Here in the UAE, we face a serious environmental problem. But it’s not about water. It’s not about energy or climate change. It's about all three. They’re interconnected. Each contributes to the other. And we’ll only be able to solve these problems by tackling all of them together.
Let's start with water. Only two countries consume more than we do: The USA and Canada. They have larger populations but they also have vast resources of free flowing water.
We have virtually none.
We have water below ground, but we’re extracting it faster than it can be replenished. The water table has shrunk by over one metre in 20 years*.
Yet our need for water is virtually limitless. In 2005, we consumed about 4,180 Mm3*, for agriculture, domestic consumption, industry and landscaping.
For many uses, we rely on de-salinated and treated waste water, but production capacity is only 1,504 Mm3* per year. So feeding the demand is a constant challenge.
And of course, it requires energy to produce this water, so as well as being the world’s third highest water consumer, we're the world’s fifth highest energy consumer.
We have relatively large oil and gas reserves. They're the foundation of the UAE's wealth, but they're not unlimited. Even if they were, we couldn't convert them into usable energy fast enough to satisfy demand.
The harsh fact is, we simply can’t continue at the current rate. If we do, there WILL be shortages. Imagine just one day in the UAE with no water, no power. If we don’t address the problem, that day is coming.
The last part of the problem is climate change; slightly longer term, but no less serious.
By burning energy, we emit greenhouse gases. Mainly CO2. In fact, 95% of the CO2 we emit is caused by the process of converting fossil fuels into energy*.
Trapped in the atmosphere, these gases prevent the earth from cooling. Slowly but surely, temperatures are rising. By 2050, they're projected to be 1.6ºC to 2.9ºC warmer than in 1990, and from 2.3ºC to 5.9ºC warmer by 2100*. So an already hot climate is getting even hotter.
The global sea level could rise by anything from 9 to 88 cm in the next 50 years. If it rises just 1 more metre, the coastal cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai would disappear under water.
And it wouldn't need to rise by anything like that amount before disaster would ensue for our infrastructure, our marine life and wildlife, our health…and, of course, our businesses.
Clearly, no business can survive without energy and water. But we have to make genuine efforts to use less, and make that effort a priority.
The UAE government is already taking major steps towards sustainability. It's working hard to raise awareness, forming partnerships with innovators and freely sharing information.
It's also introducing initiatives like LEED certification and fostering new ideas like high efficiency district cooling systems, rooftop solar systems, more efficient electric motors, solar powered desalinisation plants and landfill gas capture.
But it can’t work in isolation. As a business, you must get involved. You must play your part. It's no longer a matter of conscience, or choice.
It's a matter of survival.
*Source: The United Arab Emirates Initial National Communication to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Ministry of Energy, United Arab Emirates.
