BAHRAIN faces serious climate change challenges on multiple fronts which will affect vulnerable groups, including migrant workers, the elderly exposed to health risks and farmers, according to a new report.

Problems such as extreme heat, dust storms and socioeconomic issues will also potentially impact the nation’s food security…

The study, released by the Washington DC-based non-profit organisation Middle East Institute, says Bahrain will be placed under what it calls “environmental pressure”.

Written by Mohammed Mahmoud, the Climate and Water Programme director and a senior fellow at the institute, the research sheds light on projected climate impacts including increase in cost of residential water due to the region’s scarcity, and the perceived disconnect among the general population and the threat environment risk posed to the kingdom.

“Bahrain faces challenges on multiple fronts as it deals with various governance and socioeconomic issues as well as the growing impact of climate change,” states the report.

“Largely reliant on energy derived from oil and natural gas, the country contributes to global carbon emissions, exacerbating the climate crisis and placing the nation under environmental pressure…

Exposure to extreme heat conditions for extended periods brings with it the risk of heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heatstroke – medical conditions that can lead to death if left untreated….