The Middle East, amid escalating conflicts and economic instability, ranks among the world's most vulnerable regions to human-induced climate change, according to a 2023 Carnegie Endowment for International Peace analysis. Impacts include intensifying heatwaves, reduced precipitation, prolonged droughts, severe sandstorms, floods, and rising sea levels, exacerbating pre-existing issues like conflict, displacement, and corruption.

Despite these threats, regional media coverage of climate issues remains strikingly low, averaging just one article per outlet in August 2025, compared to 66 in North American media, per the University of Colorado Boulder's Media and Climate Change Observatory (MeCCO). This disparity hinders public awareness and effective adaptation, as media plays a crucial role in linking climate risks to security and daily life.

Structural barriers in Middle Eastern media contribute to this gap, including resource constraints and the dominance of immediate crises like the ongoing Gaza war since 2023. A shortage of dedicated climate journalists—common across the region—limits consistent, accurate reporting, while outlets prioritise geopolitical tensions over environmental stories. In conflict zones, such as Iraq and Syria, coverage often frames climate as a secondary strain on resources, like portraying Syrian refugees in Jordan as additional burdens amid water scarcity.

External influences, including funding from Western NGOs, can further alienate audiences, fostering perceptions of climate discourse as a foreign agenda rather than a local imperative. MeCCO data from six outlets—Al Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), Al Sabah (Iraq), Annahar and Daily Star (Lebanon), Gulf Daily News (Bahrain), and Jerusalem Post (Israel)—shows sporadic spikes tied to events like COP28 in the UAE, but overall trends indicate fading attention when politics overshadow.

Jordan exemplifies these challenges while highlighting potential pathways forward. As a regional stabiliser hosting over 1.4 million Syrian refugees, the kingdom faces one of the world's worst water crises, with per capita availability at just 60 cubic metres annually, down 97% since 2000 due to population growth, overuse, and climate shifts.

Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Soud warned in May 2025 of absolute scarcity by 2025, worsened by droughts and transboundary disputes over the Jordan River, whose flow is now 10% of historical levels. Research analysing over 2,500 Jordanian print articles reveals climate often sidelined as a "geopolitical victim", with coverage influenced by international partners that may overlook local nuances, eroding public trust. Economic underdevelopment and unrest compound vulnerabilities, projecting shortages displacing 700 million globally by 2030, per UN estimates.

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Addressing this requires bolstering local journalism and inclusive narratives. Jordan's National Water Strategy (2016–2025) emphasises sanitation and efficiency, but sustained media engagement is vital for accountability. Initiatives like solar-powered systems for refugees and youth climate toolkits from UNICEF and UNDP could inspire broader coverage if integrated with regional voices. Studies link public concern to media volume, suggesting that prioritising climate amid turbulence fosters resilience. As the MENA region—contributing under 5% of global emissions yet facing double the average temperature rise—eyes COP30 in 2025, enhancing transparent data and interagency coordination could elevate discourse, ensuring adaptation aligns with socioeconomic reforms for stability.

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