The 2024 climate country profile for Lebanon by the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre presents an alarming yet insightful overview of how climate change is intensifying existing environmental and humanitarian vulnerabilities. Lebanon is witnessing a significant rise in average temperatures, with a warming rate of 0.3°C per decade since 1970, double the global average. Concurrently, rainfall patterns are becoming increasingly erratic, marked by both more intense droughts and heavy rainfall events. These shifts, along with sea level rise and reduced snow cover, are threatening water availability, agricultural yields, and infrastructure, especially in already fragile areas like the Bekaa Valley and densely populated coastal zones. Urban areas face amplified heat stress due to the urban heat island effect, while rural regions suffer from more frequent floods, landslides, and wildfires.
In response, the Lebanese Red Cross and national stakeholders are prioritizing climate-smart disaster risk reduction, health resilience, and sustainable water management. However, the country’s socio-political instability and economic crisis, compounded by a large refugee population and weakened infrastructure, exacerbate the challenges of climate adaptation. The report underscores the urgency of coordinated efforts involving early warning systems, climate finance, policy integration, and inclusive support for vulnerable groups, including displaced communities and those in informal settlements. As climate change threatens to further strain Lebanon’s resources and governance capacities, a robust, multi-sectoral and community-driven adaptation strategy is essential for safeguarding livelihoods and ensuring resilience.