Hotter and dryer than most parts of the world, the Middle East could
soon see climate change exacerbate food and water shortages, aggravate
social inequalities, and drive displacement and political
destabilization. And as renewable energy eclipses fossil fuels, oil rich
countries in the Middle East will see their wealth diminish. Amidst
these imminent risks is a call to action for regional leaders. Could
countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates
harness the region's immense potential for solar energy and emerge as
vanguards of global climate action?
The Power of Deserts surveys regional climate models and identifies
the potential impact on socioeconomic disparities, population movement,
and political instability. Offering more than warning and fear, however,
the book highlights a potentially brighter future-a recent shift across
the Middle East toward renewable energy. With his deep knowledge of the
region and knack for presenting scientific data with clarity, Dan
Rabinowitz makes a sober yet surprisingly optimistic investigation of
opportunity arising from a looming crisis.