Located on the southern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen is a predominantly arid, subtropical country where average temperatures vary depending on elevation and proximity to the sea. The country borders the Red Sea to the west and the Gulf of Aden to the south. More than half of Yemen’s territory is classified as desert, and the country includes over 112 islands in the Red Sea that support important mangrove ecosystems and fisheries. Yemen’s ongoing humanitarian crisis has left much of the population at risk of hunger, disease, water scarcity, and limited access to sanitation services (World Bank Group, 2024).  

 Yemen is naturally exposed to extreme temperatures, floods, landslides, and droughts, and climate change is expected to intensify these hazards (World Bank Group, 2023).  Combined with ongoing conflict, recent natural disasters, and damaged or limited infrastructure, these factors contribute to Yemen being ranked the tenth most vulnerable country globally in the World Risk Report (2023). Rising sea levels are also worsening existing water challenges, particularly by increasing salinity in coastal aquifers  (IOM, 2021). Additional projected climate impacts include more frequent droughts, land degradation, declining agricultural productivity, and the spread of vector- and water-borne diseases. 

According to  UNDP (2023), efforts to address the effects of climate change in Yemen depend largely on achieving a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict and strengthening the country’s food and water security systems.