The Main Areas of Pollution in Abu Dhabi - Term Paper Example

Environmental Management: Abu Dhabi Course Name and Code Institution Name Faculty Name Student Name Student Number Instructors Name 29 January 2009 Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction…………………………………………………………………3 2.0 Environmental Concern…………………………………………………….3 3.0 Natural Capitalism / Introduction of EMS to Abu Dhabi…………………..4 4.0 Benefits of EMS to Abu Dhabi……………………………………………..5 5.0 Areas of Impact to Environment……………………………………………5 5.1 Process………………………………………………………………5 5.2 Operations…………………………………………………………...6 6.0 Solution to Impacts to Environment………………………………………..7 7.0 Objectives of EMR…………………………………………………………9 8.0 Conclusion………………………………………………………………….9 9.0 Bibliography……………………………………………………………….10 1.0 Introduction Environmental conservation is a major concern to many nations and towns. Environmental management is a global issue that has to be tackled to reduce environmental depletion and its related consequences. One of the regions that is exposed to environmental depletion is Abu Dhabi. Abu Dhabi is located in the United Arabs Emirates and is the largest among the seven groups that forms the Emirates. Abu Dhabi is growing at a faster rate through industrialization. Industrialization comes with environmental pollution, which is a common phenomenon in any developing or developed country. The main areas of pollution to Abu Dhabi revolve around the vast oil reserve and oil-related factories (British Petroleum Company 1991). Thus, the government has laid down various regulatory authorities such has the Civil Defence to address environmental concerns. However, the Civil Defence is a body that collectively protects the public from diverse causes, thus environmental management is just part of the protection concern. This paper presents an environmental management plan that revolves around a theoretical framework: Natural Capitalism. This is one of the many theories that have been advanced to manage the environment. 2.0 Environmental Concern Abu Dhabi safety concerns are managed by the Civil Defence and are entitled in keeping the citizens and other people safe. Among other things, the Civil Defence reduces risks that are associated with hazards and assisting at the time of emergency, which revolves around fire and safety measures. From this perspective, the Civil Defence of Abu Dhabi lacks capability of managing the environment. Development of environmental management plan should be incorporated to the Civil Defence and the Local Authority of the area. The plan should put into consideration measures that will ensure that the environmental management plan attains the ISO 14001 certification (Jordan Environmental Management 2008). Many theories are in place that tries to advance environmental management. However, the appropriate theory that should be applied should bring into consideration constrictions that prevent its efficiency and providing a framework that ensures future efficiency is in place. The plan that should be developed should bring into consideration the current capabilities and provisions to management of the environment and status of the environmental. Moreover, the plan should put into consideration preferences of stakeholders in ensuring that the ISO certification is achieved and the benefits of the certification are maximised (Environment Agency 2006). 3.0 Natural Capitalism / Introduction of EMS to Abu Dhabi Natural Capitalism is the most appropriate in ensuring that environmental management concerns are brought into consideration through four pillars. The four pillars of Natural Capitalism revolve around re-use, efficient utilization of resources, importance of quality rather than quantity and natural capital investments. Abu Dhabi produces the highest amounts of wastes per capita of about 730 kilograms. These high amounts of wastes can be reduced through the implementation of Natural Capitalism a route towards the achievement of ISO 14001. Natural Capitalism ensures that the environment management system (EMS) is included into the Civil Defence, thus managing the entire environment. Application of Natural Capitalism will ensure that the resources and other means are in place so that the environment is put into for front in every aspiration that the community and business sectors want to implement (ReVelle 2002). 4.0 Benefits of EMS to Abu Dhabi Implementation and maintenance of EMS in Abu Dhabi opens various benefits to the entire location: a) It ensures that the law concerning environmental conservation measures are complied. b) Assuring that sound corporate responsibility concerning environmental conservation is in place. c) It ensures that efficiency is embraced in operations decreasing operation costs and increasing revenues and profits. d) Sets a foundation for other agencies to copy resulting in reduction of agencies environmental liability e) Ensures that the right steps are followed to ensure attainment of ISO certification f) Ensures that operations are streamlined such that wastage is reduced and allow efficiency in allocation of resources. g) Increases the awareness of both governmental and non-governmental participation in conservation of the environment 5.0 Areas of Impact to Environment 5.1 Process Transportation is the major cause of environmental degradation. Transport means e.g. motor vehicles, aeroplanes and ships releases emissions to the environment. Moreover, the way that disposal of transport related by products increase depletion of the environment. Construction and building industry in a developing community is another major cause of environmental degradation. Buildings are poorly constructed with poor consideration on the materials that are used and the type of energy that is used. Household waste that is seen through use of buildings and workforce is the main cause of minor environmental degeneration that may easily lead to a major problem. 