This contributed book, as a part of a series of CERES publications, provides a multi-regional and cross-sectoral analysis of the interlinkages, challenges, and emerging responses in the areas of water security, climate change, and food systems, especially in a context marked by severe implications of the COVID-19 pandemic, increased climate vulnerability of many regions already water stressed, and an ambitious global action aiming at curbing climate change and restoring ecosystem. In the first set of chapters, the water, food, and environmental/climate security nexus is explored theoretically and by reference to empirical research covering many regions and sectors. In another set of chapters, the impacts of climate change on water resources and water-stressed regions are identified along with their implications for food systems and security. Other chapters of the volume identify the emerging solutions to the nexus challenges, mainly adaptation and mitigation options, governance and management approaches, technological and economic solutions, innovative farming and water management practices, etc. Most chapters scheduled for publication address timely and future-oriented topics, are based on empirical research particularly done in water-constrained and climate vulnerable countries from Asia, Africa, and the MENA region, and provide policy-oriented inputs and recommendations to guide change processes at multiple scales.
Dr. Mohamed Behnassi
Dr. Mohamed Behnassi is a full Researcher Professor of international law and politics of environment and human security. Currently, he serves as a Senior Environmentalist Expert at the Economic Social & Environmental Council (CESE), Rabat, Morocco. He is also the Founding Director of the Center for Environment, Human Security and Governance (CERES). He has a substantial publication and research record with a large number of books, scientific papers, and presentations in international conferences. He is continuously providing expertise to the IPBES, Medecc, and CNRST/Morocco, organized several international scientific meetings, and managed many research and expertise projects on behalf of national and international organizations. He is also an independent CSR Senior Auditor.
Dr. Abdulmalek A. Al-Shaikh
Dr. Al-Shaikh is Director of the Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water, and Desert Research at the King Saud University (KSU) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He earned his Ph.D. in Arid Land Studies from the University of Arizona, USA in 1983. He also serves as the General Secretary of the Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Prize for Water (PSIPW). He is Team Leader of many research projects concerning the environment, desertification, climate change, and water harvesting in Saudi Arabia including the King Fahd Project for Water Harvesting and Storage in Saudi Arabia, Prince Sultan Project for Villages and Hamlets Rehabilitation in Saudi Arabia, the Space Images Atlas of Saudi Arabia and the Environmental Atlas of Saudi Arabia. Being Chairman of the international conferences on water resources and arid environments, he successfully organized them at the King Saud University.
Dr. Ameenah Gurib-Fakim
Dr. Gurib-Fakim is Professor, Biodiversity scientist, and Entrepreneur. She has served as the 6th and First Female President of the Republic of Mauritius (2015–2018). Prior to that, she has been Managing Director of the Centre International de Deìveloppement Pharmaceutique (CIDP) Research and Innovation as well as Professor of Organic Chemistry with Endowed Chair at the University of Mauritius. Since 2001, she has served successively as Dean of the Faculty of Science and Pro Vice Chancellor (2004–2010). She has also worked at the Mauritius Research Council as Manager for Research (1995–1997).
She earned a B.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of Surrey (1983) and a Ph.D. from the University of Exeter, UK (1987).She has authored and co-edited 30 books, several book chapters and scientific articles in the field of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
Dr. Mirza Barjees Baig
Dr. Baig is Professor at the Prince Sultan Institute for Environmental, Water, and Desert Research,King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. He earned his M.S. degree in International Agricultural Extension in 1992 from the Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA, and was placed on the ‘Roll of Honor’. He completed his Ph.D. in Extension for Natural Resource Management from the University of Idaho, USA. He started his scientific career in 1983 as Researcher at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan. He served at the University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, as the Special Graduate Faculty from 2000 to 2005. He served as Foreign Professor at the Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU), Pakistan, through the Higher Education Commission from 2005 to 2009. He served as Professor of Agricultural Extension and Rural Society at the King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, from 2009 to 2020.
Dr. Mohammed Bahir
Prof. Bahir, Hydrogeological Engineer, Ph.D.,Hydrogeological Engineer, has published over 200 research/professional papers and reports. He co-authored more than a dozen books and book chapters. He supervised and/or co-supervised more than 20 PhD students. He is a reviewer of many international scientific journals with high impact factors, including Environment, Development, and Sustainability Journal, Environmental Earth Sciences Journal, Hydrological Sciences Journal, Sécheresse, Gaia, Communicaçoés International, Science of the Total Environment, Marine and Freshwater Research Journal, Proceedings of the Indian National Science Academy, and Groundwater for Sustainable Development. He also coordinates more than a dozen research projects. The Asia Research Awards, in association with Times of Research and the World Research Council, announce that Professor Mohammed Bahir has been selected as the recipient of the prestigious ASTRA 2023 (Asia’s Science, Technology, and Research Awards).
