Environmental Challenges And Solutions In The United Arab Emirates (Research Paper Sample)

Environmental Challenges And Solutions In The United Arab Emirates
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Environmental challenges in the United Arab Emirates
The UAE (United Arab Emirates) is a federal state found in the Middle East with a climate tantamount to that of the subtropical-arid conditions. Throughout summer seasons, the average temperature in the UAE escalates to a peak of 45 degrees Celsius. Moreover, the rains in the United Arab Emirates to a remarkable magnitude influence the annual flooding which results in the occasional unfortunate desolation due to property destruction and loss of lives in some parts (Davidson, 2005).
According to Davidson (2008), the state's economic activities have as well significantly contributed to the current environment state. These economic activities substantially affect the UAE ecosystem to a great extent in a negative way contrary to the limited benefits. In the recent past, the country has been facing environmental challenges which are of great concern to both the inhabitants and the economy as well. This paper will explore in details the environmental predicaments in the United Arab Emirates, the resolutions that have been put in place concerning these challenges and ultimately, the recommendations on how to mitigate the UAE environmental problems.
Firstly, air pollution is the leading environmental issue affecting UAE. The air pollution affects both human beings and the animals by inducing diseases of the respiratory system (Abdul‐Wahab, 2009). According to Davidson (2005), air pollution contributes to 1.34 million premature deaths each year. The Air pollution in UAE is as a result of the commercial operations carried out by individuals and the pollutants released into the environment by industrial actions which severely pollutes the air. The burning of fossil fuel used to drive the industrial engines and as well releases carbon (IV) oxide into the atmosphere through the smokestack of industries which cause pollution and acid rain. Consequently, the use of greenhouses in the agricultural sector has also led to the production of fumes that destroy the ozone layer thus causing air pollution. Similarly, some chemicals used in the industries of UAE such as concentrated sulphuric (VI) acid hazardously react with water and other chemicals in the industries thus producing sulfur (IV) oxide fumes into the environment that causes air pollution and eventually acid rain (Davidson, 2008).
Secondly, the climate changes in the UAE has significantly affected the environment, the primary indicators of climate changes are the alteration in atmospheric temperatures, the rising of water levels in the sea and the accumulation of dust in the environment. The climate changes subsequently affect the ecosystem, infrastructure, economy and the health of people adversely. Moreover, the protracted drought instigated by climate changes depresses the agricultural production potential thus making people suffer from starvation. The problem of global warming equally generates high temperatures which cause skin burns and ultimately leading to skin cancer. The rise in the sea level is correlated with the high temperatures in the seas which are the apparent prospects of global warming (Davidson, 2005).
Consequently, the rising of the sea level affects those people living in the coastal region due to flooding and the loss of essential water habitats and plants that grow along the ocean, similarly, the intensifying sea levels further cause agricultural soil contamination due to leaching influx of dangerous chemicals. The dust formed due to climate change as well affects human beings particularly the breathing system by causing infections. The windy season usually blows dust into the atmosphere leading to the spread of diseases to people and animals. The dust also causes poor perceptibility which leads to accidents on the road these climate changes undoubtedly affect not only to human beings but also the economy of the UAE nation (Davidson, 2008).
The limited agricultural land is also an environmental challenge in the UAE; agriculture is one of the economic activities which sustain people through the production of both cash and food crop. Agriculture has a great impact on the UAE nation‘s economy. However, limited agricultural land decreases the country‘s economy and significantly affect the livelihood of people. In the UAE agriculture is a challenge due to climate changes. Similarly, water scarcity makes the practice of farming unmanageable due to long periods of drought and these climate variables significantly affects the productivity in the agricultural sector (Davidson, 2005).
The greater part of UAE is a semi-arid area thus sanctioning limited agricultural activities. Equally, the farming activities are as well affected by the environmental pollution like air and water pollution. Additionally, urbanization has utilized large parts of UEA land which could otherwise be used for agricultural activities. Therefore, food security in the UAE is a challenge due to limited agricultural land and climate changes; this makes the Republic of UAE depend on international foods market which disadvantages the economy significantly (El-Sammak, 2001).
Finally, the obliteration of wildlife habitat has also affected the environment of the UAE; the discovery of oil wells and the instituting of oil refining industries in the UAE have largely enhanced the urbanization process (Davidson, 2005). This expeditious urbanization has considerably caused the movement of people to cities in search of job opportunities. Consequently, the mass movement of individuals has led to population growth. The increase in urban populations has, as a result, made the management of waste a challenging task; thus, most of the waste is disposed to rivers and sea. This pitiable waste disposal contributes to the loss of aquatic habitat. Therefore, the exploitation of the oil and gas industries to a lesser extent contributes to wealth creation but critically destroys the UEA environmental habitat. Oil extraction also causes water pollution due to leakage of oil from tankers which affect the marine animals. Tourism is as well one of the economic activities in the UAE that contribute to its economy. However, the development of tourism resorts in the coastal region is indirectly affecting the environment in a negative way (Davidson, 2008).
The environmental challenges in the UAE have undoubtedly caused the adverse impact on the development of the country and its economy. The citizens of UAE contributing to the development and the economic growth have as well been affected by the environmental challenges. These problems have led to the loss of humans’ lives, animals and also some plant species. Due to these effects, the federal government has developed recommendations which will assist in subduing the contemporary environmental challenges. Furthermore, the solutions that have been put in place have outstandingly led to the improvement of the country‘s environmental state (Davidson, 2005).
Environmental solutions adapted by UAE
The federal government has significantly pushed for the reduction in air pollution; various approaches have been developed to control the emission of the gasses into the atmosphere. Moreover, the reliance on energy sources like the burning of fossil fuels has been reduced by generating alternative energy sources. The alternative sources of energy developed on the other hand have reduced the side effects of air pollution. For instance, the use hydropower, wind power, geothermal energy, nuclear energy and solar energy have reduced the adverse environmental effects as compared to the unfriendly sources like fossil fuels (Al-Azab, El-Shorbagy, and Al-Ghais, 2005).
Similarly, the scrubbers have been installed within the smokestack to eliminate the gasses that can be emitted to the atmosphere causing air pollution. The use of bag houses has helped in the collection of poisonous gasses before they are emitted to the environment. Cyclones have also been dispersed to all industries to help in the collection of gasses which are toxic thus preventing them from causing air pollution. These new technologies have assisted in the control of air pollution in the UAE and to improve its development. The UAE federal government has set strategies to be put in place to reduce the number of greenhouses which emits carbon (IV) oxide leading to global warming. Similarly, sources of energy that leads to the emission of gasses contributing to global warming have been replaced by the use of alternative sources of energy. The problem of flooding has been controlled by the building of dams and reservoir which collects water during the heavy rains (Davidson, 2008).
The modernized methods of agriculture have been extensively utilized within the country. Use of modern greenhouses to grow different kinds of crops many of them being the food crops such as vegetables during summer periods have been adopted widely. The reclaiming of lands by the government for the purpose of agriculture is, on the other hand, promoting agricultural activities in the UAE. Moreover, irrigation in the arid areas has expanded the farm land, and the irrigated crops have boosted food production in the entire UEA. Similarly, the country is producing genetically modified crops which are resistance to climate changes. These genetically engineered crops are cultivated in the small land available, but they...