Regional Voices: Climate change isn’t a distant threat – it’s now.
Old Man Khalil carefully adjusted the shade cloth over his tomato plants, a familiar ritual made newly desperate. It’s late September, but the sun beats down with a ferocity more typical of July in Mersin, Turkey. “My father farmed this land, and his father before him,” he said, his voice roughened by years under the sun. “We always knew the seasons. Now? Now everything is…confused. The rains come late, or not at all. The heat burns the crops.” He gestured to a neighbour whose cucumber plants were visibly wilting. “He lost half his yield last month. How are we supposed to feed families like this?”
Local Perspective
Across the region, from the Levant to the Gulf, Khalil’s experience is increasingly common. People aren’t talking about climate change as a future problem; they’re living its consequences. In Jordan, water scarcity is fueling social tensions. Lebanese farmers, already reeling from economic collapse, are watching their harvests fail. Even in the relatively wealthy UAE, there’s a growing awareness of the need for adaptation – and a quiet fear of what unchecked warming will mean for their coastal cities. There’s a profound sense of injustice. Many feel this is a crisis caused by wealthier nations, and yet they are bearing the brunt of the impact, with limited resources to adapt. President Erdogan’s words resonate strongly here – it feels unrealistic to expect everyone to be moving at the same pace when the playing field is so dramatically tilted.
The Bigger Picture
Erdogan’s recent comments at the UN Climate Summit, highlighting the inequalities in climate financing and technology, tap into a deeply felt frustration across the Middle East. Turkey’s hosting of COP31, alongside Australia, presents an opportunity to give voice to these concerns. The dynamic between Turkey and Iran – while often framed through the lens of geopolitical rivalry – also includes a shared vulnerability to climate change. Both nations face increasing water stress, desertification, and extreme weather events. While political tensions may preclude direct cooperation on climate initiatives now, a shared understanding of the urgency and regional impact could, in the future, lay the groundwork for dialogue. Competition for dwindling resources will inevitably intensify regional instability.
A Note of Hope
However, Khalil doesn’t offer despair, only resilience. “We have always adapted,” he said, a glint of determination in his eye. “My grandson is learning about drought-resistant seeds, about new irrigation techniques. We must. We have no choice.” This spirit of innovation – this quiet determination to find solutions in the face of hardship – is what gives cause for optimism. Perhaps this COP31, under Turkish and Australian leadership, can move beyond rhetoric and deliver genuine, equitable support to those who need it most.
Source: Al-Monitor, 24 September 2026. ([https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/09/turkeys-erdogan-says-equal-climate-pace-unrealistic-due-financing-gaps](https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/09/turkeys-erdogan-says-equal-climate-pace-unrealistic-due-financing-gaps))