5.2 Operations Air and oil industries are the major cause of pollution to Abu Dhabi; the modes of pollution includes soil, marine or water, air and sound. Either gases or noise causes air pollution. Some common emissions that are witnessed include carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter. Ninety-nine percentage of emissions and oil leaks occur at point source e.g. electricity production gas leak, transportation and line sources. Sound pollution is witnessed in industries and factories that use large-scale diesel generators. Marine pollution from oil and gas industry is seen through oil spills and marine sedimentation. Nevertheless, these types of pollution are caused by heavy and big industries that are easily targeted by local and environmental authorities (Wagner & Marsalek 2007). The region is characterised by gas and oil industries that are prone to fire. Apart from the oil and gas industries, fires are also seen in agricultural facilities and civil and commercial buildings. The fires in the first place are an environmental depletion avenue in which smoke and fumes are released to the air and the soil or nearby water is polluted. Secondly, the means that are used to put off these fires is also harmful to the environment (Beaumont 1999). For example, oil and gas fires are not easily extinguished by the use of water rather carbon monoxide is used. The carbon monoxide itself is a chemical that affects the ozone and air pollution. Other cause of environmental concern is the fire fighters foams and other equipments that are used to put off the fires. 6.0 Solution to Impacts to Environment Civil Defence plays an important role in ensuring that the environment is user friendly. Alternative sources of energy should be put in place, which includes the use of solar rather than oil and gas. Fuel efficiency means of transport should be encouraged e.g. the use of bio-fuels will decrease reliance to gas and oil. Wastage is a common phenomenon in households, a perspective that has been neglected by the natural capitalism. Education plays an important role in ensuring that the household approach to wastage is put into consideration. Civil Defence should teach domestic workers to reduce wastage through re-use of items. This will reduce the amount of wastes resulting in a decrease of environment concern and enhances individuals’ safety. Civil defence should ensure that that it improves on efficiency and proper utilization of the resources. The Civil Defence should implemented measures that curb emissions and other harmful gases so that it plays a role model to other agencies. This is only possible if it is factored to the organizations’ operations and processes. This follows the teachings of natural capitalism that advocates in use of less harmful substances and re-cycling of already used materials. Thus, for example, all buildings should be ‘green buildings’ through utilization of products that are friendly to the environment. Thus, utilization of biodegradable materials to improve the conditions of the environment should be embraced by the Civil Defence. Operations are the core aspect of every Civil Defence organization. The Civil Defence organization should campaign and encourage proper utilization of resources to reduce the amount of wastage that can be witnessed. The organization should put in place means and utilize materials that are friendly to the environment. For example, Civil Defence has been equipping homes and buildings with equipments that deters outbreak of fires and educating them on the importance of proper management of fire incidents and reduction of this fires. The main cause of fires is through households, a place that the Civil Defence as of late started teaching the people on the proper way of using electrical and gas appliances. The approach that the Civil Defence should employ should follow the teachings of natural capitalism. One way to succeed is through the utilization of safety equipments that does not emit harmful gases when they are exposed. The town has various industries that utilizes oil and gases for their production. The common means to extinguish fires that are related to this means may be with carbon monoxide. Thus, the best means is to develop and implement ways that are used to fight fires that are associated with oil and gases. Some chemicals that are friendly to the environment that can be used are ammonium sulphate and sodium bicarbonate. Another approach is through bringing together stakeholders in reducing amount of wastes that are emitted to the environment. With the help of local authorities and other agencies, Civil Defence should encourage and teach the importance of recycling and reusing of items and materials. Legislations and laws should be put into place that ensures that wastages are reduced. Moreover, program should be developed that ensure that the