The effect of increased energy consumption for water supply results in increased carbon emissions, thus contributing to climate change and global warming. Most of the energy produced in the UAE is derived from burning fossil fuels. The issue of energy consumption is already being addressed by the UAE government with a focus on renewable energy. Through the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the government has already plans to sieve any further development of water desalination plants. By 2030, the UAE population is expected to triple, thus increased water usage.
Nonetheless, the country will continue to depend on its water desalination plants. This is because its current dependence on ground water has resulted in almost total depletion of the vital resource. To sustain its future generation, the UAE government has focused on improving water conservancy through recycling. Additionally, new policies have been issues to enable increased energy and water conservation. One of the key projects undertaken by the government and other stakeholders is the Masdar City that focuses on developing a city that will be run by renewable energy such as solar and wind energy.
Such a project is expected to illustrate that a city can depend on renewable energy for increased sustainability. According to Heroes of the UAE, (2015) an estimated 90% of carbon dioxide emitted in the UAE is caused by burning fossil fuels to create energy. Transportation is the second highest carbon emitting industry in the UAE. According to Radan (2015), 22% of carbon dioxide emissions in the UAE were from the transport sector. The UAE has about 1.5 million people and about 60% of the population owns a car.
Moreover, the country has also invested hugely in the tourism industry with about 3 million tourists annually. This has resulted to increased air pollution from cars. Being a wealthy country, most of its citizens have the income to purchase cars with high fuel consumption. The result of increased car pollution is an increase in carbon dioxide emissions and global warming. Global warming occurs when carbon dioxide is emitted from cars, which destroys the ozone layer that protects harmful rays from reaching the earth’s atmosphere.
The destruction of the ozone layer in turn leads to high atmospheric temperatures that may lead to rise in the sea level. Additionally, car pollution is also a major contributor to health issues on the individual level. Nonetheless, the government has undertaken numerous steps to reduce car pollution. According to Sustainable Square, (2013), The UAE has invested in clean energy such as energy and environmentally efficient fuel. The fuel used in public transportation such as buses produces reduced sulphur waste compared to fuels used in commercial activities.
Additionally, the UAE government has also developed a metro transportation system that uses electricity rather than fossil fuels. Moreover, the UAE has also increased infrastructure to support the use and movement of electric cars especially in Dubai. Policies have also been developed to help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide produced by cars. Among the main policies is to have all government cars become electric or hybrid cars to ensure increased reduction in carbon footprints. The UAE is also introducing alternative fuels such as natural gas to power car engines (Sustainable Square, 2013).
These measures are all geared towards reducing the air and environmental pollution caused by cars and other transport systems. Another major root cause for the issues of sustainability in the UAE is the rapid growth and lifestyle of the country. Over the last decade, the UAE has developed at an alarming rate with increased focus in construction, financial sector, and tourism. The development of luxury hotels and shopping malls has turned Dubai into one of the world’s largest cities and tourist destinations.
According to Alderman, (2010) growth and urbanization in Dubai was so rapid that the government or businesses did not take the environment into consideration.
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