For more than three decades, the ESCWA region has been exporting capital; experiencing volatile real gross domestic product (GDP) per capita growth; has the highest unemployment rate globally; suffers from rising income inequality; and has a poorly-balanced economic structure that is overwhelmingly based on the export of oil.

Statistics reveal that land transport is responsible for more than three quarters of the emissions by the transport sector worldwide. Consequently, this sector is considered to be one of the most important sectors to be focused on with regards to measures aimed at mitigating climate change, which was agreed by regional and international organizations. This study includes a presentation on energy consumption in the transport sector in general and in the ESCWA region in particular, and its implications on the environment and climate change.

The National Accounts Studies of the Arab Region, Bulletin No.33, presents available data on and ESCWA estimates of gross domestic product (GDP) at both current and constant prices, and consolidated national accounts of each ESCWA member country during the period 2007-2012; in addition to estimated real GDP growth for 2013.

ESCWA collected data for this publication primarily from responses to questionnaires, national statistical offices and other official sources. ESCWA hopes that this publication will benefit economists, social researchers and planners.

The youth group in the ESCWA region faces numerous challenges, including poor quality of education, incompatibility of education system outputs with the labour market, high unemployment rates, unhealthy life styles and low participation in decision-making and public and political life. In that regard, ESCWA focuses its activities on the need to address youth as a socio-demographic group that should be targeted with special national policies. As part of those activities, ESCWA publishes the fourth issue of the Population and Development Report which contains three parts.