In the Middle East, a region afflicted by wars and serious economic and social problems, one might think that climate change is among the last things to worry about. Global warming is, however, a serious threat, especially in this arid part of the world, where the amount of water available is barely enough to meet the needs of local inhabitants and ecosystems.

Extreme weather events have already struck numerous regions in recent years; in 2010, drought and wildfires severely hit wheat crops in Russia and Eastern Europe, while severe flooding in Pakistan caused extensive damage to harvests, pushing prices up by 40 per cent. Rising sea levels could increase the salinity of freshwater sources, as well as soil salinity on agricultural land.

It is also estimated that by 2100 the amount of water could decrease considerably. Droughts, irregular seasons, higher temperatures and the loss of fertile land could reduce agricultural production by as much as half.

Several countries are therefore experimenting with innovative approaches to cope with climate change and the anticipated decline in rainfall. In 2011, Shagara ("tree" in Arabic) was founded — an environmental organisation actively committed to urban regeneration through tree planting, which is essential for mitigating the effects of climate change.

The organisation, founded by Mohamed Ashraf Abdel Samad, spreads good practices in sustainable development among students in public schools. According to Abdel Samad, children play a fundamental role in the battle for a greener Egypt; one of Shagara's main projects is indeed "Shagara at school".

Egyptian public schools face numerous problems, from the poor state of infrastructure to shortcomings in the teaching of important subjects, such as agriculture. Shagara therefore decided to make use of unused spaces in school buildings — such as rooftops — to create genuine farms capable of storing carbon, increasing food supply and teaching students to grow food sustainably.

Students are taught the importance of native plant species, which use less water than exotic species, and through cultivation they learn how to counter climate change, helping to spread these practices once they have finished school.