Atif Kubursi

Atif Kubursi, professor emeritus of economics at McMaster University, Canada, boasts a multifaceted career in academia and international affairs. Dr. Kubursi’s impact extends beyond the academic realm. He served as executive secretary and undersecretary general of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia, and in 1981, he worked as a senior development officer for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he consulted with various international organizations and governments, including UNFAO, UNCTAD, UNILO, UNESCO, UNEP, and UNDP.

About the event

The lecture will explore the multifaceted effects of climate change on Lebanon and the broader region. Dr. Kubursi will delve into expected climate impacts, resilience strategies, and the pressing need for adaptation programs in Lebanon and the MENA region. 

Key topics will include:

  • A comparative assessment of adaptation costs versus the cost of inaction 

  • The role of economic instruments in adaptation programs 

  • The Nexus Approach, highlights the interconnections between water, energy, and food security

  • Water as the Achilles’ heel of the region and the necessity for rational water use

  • Renewable energy as a new comparative advantage for MENA economies

  • The expected impacts of sea-level rise (SLR) in MENA

  • Projected future consequences of climate change across the region 

  • Through this discussion, the lecturer will provide insights into both the challenges and opportunities associated with climate adaptation, emphasizing the importance of proactive policy measures in both Lebanon and the region