The Infectivity of the Environment in Abu Dhabi - Case Study Example

Professor’s Name] [Course Title] [Date] Environment Management Theory Introduction “Thank God men cannot fly, and lay waste the sky as well as the earth.”  (Thoreau. H) It is the balance of natural elements in the world around us that lends it the beauty and the harmony that is called nature. Nature operates through a balance, through the oft explained water cycle or hydrogen cycle or the nitrogen cycle. Through naturally planned cycles, the ratios of all elements remain same and while the presence of human population may have created a simple disturbance in the balance, it is the unimpeded and unchecked addition of man-made wastage and rubbish that has created the current situation. Environmentally it is a chaos that we live in today and the continuously aggravating environmental situation is further laying waste the grounds and the waters of the earth. The infectivity of the environment and the normal elements by the introduction or the stimulation of the chemicals and other grievous elements are regarded as pollution. In an identical way, the induction of great noise levels, smoke and the chemicals in the air worsen atmospheric pollution; the induction of the chemicals and the wasting in water soils water and so on. Due to the unsurpassed excavation of earth sources, minerals and oils, the environment and atmosphere are also declining at a continuous rate. Despite the fact that the use of these natural resources had its effects on nature and exerted some effects of increasing the pollution through out time, it was mainly after the atomic explosion that the problem of the pollution aggravation came into a glaring focus. The events like the large smoked out fog of 1952, in London also drew the attention of the people to the scenario of the greenhouse gases to rise. With the effect growing of pollution on the climate and with the total warming reality in rise carries out and becoming, it becomes very essential to make steady and stable efforts in this respect and to limit the effects before they shorten further the life from the planet ground something needs to be done for sustainable development. The risks of pollution strongly affect the developed countries and the sectors in populated mass. The United Arab Emirates has a population rate that is continuously on the rise since the area is rich with jobs and opportunities. This also attracts investment that in turn gives rise to constructions and excavations of earth reservoirs. With investments by the foreign countries, there is also the problem of increasing traffic population and the increasing interference of foreign countries. The traffic and the growing number of gas and oil refineries around the area has strongly affected the environmental conditions of Abu Dhabi. The conception of a plan for the controlling of this continuously aggravating situation is important because the situation is still under control and can be handled through careful deliberation. Within the scope of the governmental budgets, energy-saving trends should be taken up country wide. Likewise, excavations into oil wells should be decreased and done so that the long term future is also secured in addition to the traffic planning and other steps that can be taken after considering the agency through which this could be balanced. Aggravating Environmental Conditions of Abu Dhabi To be fraction of the zone that is rich in oil of the Emirates, Abu Dhabi is one of the sectors where the population developed with an astonishing swiftness and has affected the increase in pollution enormously. Oil wells, with the ever-increasing traffic and the rise of factories, are the continuous source of the aggravating pollution. Added to the oil wells that are releasing smoke, gases and waste material is the fact that the government has been making constant efforts to increase the crop yields of the Emirates. It is obvious that it is a very hard job since most of the land is not fertile and is in fact sandy. While the government has successfully increased the number and has done this rightfully so, to increase job availability as well as to achieve self-sufficiency, these are utterly important. By sufficient planning and strategy the government has been able to increase farms so that the 9,000 farms in 1996 have increased to about 24,000 private farms in 2002. However, as has been mentioned in a report, the scarcity of water is an increasing threat to sustainability of environmental health. “At present there is no single authority responsible for managing the Water Resources of the Emirate and no Government Water Resources plan exists. Water Resources are extremely scarce in the Emirate and their protection and conservation are vital for long term socio-economic development and for the sustainability of the environment generally.” (Inception report, June 2003) While efforts in regards of increasing oil sources will increase the fact remains that the mangroves around Abu Dhabi, as well as the wild life in general will suffer heavily due to the unavailability of fresh water. The report also further acknowledges that “Continued development of new farms, agriculture projects and Forestry Plantations, utilising shallow groundwater resources in the Aeolian Sand Aquifer, will place further local stress on this resource.” (Ibid.) This comes at a time when Abu Dhabi’s organic farms are gaining world-wide recognition. “The first internationally recognized organic farm in Abu Dhabi has been certified to European standards. “The Food and Agriculture Organisation supervised the certification process carried out by renowned European certification centre, which falls under the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements. . . . The produce will be sold in Abu Dhabi to begin with and will be available countrywide later.” (Landais, 2008) Companies such as Abu Dhabi Marine Operating Company (ADMA – OPCO), and many others have come into Abu Dhabi for the purpose of investments in the field. Naturally the off-shore oil exploration is adding to the hazards in the area. Added to that are the unnatural calamities as under, for which also, only such companies can be blamed: “An oil spill off Al Aqah, near Dibba, has sparked concern for wildlife and beach-goers alike. “Authorities suspect the spill was a deliberate act by a passing oil tanker or cargo ship as it cleaned up its petrol tank for refuelling. “Although the practice is a clear breach of international maritime and environmental laws, similar illegal acts take place on a regular basis on the East Coast.” (Ali, 2008) While the oil-spills and oil-excavations seem to be one strong point of environmental problems, these are not the only ones. Air pollution is also a huge problem to be reckoned with. “The UAE has seen tremendous growth in road traffic during the last ten years resulting in a significant increase in vehicular air pollution.  