'Beware of coastal building projects'

Muscat: A top Omani official with the Ministry of Environment and Climate Affairs has advised project planners to go beyond the traditional Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), especially for projects on the coastal side of countries in the region.

"Unlike in the past we now need to consider rising sea levels, cyclones and even tsunamis before planning any seafront projects, including the ones on man-made islands," Ebrahim Ahmad Al Ajmi, Director-General of Climate Affairs, told Gulf News on Sunday.

He cautioned that the threat from the rising sea-level was not only to island countries like the Maldives but even in the Middle East.

"We have islands like Masirah and Damniyat in Oman and the fear of them getting submerged in rising sea water cannot be ruled out," he said.

Therefore, he said, all new seafront projects must apply stringent codes and long-term plans.

"It is a question of huge investments and if say after 50 to 80 years these huge infrastructures come under threat from rising sea levels or natural disaster then we must be prepared for that from now," he said.

Among the measures, he suggested was to create huge wave breakers and high enough walls to withstand sea assault in case of cyclones or tsunamis.

In reply to a question he said that he was not against creating man-made islands.

However, he added: "This must be done keeping in mind how much the sea could rise in the next century, so that the threat of these islands submerging could be avoided."

He underlined the need for proper risk management plans to be included in these seafront projects not only in Oman but also in other parts of the GCC.

Talking about Oman's other plans to mitigate the impact of global warming, Al Ajmi said the country was all set to appoint an international consultant with the help of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to assess greenhouse gas emissions.

"The two-year [2009-2010] project will include assessment by the consultants on emissions and what kind of steps to be taken to combat it," he said.

He added the consultants would identify which sector was contributing how much in greenhouse gas emissions and suggest steps for the first National Committee on Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

He urged every country in the region to raise the awareness level of the threat posed by rising sea-levels and climate change.

Assessment: Focus on environment

Last year Oman created a separate ministry for Environment and Climate Affairs. An official advised planners to go beyond the traditional EIA.

What is an EIA ?

• An assessment of the possible impact - positive or negative, that a proposed project may have on the natural environment. Its purpose is to ensure that decision-makers consider the ensuing environmental impact to decide whether to proceed with the project.
• The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines an EIA as "the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made."