United Arab Emirates Environment Stats
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the countries that immediately adopted a concrete strategy to reduce ecological footprint imprints. The government is also contemplating on possible solutions to deal with significant environmental problems confronting the UAE.
In 2010, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) rated the Emirates as number one in the whole world with the largest ecological footprint. This is a measure of a country’s sustainability comparing the use of natural resources for each person per capita. This is expressed by a unit of bio-productive land also known as the global hectare. As a result, a committee of scientists was formed to study exhaustively the methods of energy consumption in the country and discover possible solutions. Thus, the UAE became only the third country globally to develop the “Ecological Footprint Initiative” next to Switzerland and Japan. Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water declared that the footprint per person in the country has gone down from 9.5 to 8.4 in 2012.
Residential homes accounted for more than three-quarters of the UAE’s carbon footprint. In 2013, modifications were made to enhance the standard of lighting equipment used in UAE homes. The government installed water and electricity meters in the homes of residents so people can change their behaviour towards the environment and think carefully about overuse. Dubai, the biggest city in the UAE, is acknowledged as one of the most progressive urban hubs in the whole world. However, speedy urbanization caused environmental problems due to the fact that numerous isolated buildings rely on fossil energy fuels. Another area of concern is water shortage. Dubai does not get too much rainfall but is ranked among the top three countries worldwide with high water consumption. The other two are the United States and Canada. The bottom line is for the UAE government to concentrate on sustainability and global warming.
Definitions
- CO2 Emissions per 1000: CO2: Total Emissions (excluding land-use) Units: thousand metric tonnes of carbon dioxide. Figures expressed per thousand population for the same year.
- Climate change > CO2 emissions from electricity and heat production, total > Million metric tons: CO2 emissions from electricity and heat production, total (million metric tons). CO2 emissions from electricity and heat production is the sum of three IEA categories of CO2 emissions: (1) Main Activity Producer Electricity and Heat which contains the sum of emissions from main activity producer electricity generation, combined heat and power generation and heat plants. Main activity producers (formerly known as public utilities) are defined as those undertakings whose primary activity is to supply the public. They may be publicly or privately owned. This corresponds to IPCC Source/Sink Category 1 A 1 a. For the CO2 emissions from fuel combustion (summary) file, emissions from own on-site use of fuel in power plants (EPOWERPLT) are also included. (2) Unallocated Autoproducers which contains the emissions from the generation of electricity and/or heat by autoproducers. Autoproducers are defined as undertakings that generate electricity and/or heat, wholly or partly for their own use as an activity which supports their primary activity. They may be privately or publicly owned. In the 1996 IPCC Guidelines, these emissions would normally be distributed between industry, transport and "other" sectors. (3) Other Energy Industries contains emissions from fuel combusted in petroleum refineries, for the manufacture of solid fuels, coal mining, oil and gas extraction and other energy-producing industries. This corresponds to the IPCC Source/Sink Categories 1 A 1 b and 1 A 1 c. According to the 1996 IPCC Guidelines, emissions from coke inputs to blast furnaces can either be counted here or in the Industrial Processes source/sink category. Within detailed sectoral calculations, certain non-energy processes can be distinguished. In the reduction of iron in a blast furnace through the combustion of coke, the primary purpose of the coke oxidation is to produce pig iron and the emissions can be considered as an industrial process. Care must be taken not to double count these emissions in both Energy and Industrial Processes. In the IEA estimations, these emissions have been included in this category.
- Climate change > CO2 emissions from electricity and heat production, total > Million metric tons per million: CO2 emissions from electricity and heat production, total (million metric tons). CO2 emissions from electricity and heat production is the sum of three IEA categories of CO2 emissions: (1) Main Activity Producer Electricity and Heat which contains the sum of emissions from main activity producer electricity generation, combined heat and power generation and heat plants. Main activity producers (formerly known as public utilities) are defined as those undertakings whose primary activity is to supply the public. They may be publicly or privately owned. This corresponds to IPCC Source/Sink Category 1 A 1 a. For the CO2 emissions from fuel combustion (summary) file, emissions from own on-site use of fuel in power plants (EPOWERPLT) are also included. (2) Unallocated Autoproducers which contains the emissions from the generation of electricity and/or heat by autoproducers. Autoproducers are defined as undertakings that generate electricity and/or heat, wholly or partly for their own use as an activity which supports their primary activity. They may be privately or publicly owned. In the 1996 IPCC Guidelines, these emissions would normally be distributed between industry, transport and "other" sectors. (3) Other Energy Industries contains emissions from fuel combusted in petroleum refineries, for the manufacture of solid fuels, coal mining, oil and gas extraction and other energy-producing industries. This corresponds to the IPCC Source/Sink Categories 1 A 1 b and 1 A 1 c. According to the 1996 IPCC Guidelines, emissions from coke inputs to blast furnaces can either be counted here or in the Industrial Processes source/sink category. Within detailed sectoral calculations, certain non-energy processes can be distinguished. In the reduction of iron in a blast furnace through the combustion of coke, the primary purpose of the coke oxidation is to produce pig iron and the emissions can be considered as an industrial process. Care must be taken not to double count these emissions in both Energy and Industrial Processes. In the IEA estimations, these emissions have been included in this category. Figures expressed per million population for the same year.
- Coral reefs > Area > Per $ GDP: Reef areas have been rounded to the nearest 10 sq km, while for those countries with small areas of coral reefs, the terms less than 100, less than 50 and less than 10 sq km have been used. There are 80 countries and geographical locations with coral ree Per $ GDP figures expressed per $1 million of Gross Domestic Product.