In the UAE's major cities such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai, vehicle emissions are currently considered as one of the greatest contributors to urban air pollution. . . . People living and working in the lower parts of a building located along a major street may be subjected to higher concentrations of air pollutants particularly at certain times of the day where traffic is high.” (Lansari, 2007) These all are glaring pointers towards the problems of environment that are immediately facing Abu Dhabi and also the fact that things need to be speeded up in this regard so as to bring a quick change. Environmental Management System: Since the problem is much obvious and omnipotent, that is, it is affecting all facets of public life, government has been taking steps to curb the problems. The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, the (EAD) is taking great steps forward in this regard. Through their Masdar City project that they undertook in collaboration with the collaboration of the WWF was a wonderful work that managed to provide the alternate to the ordinary living styles of today. The two organizations hoped to prove that “We hope that Masdar City will prove that sustainable living can be affordable and attractive in all aspects of human living ­– from businesses and manufacturing facilities to universities and private homes.” (WWF, January 14, 2008) In this sense, Dr Sultan Ali Jaber, CEO of Masdar, said: “We are creating a city where residents and commuters will live the highest quality of life with the lowest environmental footprint. Masdar City will become the world’s hub for future energy. By taking sustainable development and living to a new level, it will lead the world in understanding how all future cities should be built.” While this is a remarkable achievement of the EAD, it has also helped in mobilizing the youth and creating public awareness. “Abu Dhabi: More than 150 volunteers will team up this Saturday to clean up Al Silaa's Fishermen's Port. “Organised by the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi (EAD), the campaign is part of EAD's larger Marine Debris Awareness Campaign, which was launched earlier this month to raise public awareness on the negative impact of marine debris on public health as well as marine flora and fauna. “During the clean-up, which will begin at 10am and continue until noon, Al Silaa's Fishermen's Port will be cleared of marine debris and litter which otherwise would end up in the sea harming the UAE's fragile biodiversity, affecting swimmers and also fishermen's livelihoods. “These clean-up campaigns are being accompanied by comprehensive awareness and education campaigns covering a wide spectrum of the population including fishermen.” (Staff Report, 2008) This shows that mobilization in this regard can be undertaken through various means. The Civil Defence of Abu Dhabi does not have the dealing with the environmental issues within its mandate however, as is obvious from the recent events, the Agency is working in this field as well. In the increasing farm fires that are affecting the farms around the city heavily and massively, it has been the Agency that has come to the rescue and helped the farmers and saved the farms from thorough devastation. The Civil Defence Agency of Abu Dhabi is also the best agency in this regard since it is camped and has offices al over the city and can easily have access to all the areas that need to be tackled and checked. For bringing long lasting environmental sustainability, the Agency can work wonders through its diverse goals and mandates. As has been proven by the EAD, the massive problem of environmental deterioration can be tackled thoroughly through volunteers even. The government of Abu Dhabi needs to legislate and to devise a complete and comprehensive role for the Agency. While the areas and actions might be under the access of Agency, the fact remains that they will not be able to work without proper power and this can only be bestowed on them through proper legislation. Also through their transports and vehicles, they will have access to all the far and wide locations and just like they have taken up the responsibility of increasing farm fires, they will be able to handle the Environmental situation. While the EAD is already working in collaboration with international organizations such as WWF, it will not be a problem for the government or the Civil Defence to bring the level of eco health up to the international standards. A complete package that covers all the various facets of sustaining the ecosystem can be developed only though a close collaboration between the EAD, the Agency and the government. Since the EAD is already working in this regard, it should also be made sure that the jurisdictions of both organizations do not cross each other’s limits. Bibliography: Terrestrial Environment Research Centre, Assessment of the Water Situation in the Western Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. June, 2003. Ali, Faud. Hotels seek strict action on oil spill. The Nation: Gulf News. February 21, 2008. Azzedine, Lansari. Research Incentive Fund Projects: Modeling Air Pollution. 2007. Landais, Emmanuelle. Abu Dhabi organic farm wins global recognition. The Nation: Gulf News < http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Environment/10191203.html> WWF, Abu Dhabi unveil plans for sustainable city. http://www.panda.org/index.cfm?uNewsID=121361 13 Jan 2008 Staff Report, More than 150 volunteers to help in port clean-up. February 21, 2008. Read More