Arab Environment 5: Survival Options - Ecological Footprint of Arab Countries

This report presents an assessment of the sustainability challenges confronting Arab countries, based on ecological footprint and biocapacity data from 1961 to 2008. Despite notable economic growth, the region’s demand for natural resources now exceeds local ecological capacity by more than double, resulting in a growing ecological deficit. Key contributing factors include rapid population growth, urbanization, low resource efficiency, and high dependence on fossil fuels, all of which intensify pressure on already scarce land and water resources. The report highlights stark disparities across countries—ranging from biocapacity-rich to severely resource-constrained—and underscores the region’s acute water stress, inefficient agricultural practices, and rising carbon emissions. It warns that continued overexploitation and reliance on imports increase vulnerability to environmental and economic shocks.