West Asia and Eastern Mediterranean are heating twice as fast as the global average, according to a new study conducted under the aegis of The Cyprus Institute’s Climate and Atmosphere Research Center and the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry.

West Asia and Eastern Mediterranean are heating twice as fast as the global average, according to a new study conducted under the aegis of The Cyprus Institute’s Climate and Atmosphere Research Center and the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry. Reportedly, the study reveals that the regions in the aforementioned geographical area are expected to witness 'unprecedented' heat waves. Furthermore, water scarcity caused due to rainfall shortage, longer-lasting and more severe droughts might impact the region's 4000 million populace. The report covered areas stretching from Greece and Egypt in the West to Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE as well as Iran in the east. It stated that the region witnessed an average increase of 0.45 C per decade from 1981-2019 when the global average stood at 0.27 C only. WATCH | WION Climate Tracker | Extreme heat hits Iraq and Saudi Arabia × If the changes are not clocked in quickly, the region might be heating by 5 C in the coming decades, making human survival extremely difficult. “This would imply severe challenges for coastal infrastructure and agriculture and can lead to the salinization of coastal aquifers," said Dr George Zittis, co-author of the report. Not only is the region becoming a victim of climate change, but it is also contributing immensely to the problem. The study states that oil-rich West Asia is expected to overtake European Union as the biggest emitter of greenhouse gases. Read more: Is climate change affecting wine's flavour? The study comes ahead of UN's Climate Change Conference, more colloquially known as the COP27 climate summit scheduled to take place in Egypt later this year. The scientists authoring the study have argued that strong collaboration among the countries is absolutely necessary if they are to cope with extreme climatic conditions. "Since many of the regional outcomes of climate change are transboundary, stronger collaboration among the countries is indispensable to cope with the expected adverse impacts." said another author of the study. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

West Asia, East Mediterranean heating twice as fast as the global average: Study

Turkey announced plans late Sunday to send the research ship at the centre of an energy rights row with Greece to the eastern Mediterranean again, a move likely to reignite tensions with Athens.

The Turkish navy said the Oruc Reis vessel would carry out activities in the region, including the south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo, from Monday until October 22 in a message sent to the maritime alert system NAVTEX.

Turkey and Greece were locked in a row over gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean in August, which saw the two NATO neighbours stage rival air and navy drills in strategic waters between Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete.

Greece claims rights over the waters around Kastellorizo but Turkey rejects this, insisting it has greater claims to the eastern Mediterranean because it has a longer coastline.

Ankara first deployed the Oruc Reis seismic research vessel and warships to disputed waters on August 10 and extended the mission, ignoring repeated calls to stop by Athens and the European Union.

The vessel will be joined in the latest "seismic survey" mission by two other ships called Ataman and Cengiz Han, according to the NAVTEX message.

The Oruc Reis was pulled back to shore last month from waters claimed by Greece in what many hoped was a sign Ankara and Athens could resolve the crisis through talks.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the time said the withdrawal was to give diplomacy a chance.

But Turkish officials also insisted the ship was only undergoing planned maintenance and would return to the eastern Mediterranean to continue its work.

Yet hope was further raised after Turkey&nbsp;and Greece agreed to exploratory talks last month after diplomatic efforts led by Germany to defuse the crisis.

The talks had been stalled since 2016 and the expectation was for their resumption in Istanbul but no exact date was ever given.

The Turkish and Greek foreign ministers also met last week on the sidelines of a security forum in Slovakia's capital Bratislava in the highest-level talks since tensions began.

The EU at a summit earlier this month threatened to slap sanctions on Turkey if Ankara failed to stop what the bloc says is illegal drilling and energy exploration activities in waters claimed by Cyprus and Greece.

Turkey described the threat as "unconstructive" but its latest move will cause further strains in Ankara's relationship with Brussels.

The German foreign minister is expected to visit Ankara on Wednesday, according to Turkish state TRT broadcaster, where the eastern Mediterranean will be high on the agenda.

Turkey announced plans late Sunday to send the research ship at the centre of an energy rights row with Greece to the eastern Mediterranean again, a move likely to reignite tensions with Athens.

Turkey announced plans late Sunday to send the research ship at the centre of an energy rights row with Greece to the eastern Mediterranean again, a move likely to reignite tensions with Athens. The Turkish navy said the Oruc Reis vessel would carry out activities in the region, including the south of the Greek island of Kastellorizo, from Monday until October 22 in a message sent to the maritime alert system NAVTEX. Turkey and Greece were locked in a row over gas exploration in the eastern Mediterranean in August, which saw the two NATO neighbours stage rival air and navy drills in strategic waters between Cyprus and the Greek island of Crete. Greece claims rights over the waters around Kastellorizo but Turkey rejects this, insisting it has greater claims to the eastern Mediterranean because it has a longer coastline. Ankara first deployed the Oruc Reis seismic research vessel and warships to disputed waters on August 10 and extended the mission, ignoring repeated calls to stop by Athens and the European Union. The vessel will be joined in the latest "seismic survey" mission by two other ships called Ataman and Cengiz Han, according to the NAVTEX message. The Oruc Reis was pulled back to shore last month from waters claimed by Greece in what many hoped was a sign Ankara and Athens could resolve the crisis through talks. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the time said the withdrawal was to give diplomacy a chance. But Turkish officials also insisted the ship was only undergoing planned maintenance and would return to the eastern Mediterranean to continue its work. Yet hope was further raised after Turkey and Greece agreed to exploratory talks last month after diplomatic efforts led by Germany to defuse the crisis. The talks had been stalled since 2016 and the expectation was for their resumption in Istanbul but no exact date was ever given. The Turkish and Greek foreign ministers also met last week on the sidelines of a security forum in Slovakia's capital Bratislava in the highest-level talks since tensions began. The EU at a summit earlier this month threatened to slap sanctions on Turkey if Ankara failed to stop what the bloc says is illegal drilling and energy exploration activities in waters claimed by Cyprus and Greece. Turkey described the threat as "unconstructive" but its latest move will cause further strains in Ankara's relationship with Brussels. The German foreign minister is expected to visit Ankara on Wednesday, according to Turkish state TRT broadcaster, where the eastern Mediterranean will be high on the agenda.

Turkey to send ship at centre of Greece row to east Med again

Turkey is militarising disputed waters in the East Mediterranean region. Erdogan is threatening France, Cyprus & Greece with retaliation if Turkish vessels are targeted.

Gravitas: Why is Turkey militarising East Mediterranean?