Environmental Management Systems - Abu Dhabi - Case Study Example

Introduction: All the essential elements of life are reliant upon the transparency and cleanliness of life and surroundings. The nature is working from side to side a beautiful balance of water, air, and energy and earth reservoirs. The natural assets and reservoirs recover themselves and make available their best reimbursements to the human populace through their preservation qualities. However with the improvement and opening of technology, these very natural rudiments and their preservation was shot poorly. The blemish of surroundings and natural rudiments through the opening or induction of chemicals and other harsh elements is observed as the pollution. In the same way, introduction of immense levels of noise, smoke and chemicals into air exaggerates the air contamination; the initiation of chemicals and wastage into water contaminates water and so on and so forth. Similarly, the excess of resources such as water, wood, energy reservoirs, ordinary resources of all kinds, results in infuriating of the ecological and contamination hazards. At the same time as the usage of these natural resources had its affects on environment and had some increasing effects on the increase of pollution, the issue came into conspicuous focus after the World War II, when the effects of the atomic bombs dropped by the United States were seen and felt with its on the whole revolting after-effects. Proceedings like the Great Smog of 1952, in London also drew concentration of people to the circumstances of the increasing pollution. With the growing effect of the pollution on atmosphere and with the worldwide warming effects rising and becoming reality, it is fitting to be very significant to make continuous efforts in this regard and curb the possessions before they additionally cut down the life of planet Earth. (Trzyna, Didion, 2001) The exposures of pollution are profoundly affecting the developed countries and the compactly populated areas. The United Arab Emirates, with its ever-growing population, and a speedy investment that led to speedy constructions, fast-changing lifestyles in addition to the delving of governments into the earth reservoirs has led to an infuriating environmental problem. The speedy digging of oil wells has also had its share in the difficulty and the traffic augment has also taken its toll on the previously problematic condition. Abu Dhabi, being one of the additional populated areas and holding further desirability for investment has had more problems in this area as well. The traffic and the escalating number of oil and gas refineries around the area have made it a great deal affected ones and it is all the more dangerous for the reason that most of the greenery and developed structures of water supply in the Emirates and particularly in Abu Dhabi are synthetically designed. It is the necessitate of the hour to work out a wide-ranging and a comprehensive intend that elegantly and systematically deals with all kinds of contamination creating elements. The endeavour of the plan for the shortening of pollution should be to diminish the existing destructive elements in addition to to reduce the manufacture of it for times to approach. From the dissimilar facets of pollution like the air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution and environmental pollution to the additional effects of developments, every characteristic should be well thought-out and taken into account for the implications and sustainability of the arrangement. In addition measures should be taken in such a plan to estimate its accomplishment and sustainability for all the sectors that it impinges on and influences. (Trzyna, Didion, 2001) Diverse Facets of Pollution in Abu Dhabi: Being an ingredient of the oil-rich zone of Emirates, Abu Dhabi is one of the areas where population has fully fledged with a surprising quickness and has affected the augment of pollution enormously. From the oil wells, to increasing traffic and the incessantly rising numeral of factories, the consequences are obvious in water, air and day by day living of the people in Abu Dhabi. One of the major causes of air and ground contamination in Abu Dhabi are oil fields and traffic pollution in addition to the increasing number of fields and farms that are now accessible for farming purposes. The effects of dissimilar chemicals that have now infiltrated the ground water and are now division of the underground water that is in poor condition for drinking. There were around 9,000 farms in 1996 and over the years the numeral has risen to a great extent so that now there are around 24,000 private farms in 2002. At the same time as the raise in farms has helped a number of families in Abu Dhabi, the detail remains that the soil is sandy and not as productive. A better quantity of fertilizers is used in these areas and that has given augment to the quantity of nitrate and chromium in the soil. Also while the primary oil well was discovered in 1958 in the Abu Dhabi, today the most booming factor behind the growth of financial system is the oil and gas division. The wastage that is added to the water at an incessant rate is also a great reason of the adding contamination. On the other hand, the air contamination is greatly increased due to traffic and oil wells. (Trzyna, Didion, 2001) The physical condition risks associated with air contamination depend on the kind of substances here, their concentrations and the length of time for which people are exposed to them. There are documented relationships connecting exposure and health problems for the following substances: Lead: Lead can affect the nervous system, reproduction, the formation of haemoglobin in the body, and can cause cancer. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter: These substances result in a higher frequency of various types of respiratory complaints. Particulate matter can also cause cardiovascular disease. Sulphur dioxide (SO2): Exposure to SO2 can result in lung disease. Carbon monoxide (CO): CO reduces the capacity of the blood to transport oxygen and can cause headaches, nausea and problems for heart patients. Ground-level ozone (O3): Can cause effects such as reduced lung capacity, an increase in the number of cases of bronchitis and asthma, headaches, and irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes. (Martin, 2000) Throughout the Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA-OPCO), almost six wells are producing oil off shore and the manufacture throughout these wells has also greater than before from 2004 onwards, now reached exceptional levels. On the other hand, these oil productions and wells have also caused threats to the endurance of mangroves across United Arab Emirates and more than ever in the vicinity of Abu Dhabi. In the course of the research conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries it has been reported that an ideal habitat for a diversity of fish, shrimps and other marine animals which is close to the shores of Abu Dhabi and in wide-ranging near the Emirates. The aquatic life in the area cannot survive even a little amount of oil and the pollution in the neighbouring areas will generate problems for the mangrove. For that reason the kind of problems faced in Abu Dhabi need rigorous planning and organization for controlling and curbing the same tendencies in the future as the very sources of pollution are linked with the sources of development and development. (Martin, 2000) Ecological Management System: In Abu Dhabi, there are a few ecological organizations that are already at work and are demanding to cut back the devastating effects of pollution and hazardous oil wells and other developmental structures. The Environment Agency i.e. Abu Dhabi (EAD) is working in this hold and is making quite a progress; the collaborative work with the WWF is mentionable and their work, more than ever the plans for Masdar city are quite outstanding. Masdar is a case in point of the paradigm shift that is needed and the planned vision of the Abu Dhabi government is a case study in international leadership. It is hoped that Masdar City will establish that sustainable living can be inexpensive and attractive in all aspects of human living from businesses and manufacturing facilities to universities and personal homes. CEO of the Masdar Initiative, Dr. Sultan al Jaber said, “Masdar City will question conservative patterns of city development, and set new yardstick for sustainability and environmentally friendly design and the students, faculty and businesses located in Masdar City will not only be able to witness innovation first-hand, but they will also participate in its development.” (WWF, January 14, 2008) Even though the achievement of the plan is around 2012, yet the preliminary success of the sketch has previously come for with the appreciation that it is acceptance worldwide. In June 2007, Masdar City received the first World Clean Energy Award from the Transatlantic21 Association in Basel, Switzerland. In September 2007, the city’s design was voted “Sustainable Region/ City of the Year”. In accumulation to these, the EAD has also undertaken a sketch to schedule and analyze all the wells that have been dug in Abu Dhabi in the beginning and to check the water for contamination and usability. These and much other inventiveness that have been taken by the EAD have given it a place of great significance in the sector that is working for the revitalization of natural elements in the atmosphere. (Martin, 2000) The organization of any structure that is designed to encourage environmental safeguards will have to be multi dimensional and taking into description all the different characteristics and dimensions of the situation as well as the short term and long time objectives of it. (Al-Azab, El-Shorbagy, Al-Ghais, 2005) The Ecological Management System that will work under the Civil Defence Authority of Abu Dhabi shall be under the total rule and command of the Authority and should be made strong enough legally to maintain the required levels of compliance in this regard. The primary in this hold will be to make it a body to which the industries, oil companies as well as citizens are accountable. At the same time as it will be essential to make the mandate of the functioning clear, it will also be a prerequisite to make the jurisdiction of the Authority clear for all intents and purposes. (Al-Azab, El-Shorbagy, Al-Ghais, 2005) The organization must initiate with a complete planning and should distinguish all the areas that are of highest importance and critical in the face of the most current developments. The worldwide and recognized standards for maintaining air, ground, and noise and water contamination to a insignificant should be studied and taken into account keeping in mind the uncharacteristic case of Abu Dhabi. The atmosphere Management Plan will take into account the statistics of the annual wastage being thrown into the sea, that is released into air and which is creating pollution in other ways. The official requirements that are to be met with by the oil companies and industries in addition to by individuals will be studied under the outline. The restriction of the imperfection can be done by taking in the steps in the right course. At the same time as the water for drinking is supplied after desalination, similarly it should be arranged so that clean water is also supplied to the mangroves that are on the threshold of destruction near Abu Dhabi. The wells around Abu Dhabi, off shore and on land are a great source of the pollution in the area. They cannot be removed and neither the production of these wells can be compact as they are a foundation of the expansion taking place in and around Abu Dhabi but they should be regulated according to the rules of worldwide standing and their effects should be marginalized by the recycling of their excess being compulsory. Recycling, that has not been considered on a large scale by any organization up till now, should be made a part of the Civil Defence Authority’s program. At the same time as laws can be enacted in opposition to the mixing of garbage, it is in reality a pervasive program of consciousness that shall permit more and more people to be a part of the operation for the reduction of pollution. In addition the laws that are enacted in this regard should also take into description the individual practices that has left the pollution stats expanding. (Al-Azab, El-Shorbagy, Al-Ghais, 2005) Conclusion: At the same time as the plan for saving atmosphere or the Ecological Management System should include all the development that is a outcome of oil discovery and constructions and scientific improvements in the area, the one-sidedness of the environmental system should also be considered extremely while figuring a plan for the curbing of contamination. Booming plans such as those conducted by the EDA should be taken as guiding principles and should be resounded in the EMS developed for implementation by Civil Defence Authority. Bibliography: Trzyna,T & Didion, J 2001, World Directory of Environmental Organizations: A Handbook of National and International Organizations and Programs--governmental and Non-governmental--concerned with Protecting the Earth's Resources International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, International Center for the Environment and Public Policy (California Institute of Public Affairs), Earthscan Martin, R 2000, Environmental Micropaleontology: The Application of Microfossils to Environmental Geology, Springer Al-Azab, El-Shorbagy, & Al-Ghais 2005, Oil Pollution and Its Environmental Impact in the Arabian Gulf Region, Elsevier Read More