Due to the industrial state of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Gulf, there are several issues

that arise with regards to the environment locally. First of all, since nearly a third of the U.A.E’s
revenue is generated from oil and subsequent products, the industry is highly dependent on refineries
and factories setup throughout the country (Ministry of Economy , 2016). This reliance on oil has led
to a large carbon footprint and one of the highest carbon emissions per capita (The Guardian, 2009).
Carbon Dioxide is known to be a Greenhouse gas and causes the global temperature to rise and the
effect can be felt strongly here. Temperatures have gone up in recent years which one of the hottest
summers in the nation’s recorded history currently being experienced. Furthermore, the emissions
produced contribute to smog and pollution that decrease the overall quality of air as well as
contaminating the ocean. Not only are the direct effects of industry produced pollution a problem, but
also the indirect consequences. Workers and the general public’s health are at risk from conditions
such as lung cancer and emphysema, which reflect upon greater need for medical care thus increasing
the spending on health care and decreasing the disposable income which damages the economy.
Secondly, household emissions form a majority of the ecological footprint left by the country. This is
not surprising considering the various issues citizens are faced with in day to day life. Nearly every
resident household owns atleast one car on average due to the fact that public transport is still not as
accessible in comparison to European countries although steps are being taken. It is a common sight to
see fuel guzzling 4x4’s or super cars driving on the roads without much thought on their impact on
their environment. This high number of cars leads to an immense amount of emissions being released
daily as well as congesting the roads and highways. Furthermore, as previously discussed, the
temperature in the Middle East is usually very hot which leads to a high use of A/C’s in houses, cars,
malls, etc. Ironically, this disproportional A/C use has contributed to increasing harmful emissions
which further damage the environment, and in turn make it even hotter. Thirdly, recycling has not yet
become part of the culture here which leads to litter, pollution, landfills, and misuse of resources.
Although recycling bins can be seen sometimes in cities, it is uncommon to see the general public
abiding by it, and instead there is a large amount of waste, garbage, and plastic being thrown away.
Resources are used extravagantly especially in the case of food despite the fact that most of it gone to
waste and contributes to an unhealthy lifestyle leading to the 16th Highest Diabetes rates in the country
which goes back to the issue of health costs (World Health Organization, 2016). A prime case to
follow would be Scandinavian countries. Industrial emissions are strictly regulated and kept in control
while offenders are heavily taxed/fined for their actions, although unethical companies find loopholes
in some situations to avoid this problem. Furthermore, recycling is part of day to day life with bins
being put out for items such as plastic or glass rather than simply disposing it. The benefits of this are
that less emissions are produced since they are not left to biodegrade over hundreds of years, but
instead they are used to produce power as well as items such as recycled glass, bottles, furniture,
books, etc. Companies have an inherent need to be ethical and limit their emissions but the
government also forces them to follow these limits through carbon tax regimes. On the other hand, the
U.A.E does not have any such system set in place and so companies do not feel the need to protects
the environment and rather focus on profits. The impact of these contributing factors can be felt on
both a regional and global scale. The increase in Greenhouse gas emissions has lead to an increase in
global temperature and CO₂ levels causing issues such as the Polar ice caps melting, acid rains, smog,
and natural habitats being lost. Countries close to the sea level such as Bangladesh or the Maldives are
already facing this first hand as land is being submerged due to the high level of water. One of the first
steps that should be taken in order to decrease these emissions is to enforce a carbon tax upon
industries and toughen the regulations to make sure that companies behave ethically and abide by the
law. Testing methods and standards should be updated for vehicles so that not only exceedingly
emitting vehicles be kept off the road, but also so companies do not falsify their claims such as
Volkswagen. Furthermore, public transport should be improved and encouraged to decrease the
amount of cars in circulation. The government should also create objective and unbiased committees
in order to judge companies and manufacturers on the basis of their emissions and adherence to the
Codes of Engineering. New and innovative A/C technologies could be developed that consume less
resources and cool efficiently in order to ease the situation for residents while simultaneously
benefiting the environment. Finally, campaigns and initiatives should be made to encourage recycling
on a daily basis, and using those recyclable materials to generate power or products.
In Conclusion, it is not a rare case to see firms or corporations violating laws in order to maximize
their profits and not care about their environment, but it is our duty as engineers and citizens of the
planet we live in in order to make sure that we comprehend our impact on the environment and try our
best to ensure that we reduce our carbon footprint. Not only should companies adhere to the codes of
Engineering and remain ethical, but also Engineers on a personal level have an obligation to work with
the environment in mind as well as making sure that their employers are behaving ethically. Although
these cases of unethical behavior and pollution are global, there is a different corporate culture here
attributed to no Carbon tax laws and nepotism that must first be overcome in order to face these
issues.The problems discussed in the cases prior are prevalent and harmful but following the
recommendations stated, it is possible that they are avoidable and can be alleviated.