Yemen faces dual crisis of civil war and climate vulnerability

Yemen remains deeply divided by a long-standing civil war and an escalating climate crisis. Since 2014, the country has been split between the Houthi movement in the north, backed by Iran, and the internationally recognized Presidential Leadership Council in the east and south, supported by Saudi Arabia.

Beyond the political and military fragmentation, Yemen faces extreme climate vulnerability. Despite contributing only 0.06% of global greenhouse gas emissions, approximately half of the population is exposed to major climate hazards such as extreme heat, drought, or flooding. The World Bank estimates that under pessimistic scenarios, Yemen’s annual GDP could decline by an average of 3.9% by 2040 due to impacts on infrastructure and agriculture.

The intersection of conflict and environmental degradation has intensified food insecurity, water scarcity, and public health risks, creating one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises.