Natural resource constraints are leading to environmental, social and economic impacts all over the world. The 2010 Living Planet Report outlined that the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait were three of the top ten ranked countries in the world in terms of their Ecological Footprint per capita.
¹This means that if every person in the world lived and consumed natural resources such as food, water, energy, and timber at the same rate as an average resident from the United Arab Emirates or Qatar², we would need six planet earths to sustain that level of consumption, which is four times the world average. This is clearly unsustainable and there are many reasons for this:
a. The Gulf states are experiencing rapid growth and development, which is resource intensive, especially as desert conditions lead to higher than average consumption of energy to cool buildings and desalinate water.
b. Due to a lack of resources (apart from hydrocarbons), Gulf states also need to access resources from outside their own borders.
c. Low levels of public awareness on how to maintain more sustainable lifestyles.
Such high natural resource consumption patterns have profound environmental, social and economic impacts.
Countries in the Middle East could face temperature rises of more than 3°C by the end of the century, with changing climate, and the associated repercussions on water resources, food, coastal cities, infrastructure, human health, and wildlife.
³The UAE’s commercial fish stocks declined by 80% from 1978–2002 due to overfishing.
4Many countries in the region are also facing a situation where demand for power and water is beginning to exceed supply. Left unchecked, climate change, collapsing fisheries, and power shortages will not only affect economic growth and development, but also threaten social stability, business viability, and the well-being of society.
Many worldwide institutions, such as CIRIA, are supporting the UK government’s plans for a “number of ambitious goals that focus on protecting and restoring the natural environment; delivering cleaner air and water; protecting endangered species and providing richer habitats for wildlife, thus delivering net gain as well as growing a resilient network of land, water and sea. All this will be achieved through development of a “natural environment recovery network” which has a holistic vision of connected green and blue landscapes at catchment scale”.
These type of initiatives are not in isolation and are not only for the benefit of the environment. A study from the journal6 “Environmental Health Perspectives” found that people who live in greener areas have a lower risk of mortality. The health benefits are likely due to factors such as improved mental health, social engagement and physical activity that come with living near green spaces.
So, how can we tackle these issues in the Middle East?
We believe these five pillars can help:
- Partner with Governments and their intergovernmental departments.
- Engage in independent research and communicate the findings in the public domain or through the local authorities.
- Share knowledge and expertise.
- Promote initiatives for sustainability and conservation.
- Look after the environment.
On a global scale, the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) show clear intent that there is worldwide appetite and understanding that we must implement change.
The Middle East’s participation in the UN Sustainable Development Summit to formally adopt an ambitious ‘new sustainable development agenda’ is proof of its commitment. The UAE 2021 vision states:
8As we look to the future and embark on a journey of empowerment at all levels, we must steer a course among challenges on many fronts with confidence, optimism and determination. There will be challenges to the family ties that bind us together the strong fabric of our cohesive society; challenges to our economic competitiveness; challenges to our national identity; challenges to health, education, environment and well-being. An ambitious nation like ours cannot achieve its goals by relying on its past achievements. We must work harder, be more innovative, more organized, and more vigilant in examining the trends and challenges that will face us. We will start with a deep and honest analysis of our current situation, taking into consideration emerging regional and international changes.
Clearly the intention to make change happen is there, but it’s now our collective responsibility to adopt the five pillars, as a minimum, and proactively assist this region to develop and leave a worthy sustainable legacy for future generations.
The world is evolving, and we all are part of the journey.
Contact us today to discuss the transformative solutions for your project:
Tel: +971 (0) 4 518 3000
Email: middleeast@polypipe.com