Climate change in Algeria

Climate change in Algeria has wide-reaching effects on the country. Algeria was not a significant contributor to climate change, but, like other countries in the MENA region, is expected to be among the most affected by climate change impacts. Because a large part of the country is in already hot and arid geographies, including part of the Sahara, already strong heat and water resource access challenges are expected to get worse. As early as 2014, scientists were attributing extreme heat waves to climate change in Algeria. Algeria was ranked 46th of countries in the 2020 Climate Change Performance Index.
Greenhouse gas emissions
Algeria is a low emitter of carbon dioxide: producing 4.1 tons per capita as of 2008, less than the global average at that times. At that time the 74% of their emission came from energy production. Algeria is attempting to be more incorporated into the sustainability scene by participating in various incentives such as their four main strategies as follows: institutional strengthening, adaptation to climate change, mitigations of emissions of GHGs (greenhouse gases), and human capacity building.
Impacts on the natural environment
Temperature and weather changes
Alergia is projected to have less frequent rainfall, but an increase in precipitation intensity in the near future. Algeria is expected to increase by 2 °C from the date of 2013-2050. In correlation with these changes, Sea levels are also expected to rise 5-10 cm. Alergia is expected to have many issues with water quality, scarcity, agricultural issues, desertification, and changes to energy consumption and air conditioning functionality.
Water resources
According to World Bank, Algeria qualifies as a water scarce country. Moreover, groundwater is already overexploited. Studies show that with the decrease of waterfall annually, there will be more concentrations in other contaminants, requiring more filtration to be necessary. For example, more materials such as limestone, sulfuric acid, and soda will be needed to produce the same effects of water filtration in the future of Algeria. The Beni-Haroun Dam is the largest Dam in Algeria, and is crucial to agriculture, recreation, and a valuable drinking source.
Economic impacts
Agriculture
Agricultural land and water is already under pressure from both human activity, and desertification, erosion, and vegetation loss. Climate change is expected to speed up this process, weakening soil and biodiversity in farmland. Every part of agriculture in the country is expected to be affected: for example, small scale shepherding which is a common form of agriculture, becomes increasingly expensive as herders have to dig wells and buy feed, rather than use grazing.
Mitigation and adaptation
Policies and legislation
The initial strategy developed by Algeria, as of 2013, focused on four areas: institutional strengthening, adaptation to climate change, mitigation of emissions of GHG and human capacity building.
Algeria followed through on its commitment to the Kyoto Protocol and has ratified the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. However, the 2020 Climate Change Performance Index described their policy approach as not enough to meet the 2°C goal.
References
Algeria
Environment of Algeria
Algeria