Palestine

Population (2017) : 4,733,357 (estimates – national statistics)
Population (2007 census): 3,719,189 (national statistics)

Largest governorates (inhabitants – 2007 census data and 2017 estimates, based on national statistics):

• Hebron (2007 census: 543,891, 2017 estimates: 705,053)
• Gaza (2007 census: 489,642, 2017 estimates: 644,823)
• Jerusalem (2007 census: 361,743, 2017 estimates: 431,706)
• Nablus (2007 census: 317,391, 2017 estimates: 384,953)
• Ramallah and Al-Bireh (2007 census: 275,981, 2017 estimates: 326,008)

Annual population growth (2017): 2.2%
Annual population growth (2007): 3.0%
Annual population growth (2000): 3.1%

Data from national statistics, cities’ annual population growth calculated based on data from national statistics

Israeli closure policies disrupt labour and trade flows, industrial capacity, and basic commerce. Stonecutting is a major source of income for the Palestinian economy. The annual average output per worker in the stone industry is higher than in any other sector. Economic growth since 2008 has been sustained by inflows of donor aid rather than private sector economic activity.

91% of the population has access to proper water sources and 89% to proper sanitation (WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program for Water Supply and Sanitation, November 2011). In 2012 the Palestinian Territories generated 1.387 million tons of municipal solid waste (per person 0.9 – 2.05 kg/day in urban areas and 0.35-0.6 kg/day in rural areas). The amount of waste is growing by 4% annually. Waste collection coverage in urban areas reaches 93% and in rural ones 88%. The final destination of collected waste is generally open-dumping (67%) and landfilling (33%) (GIZ, 2014 – Country report on Solid Waste Management in Occupied Palestinian Territories).

Data on the Palestinian Territories’ energy consumption in the road transport sector as part of its total energy consumption are not available, as is the case with energy consumption per capita as well.

Electricity consumption amounted to 1,093 kWh per capita in 2015, against 1,271 kWh in 2011 and 1,298 kWh in 2000.

According to World Bank figures CO₂ emissions in the Palestinian Territories were 0.58 metric tons per capita in 2013, against to 0.57 metric tons in 2008 and 0.45 metric tons in 2001. The main sectors that contribute to climate change through the emission of greenhouse gases are energy production, industry and motorised traffic.

A very interesting report, underlining key facts for the agriculture sector in Palestine, is available for download here.

Palestine intends to reduce its CO₂ eq emissions, conditional on receiving international support in the form of finance, technology transfer and capacity building.
Independence scenario: 24.4% by 2040 relative to business-as-usual.
Status quo scenario: 12.8% by 2040 relative to business-as-usual.
More info on Palestine’s NDCs.

Adaptation to adverse impact of climate change is considered as the highest priority. The State of Palestine’s NAP was approved by all relevant ministries in May 2016. It identifies ‘highly vulnerable’ issues in relation to the following 12 theme/sectors: agriculture, coastal and marine, energy, food, health, industry, terrestrial ecosystems, tourism, urban and infrastructure, waste, wastewater and water, taking also into consideration the existing interconnections between different sectors. Although the NAP is focusing on the implementation of immediate, near-future adaptation actions that address highly vulnerable themes/sectors, limited consideration to medium- and long-term adaptation actions has also been given. Wherever possible, adaptation actions have been identified in relation to three future-climate scenarios for the State of Palestine that are representative of all projections considered in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report.