The Power of Deserts Climate Change, the Middle East, and the Promise of a Post-Oil Era

"The Power of Deserts offers an important argument detailing how the Middle East could be devastated by the impact of climate change-or could generate huge amounts of renewable energy. Dan Rabinowitz skillfully communicates the difficulty these nations will face in adapting to climate change. A provocative work."-Steven Cohen, the Earth Institute, Columbia University, and author of The Sustainable City "Only Dan Rabinowitz, who wrote Israel's first book about climate change, has the knowledge, imagination, and optimistic spirit to look at the Middle East and offer this compelling, hopeful vision for the future."-Alon Tal, Tel Aviv University "In this timely, compelling book, Dan Rabinowitz deftly explores how climate change amplifies problems of inequality, injustice, and displacement in the Middle East. Rabinowitz's deep knowledge of the region, ability to clearly present complex material, and novel contention that the oil-rich Gulf states may lead the global transition to renewable energy make The Power of Deserts a must-read for anyone interested in these issues."-Jeannie Sowers, University of New Hampshire, author of Environmental Politics in Egypt: Experts, Activists, and the State "Scores of migrants and other displaced persons fleeing from climate disasters could create greater political and social instability in the Middle East. Rabinowitz offers some solutions to mitigate the consequences of extreme climate change, such as implementing a plan to harness the abundant solar energy of the desert. Innovative solutions are certainly needed to decrease the strong dependence on fossil fuels. Recommended."-C. A. Sproles, CHOICE "With his deep knowledge of the region, Dan Rabinowitz makes a sober yet surprisingly optimistic investigation of opportunity arising from a looming crisis."-Michael Svoboda, Yale Climate Connections