This article examines the discourses and practices of climate change adaptation in the Arabian Peninsula. It suggests that climate change adaptation projects in the region are often attempts at reframing water-related challenges that are already present, regardless of the effects of climate change. For instance, the groundwater sources in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will be destroyed not necessarily due to the predicted impacts of climate change but because they will soon be completely consumed. In response, the governments in the Arabian Peninsula, especially the UAE, advance a view that I call the “infinity of water,” by relying on technological solutions, particularly desalination. The nonconventional synthetic quality of water, where more can be generated through desalination whenever necessary, allows the actors in the area to envision and embrace its infinity, regardless of existing and impending water scarcity. This article shows how water ceases to be a “natural” entity, but rather emerges as an assemblage of complex technical procedures, social relations, and historical trajectories.

中文翻译：

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水的无限：阿拉伯半岛的气候变化适应

本文考察了阿拉伯半岛气候变化适应的话语和实践。它表明该地区的气候变化适应项目通常试图重新定义已经存在的与水相关的挑战，而不管气候变化的影响如何。例如，阿拉伯联合酋长国 (UAE) 的地下水源将被破坏，不一定是由于气候变化的预测影响，而是因为它们很快就会被完全消耗掉。作为回应，阿拉伯半岛的政府，特别是阿联酋，通过依赖技术解决方案，尤其是海水淡化，提出了一种我称之为“无限水”的观点。非传统的合成水质量，必要时可以通过海水淡化产生更多水，允许该地区的参与者设想并拥抱其无限性，而不管现有和即将发生的水资源短缺。本文展示了水如何不再是“自然”实体，而是作为复杂技术程序、社会关系和历史轨迹的集合而出现。