Arab countries suffering effects of air pollution

Dubai: Arab governments are forced to spend more than Dh18 billion to fight health problems that result from emissions from vehicles, Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahad, Minister of Environment and Water said on Tuesday.

He was speaking at the inaugural session of the EnviroCities 2008 International Conference, jointly organised by Dubai Municipality and the Environment Centre for Arab Towns in cooperation with the Harvard School of Public Health.

The three-day conference is being held under the title "Sources and Health Effects of Air Pollution: Knowledge to Practice" at Al Bustan Rotana Hotel.

Over 20 researchers, scientists and policy makers from around the world are in the city to lecture on the importance of creating a healthy environment.

Quoting a report titled "Arab Environment: Future Challenges," issued recently by the Arab Environment and Development Forum, the minister said the Arab countries suffered immensely from the impacts of both primary and secondary air pollutants that led to an increase in respiratory diseases, skin diseases and eye-infections.

"Its impact has not just been limited to human health alone, but it has also affected agricultural lands, forests, water channels, and marine environment.

"Some of the lakes in our countries have turned into acid quagmires and been rendered unlivable due to high pollution levels. The economy has also suffered a lot in the shape of a gradual destruction in infrastructure, electrical installations and iron structures," said Bin Fahad.

Addressing a gathering of over 200 people, Bin Fahad stated that solving the country's environmental problems is one of the top priorities of the government as the country progresses at an unprecedented rate.

Strategies

"The concerned authorities are taking steps necessary to reduce the negative impact of air pollution by introducing environmental legislations that will limit CO2 emissions. We are very closely monitoring the gas emissions in the industrial sector," he said.

"Our strategies include widening the road network, encouraging the use of public transport, introducing new modes of transportation systems, replacing fuel with unleaded gasoline and low carbon diesel. Furthermore, we have started using natural gas on a trail bases as well," said the minister.

He noted that that according to national and international reports on air pollution, while the developed world spends nearly two per cent of their GDP for repairing the impact of air pollution while the developing world spends more than five per cent of its GDP to fight these problems.

This cost is calculated in the form of deaths, chronic diseases, medical care and a decrease in production.

Develop laws

The risks from growing pollution levels in the UAE, he added, underscore the need to develop the existing laws, standards and specifications for controlling air pollution in the country in order to face this threat.

He said that the current developments in the environmental degradation has prompted the concerned authorities to use modern techniques in the monitoring, controlling and managing air pollution, and conduct more in-depth researches and studies to identify the health, social and economic impact of air pollution so that decision makers can rely on them for the future plans.

Also speaking on the occasion, Hussain Nasser Lootah, Acting Director General of Dubai Municipality, said air pollution has become one of the most serious issues of the modern era as it affects the human health and his production capacity.

He noted that the World Health Organisation has estimated in a report in 2000 that the number of deaths due to air pollution-related diseases as three million every year.