Combating Climate Change in Saudi Arabia - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages Global warming caused by the emission of carbon dioxide from using fossil fuels increases the temperature of the earth. This continuing trend over the period will not only alter the weather patterns but also affects the lives of animals and plants and the ecological system on the planet. Deforestation increases global warming further by destroying the natural equilibrium existing on the planet. Middle-east countries are the major sources of fuel oil to the world. The industrial development in these countries and rise in income levels of the people has increased the emission of greenhouse gases significantly during the recent years. Saudi Arabia, the largest country with more population in this region, is a leading exporter of oil. While the oil-exporting countries have the right to exploit natural resources, the world community expects them to contribute significantly to combating global warming.

The Saudi Arabian government is headed by the King who is helped by the Council of Ministers. The government is assisted by a legislative body, Consultative Council. The country is divided into thirteen provinces headed by the governors. The judicial system in the country is based on Islamic law. “In October 2003, the cabinet approved procedures for the election of half of the members of the municipal councils, as a start towards greater participation of the citizens in the governing of their country.” General Environmental Law and Rules for Implementation of the government envisages precautions, measures, methods and environmental standards to be adopted in relation to environmental protection  along with the General Environmental Regulations and Rules for implementation in the country.

Casey reported, “The Middle East and North Africa will be especially hard hit by climate change in the coming decades, the World Bank said in a report Wednesday, saying the region will see less rainfall, more recording-breaking temperatures, and rising sea levels.” The crop failures in middle-east countries will affect the population’s income since they are already dependent on imports for food.  In the United Nations climate negotiations held in Doha, Qatar delegates from different middle-east countries discussed cutting emissions “to ensure that global temperatures don't rise more than 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) over what they were in preindustrial times”.

The impact of increase in temperatures is believed to cause cyclones, floods and rising sea levels in the middle-east countries. “An increasing level of awareness is building among all stakeholders in the MENA [The Middle East and North Africa] region on the significance of climate change, reflecting both the global increase in awareness of the phenomenon, as well as mounting concerns in the region about increasingly frequent droughts and a looming water supply shortage.” The World Bank sponsored project in Yemen “will emphasize the conservation of agrobiodiversity and developing a range of coping mechanisms using predictive climate modeling” (ibid). High temperatures have decreased labor productivity in several sectors such as construction, agriculture, and infrastructure. It can be predicted that climate change would cause additional heat-related deaths and illness in the region via increased exposure to heat waves” (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 248). Climate changes have already altered the pattern of energy consumption in these countries due to the intensity in the use of air-conditioners, water desalination, pumping of water from underground, and increased dependence on energy for agricultural needs. This consumption pattern results in vicious circle as it will increase emission of greenhouse gas further and affect climate. Use of fossil fuels also involves environmental hazards.

Minimization of the adverse impacts of greenhouse gas emissions is very important for a sustainable growth and development of this region in the long run. Development of solar technology, increasing energy efficiency of the industrial processes, appropriate planning for use of land to prevent degradation, and reforms in the agricultural sector to preserve the ecological system are very important for mitigating the pressure on climate. Water scarcity in the region could be aggravated further due to climate change in the coming decades, if situation remains unchecked.

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