The main source of GHG in the UAE

The UAE is one of the major sources of petroleum in the world. Petroleum mining can be hazardous for the environment if proper cautionary measures are not taken, and extracting it from its crude form may release poisonous compounds like sulfides and oxides of nitrogen into the air. However, it is the burning of petroleum that releases CO2, one of the main greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

A not-so-cool future!

Climate change is already being felt in the Gulf region. The region has become hotter over the past 50 years, and rainfall patterns are changing. This will lead to more extreme weather events and heat stress on our population.

Climate change and our ecosystems

Despite the hot and humid summer climate in the UAE, it is home to about 800 species of plants. And even though most of the UAE is a sandy desert, it has a wide range of sparse seasonal vegetation.

Now, even though they are used to surviving in hot and arid climates, almost all the species of plants found in the UAE will face the harmful impacts of rising temperatures and changing patterns of rainfall.

Did you know: The Abu Dhabi Emirate includes part of the world’s largest sand desert – the Rub’ al Khali. It is 1000 km long and 500 km wide. The sand is reddish in colour due to the presence of feldspar.