Spatial and Temporal Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment in the West Bank, Palestine

Abstract

Climate change is widely recognized as an inevitable phenomenon, with the Mediterranean region expected to experience some of the most severe impacts. Countries in this region, including Palestine, are already observing significant effects on key sectors such as agriculture, water resources, industry, and health. Consequently, there is a need for multidimensional analyses of vulnerability. This study applied a Climate Change Vulnerability (CCV) index to assess spatial and temporal changes in vulnerability across different governorates in the West Bank, Palestine. Climate change vulnerability maps for the West Bank were developed using Geographic Information System (GIS) tools and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) matrices, incorporating various indicators across categories such as Health, Socio-demographic, Agriculture, Service, Housing, and Economic components. The findings indicate that socio-demographic factors contribute significantly to the West Bank’s overall vulnerability to climate change. Although the overall vulnerability has decreased over time, the developed maps reveal that 76% of the West Bank’s population resides in areas classified as highly vulnerable to climate change impacts. In contrast, 10% of the population lives in areas classified as low to very low in terms of vulnerability, including the governorates of Tubas, Salfit, Qalqiliya, and Jericho and Al-Aghwar. These results are invaluable for policymakers, offering guidance on selecting appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures, particularly in highly vulnerable areas, to reduce the impacts of climate change across the region