The Sultanate of Oman is located in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula, and the landscape ranges from rugged mountains to desert plains. Oman’s economy is dominantly dependent on crude oil, though investments in economic diversification are being made. Oman imports more than 50% of its food to meet the needs of its population. Increasing climate variability is likely to negatively impact the country’s already-struggling agricultural sector. Oman’s economic development is at risk to the potential impacts of climate change. Groundwater pollution and the increase of water salinity are of growing concern, and soil salinity and desertification are increasing. Furthermore, a range of socioeconomic and institutional factors hamper Oman’s ability to respond to current and projected changes in climate, including low national institutional capacity, lack of long-term reliable data or technical capacity to analyze data, and others. These challenges must be met in order to strategically respond to climate change and its impacts.

The Ministry of Environment & Climate Affairs is the focal point for all climate change related communication in Oman. The National Committee for Climate Change provides guidance, coordination, and oversight for all environment and climate change activities. The Committee for the last initial national communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change was composed of representatives from 11 ministries. In its development, the Ministry facilitated training programs, which targeted both greenhouse gas inventory development for mitigation and vulnerability assessments under adaptation. Oman has yet to ratify the Paris Agreement as of March 2018, but the associated Intended Nationally Determined Contribution can be found here.