UAE | Environment
Environment challenges facing Arab countries on the rise, warns report
The Arab Environment Future Challenges Report, presented by the Arab Forum for Environmental Development (AFED) in a ceremony on Thursday, warned that the challenges facing Arab countries, especially fresh water scarcity, desertification, air quality and marine pollution, will grow because of climate change.
- Staff Report
- Published: 14:59 May 7, 2009
Abu Dhabi: The Arab Environment Future Challenges Report, presented by the Arab Forum for Environmental Development (AFED) in a ceremony on Thursday, warned that the challenges facing Arab countries, especially fresh water scarcity, desertification, air quality and marine pollution, will grow because of climate change.
The report, compiled by independent experts, estimated that in the Arab region as a whole, the cost of environmental degradation is estimated at five per cent of gross domestic product (GDP). The report also highlights that the governments of the region have failed in addressing these mounting economic costs with clear and effective policies.
However, the report praised the environmental work carried out in Abu Dhabi, describing the Abu Dhabi Emirate Environment Strategy 2009-2013, adopted by the emirate, as a "model" and called on Arab countries to follow this model. The report also praised the clean energy initiative 'Masdar', which was launched by Abu Dhabi Government.
The ceremony, which was held under the patronage of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), was organised jointly by EAD and AFED.
Najib Sa'ab, AFED's Secretary General, presented a summary of the Arab Environment Future Challenges Report. He said this policy-oriented report is designed to evaluate the progress made towards the realization of sustainable development goals and a good environmental quality.
It also examines the Arab contribution to global environmental endeavours.
Share this article
More from UAE Environment
More from UAE
Popular in UAE
-
Gallery
Your Pictures
XPRESS brings you a selection of the best reader pictures
-
Money
Managing with less
How to manage with less than Dh3,000 to spend every month
-
Your Say
Fun encounters
What was the craziest way in which you made a friend?
Latest news
- Reef project to protect ecosystem
- Experimental phase of street naming project to end soon
- Report: Bright outlook for media in region
- 25-year term upheld for pair convicted of murder
- RAK ready to host half marathon
- Police search for parents who abandoned babies
- Dubai puts new drug regulations in place
- Why are electric wires exposed?
- No suspect product in Abu Dhabi
- Photography contest winners announced
- Man claims fiancee hid beard under niqab
- Al Sabah's message to Khalifa
- Couple gets reduced jail term after leniency plea
- UAE-Turkmenistan ties get big boost
- New initiative to help asthma patients
Community Reports
-
Why are electric wires exposed?
Unattended cables on busy road in Satwa pose a safety risk to any unsuspecting passers-by — especially children
-
School pupils raise funds for Haiti
To end the fundraising week, an event was hosted on January 28 at the school's campus in Dubai Festival City
-
Huge holes in conservation effort
One feels silly switching off lights in a room when leaving it as rampant wastage of energy takes place in shops across Dubai
-
Messages on wall reflect state of mind
Home is a child's first school and a mother is the first teacher
