November 2008

Country Profile: Yemen

Yemen is one of the least developed countries in the world. Its geographical location makes it extremely vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Huge fluctuations in rainfall levels and periods of flood and drought have grave socio-economic consequences. Yemen’s Ministry for Water and Environment says that climate change is one of the main reasons for the extremely slow pace of development in the country. Among Yemen’s most pressing problems are water shortages, rapid population growth, tremendous poverty and high unemployment.

The mandate assigned to the still young Ministry for Water and Environment was agreed in June 2004. The Ministry is the government’s lead organisation in matters of water and environmental policy. It officially overseas the Environment Protection Authority, whose Climate Change Unit is responsible for climate change mitigation issues. Yemen has had a CDM DNA since August 2003. The DNA Secretariat is an arm of the Climate Change Unit. With support from UNDP and CIM, a German organisation whose work focuses on international migration and development, the necessary institutional and structural conditions were created to allow CDM projects. National capacities, both private and public, were also developed to promote use of the CDM.

These initiatives have all contributed to the overall positive response the CDM receives in Yemen today. Apart from the obvious environmental benefits, the Yemen government hopes the CDM will provide access to new technologies and more energy-efficient, cost-effective production processes. It also hopes that the CDM will contribute to achieving sustainable development and combating poverty in the country.

Yemen’s CDM infrastructure is well established and enshrined in law by means of a Prime Ministerial Resolution. The country’s CDM potential is reported to be good. A study by the Environment Protection Authority published in 2007 says the greatest potential lies in energy efficiency, renewable energy and improved waste and waste water management. The oil industry is also said to harbour interesting possibilities.

Yemen has declared Germany as a favoured western partner, declaring relations between the countries as “exemplary”. In light of its ongoing, reliable development policy activities, Germany enjoys an excellent reputation there. Yemen is one of four pilot countries involved in the German government’s Action Programme 2015.

Further selected information:

Yemen’s National Communication on Climate Change to the UNFCCC (PDF)
Yemen DNA Website
Ministry of Water and Environment
Yemen, Cogeneration and the CDM: An Outline of Opportunity
Earth Trends Country Profiles: Climate and Atmosphere
German Foreign Office: Information on Yemen
European Commission: The EU’s Relations with Yemen