wastages and garbage are grouped into groups that are disposed differently. For example, left over foods are put into one container while plastics are put into another container. Then, households will be required to dispose each group of refuse on different days of the week (Sriramesh 2003). Only through teaching and force will ensure that this approach is successful. Informing the civil on the importance and instituting fines on people who do not follow these regulations will ensure that all people realize the importance of the program. The categorizing and grouping of the waste materials will be easily allow recycling and wastage management to focus on specific waste. Moreover, charges may be applied to amounts of household wastages that will be produced per defined weight. This will ensure that most household garbage is reduced. 7.0 Objectives of EMR The aim of implementation of the EMR is to reduce the amount of wastes that are thrown into the environment and improvement of the entire environment from been exposed to pollution. At the end of the first year, the proposals that are put forward should reduce the amount of household wastes and garbage to less than 710 kg that is witnessed in USA. This will be achieved through ensuring that the households have embraced the program that has been proposed, promote recycling and reuse per the levels that are set by per capita wastage. Within the same year, the cost of disposal that will be met by various industries, factories and household should decrease by an average of 15% and the second year by 40%. Moreover, the use of carbon monoxide as a means of fire extinguishing should reduce by 20% and use of other means such has sodium bicarbonates should increase by the same margin. Utilization of plastic bags and other plastic related disposal materials should be reduced by 40% by increasing taxes by 120% on plastic related materials. This will discourage the use of plastic materials. Other gases that may be produced by the various industries and household should decrease by 20% within the first year. 8.0 Conclusion EMS is important in preserving the environment and ensuring the safety of the community. Abu Dhabi should follow appropriate steps to ensure that environment is management through reduction of pollutants. Such approach can be utilized all over the world. 9.0 Bibliography Abed, I. & Hellyer, P., 2001, United Arab Emirates: A New Perspective, New York: Trident Press Ltd. Al-Abed, I., 2006, United Arab Emirates Yearbook: Annual, New York: Trident Press Ltd. Mohamed, A., 2006, Arid Land Hydrogeology: In Search of a Solution to a Threatened Resource, New York: Taylor & Francis Publishers. British Petroleum Company, 1991, Protected Areas of the World: A Review of National Systems, London: IUCN Publishers. Beaumont, P., 1999, Drylands Environmental Management and Development: Environmental Management and Development, London: Routledge. Crichton, M., 2005, Complexity theory, Accessed 29 January 2009, http://www.crichton-official.com/speech-complexity.html EL Gawad, E., Lotfy, M., Sadooni, F., and El. Katheery, B., 2009, Assessment of the Oil Pollution Extent in the Offshore Sediments, Abu Dhabi, UAE, Accessed 29 January 2009, http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:6LzN1Fx5KG4J:www.insinet.net/ajbas/2008/617-631.pdf+oil+exploration+in+abu+dhabi+pollution&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=3 Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, 2006, 20% of Abu Dhabi’s Most Polluting Vehicles to Run on Clean Natural Gas by 2012, Accessed 29 January 2009, http://www.ead.ae/en/?T=4&ID=1505 Friedman, F., 2003, Practical Guide to Environmental management, New York: Environmental Law Institute. Fire and Safety and Fire Extinguishers, Accessed 29 January 2009, http://www.ilpi.com/safety/extinguishers.html Hanford Fire Department, All You Ever Wanted to Know About Fire Extinguishers, Accessed 29 January 2009, http://www.hanford.gov/fire/safety/extingrs.htm Jordan Environmental Management, 2008, A Coal Fired Power Plant in the UAE, Why? Accessed 29 January 2009, http://www.arabenvironment.net/archive/2008/7/631197.html Mohamed, S. & Al-Ameri, K., General Civil Defence Directorate, Accessed 29 January 2009, http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache:FPYqhSz4U84J:www.icdo.org/pdf/struc/uae-en.pdf+organisation+abu+dhabi+civil+defence&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1 Offshore Arabia, 2006, Abu Dhabi’s Most Polluting Vehicles to Run on Clean Gas, Accessed 29 January 2009, http://www.reflexpublishingme.com/offshorearabia/press/2006/pr_06_0116.html Polunin, N., & Curme, L., 1997, World Who is Who and Does what in environment & Conservation, New York: Earthscan Publishers. Sriramesh, K., 2003, The Global Public Relations Handbook: Theory, Research, and Practice, London: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. United Arab Emirates, Environment, Accessed 29 January 2009, http://www.uae.gov.ae/Government/environment.htm#ENVIRONMENTAL%20ISSUES ReVelle, J., 2002, Manufacturing Handbook of Best Practices: An Innovation, Productivity, and Quality Focus, New York: CRC Press. United Nations Environment Programme, 2007, Global Environment Outlook 4: Environment for Development, New York: UNEP Publishers. Wagner, I. & Marsalek, 2007, Aquatic Habitants in Sustainable urban Water Management, New York: Routledge. Read More