- Current issues: This entry lists the most pressing and important environmental problems. The following terms and abbreviations are used throughout the entry:
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Ecological footprint:
Ecological footprint per capita
Units: Hectares per Person -
Marine fish catch:
Total marine fish catch
Units: Metric Tons - Pollution perceptions > Air pollution: Air Pollution. Based on 0-50 contributions for Albania, Algeria, Argentina and 86 more countries and over 100 contributions for Australia, Canada, China and 9 more countries and 50-100 contributions for Brazil, Bulgaria, Greece and 12 more countries. The surveys were conducted by numbeo.com from January, 2011 to February, 2014. See this sample survey for the United States, respondents were asked "How satisfied are you with the quality of air in this city?". The higher the value, the more survey respondents believe it is high in their country.
- Pollution perceptions > Air quality: Air quality. Based on 0-50 contributions for Albania, Algeria, Argentina and 86 more countries and over 100 contributions for Australia, Canada, China and 9 more countries and 50-100 contributions for Brazil, Bulgaria, Greece and 12 more countries. The surveys were conducted by numbeo.com from January, 2011 to February, 2014. See this sample survey for the United States, respondents were asked "How satisfied are you with the quality of air in this city?". The higher the value, the more survey respondents believe it is high in their country.
- Pollution perceptions > Clean water: Water Quality. Based on 0-50 contributions for Albania, Algeria, Argentina and 86 more countries and over 100 contributions for Australia, Canada, China and 9 more countries and 50-100 contributions for Brazil, Bulgaria, Greece and 12 more countries. The surveys were conducted by numbeo.com from January, 2011 to February, 2014. See this sample survey for the United States, respondents were asked "Are you concerned with the water pollution in this city?". The higher the value, the more survey respondents believe it is high in their country.
- Pollution perceptions > Drinking water pollution: Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility. Based on 0-50 contributions for Albania, Algeria, Argentina and 86 more countries and over 100 contributions for Australia, Canada, China and 9 more countries and 50-100 contributions for Brazil, Bulgaria, Greece and 12 more countries. The surveys were conducted by numbeo.com from January, 2011 to February, 2014. See this sample survey for the United States, respondents were asked "How do you find quality and the accessibility of drinking water?". The higher the value, the more survey respondents believe it is high in their country.
- Pollution perceptions > Water pollution: Water Pollution. Based on 0-50 contributions for Albania, Algeria, Argentina and 86 more countries and over 100 contributions for Australia, Canada, China and 9 more countries and 50-100 contributions for Brazil, Bulgaria, Greece and 12 more countries. The surveys were conducted by numbeo.com from January, 2011 to February, 2014. See this sample survey for the United States, respondents were asked "Are you concerned with the water pollution in this city?". The higher the value, the more survey respondents believe it is high in their country.
- Proportion of land area under protection: Terrestrial areas protected to total surface area, percentage.
- Transport CO2 emission index: CO2 Emission Index is an estimation of CO2 consumption due to traffic time. Measurement unit is grams for the return trip. To calculate an average estimation of emission in grams for one way commute to work, divide this value with 2.
SOURCES: World Resources Institute. 2003. Carbon Emissions from energy use and cement manufacturing, 1850 to 2000. Available on-line through the Climate Analysis Indicators Tool (CAIT) at Washington, DC: World Resources Institute. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; International Energy Agency; International Energy Agency. Population figures from World Bank: (1) United Nations Population Division. World Population Prospects, (2) United Nations Statistical Division. Population and Vital Statistics Report (various years), (3) Census reports and other statistical publications from national statistical offices, (4) Eurostat: Demographic Statistics, (5) Secretariat of the Pacific Community: Statistics and Demography Programme, and (6) U.S. Census Bureau: International Database.; World Atlas of Coral Reefs accessible via United Nations Environment Program; CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 28 March 2011; World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Living Planet Report 2000, Gland, Switzerland: 2000, and Redefining Progress.; FAOSTAT on-line database; pollution; United Nations Statistics Division. Source tables; All CIA World Factbooks 18 December 2003 to 18 December 2008; traffic
Citation
United Arab Emirates Environment Profiles (Subcategories)
Adjusted savings 11 | Freshwater 12 |
Biodiversity 7 | Pollution 5 |
Biodiversity and protected areas 4 | Pollution perceptions 17 |
Climate change 25 | Sanitation 3 |
CO2 Emissions 4 | Waste 4 |
Emissions 13 | Water 14 |
Endangered species 4 | Water pollution 8 |
Forest area 4 |
6
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the countries that immediately adopted a concrete strategy to reduce ecological footprint imprints. The government is also contemplating on possible solutions to deal with significant environmental problems confronting the UAE.
In 2010, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) rated the Emirates as number one in the whole world with the largest ecological footprint. This is a measure of a country’s sustainability comparing the use of natural resources for each person per capita. This is expressed by a unit of bio-productive land also known as the global hectare. As a result, a committee of scientists was formed to study exhaustively the methods of energy consumption in the country and discover possible solutions. Thus, the UAE became only the third country globally to develop the “Ecological Footprint Initiative” next to Switzerland and Japan. Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water declared that the footprint per person in the country has gone down from 9.5 to 8.4 in 2012.
Residential homes accounted for more than three-quarters of the UAE’s carbon footprint. In 2013, modifications were made to enhance the standard of lighting equipment used in UAE homes. The government installed water and electricity meters in the homes of residents so people can change their behaviour towards the environment and think carefully about overuse. Dubai, the biggest city in the UAE, is acknowledged as one of the most progressive urban hubs in the whole world. However, speedy urbanization caused environmental problems due to the fact that numerous isolated buildings rely on fossil energy fuels. Another area of concern is water shortage. Dubai does not get too much rainfall but is ranked among the top three countries worldwide with high water consumption. The other two are the United States and Canada. The bottom line is for the UAE government to concentrate on sustainability and global warming.