Ecological Footprint - Al Basama Al Beeiya

Geographical location:

Europe/Middle-East > Middle East > United Arab Emirates

Summary

The Living Planet Report (LPR), including the Ecological Footprint (EF) indicator, can inform future policy debate and make a significant contribution in efforts to move the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to a more resource efficient future. The LPR provides a basis for analyzing current (2006) production and consumption patterns and the use of resources in the UAE economy. The LPR analysis for the UAE shows that, like the rest of the developed world, residents of the UAE use more than their 'share' of the world's natural resources and that the present lifestyle is not sustainable.

It is clear that a review of the data used to calculate the UAE index (origin, quality, adequacy, accuracy, comprehensiveness) is required, as well as a thorough overview of the underlying factors explaining the high per capita footprint of the UAE in order to derive a plan of action to reduce this footprint.

Background

The Living Planet Report (LPR) is a WWF publication that explores the ‘impact of man on this finite planet’ by measuring what progress humans have made towards the goal of sustainability. The ‘impact of man’ is measured by using 2 key indictors: the Living Planet Index (LPI) and the Ecological Footprint (EF).

LPI measures overall trends in populations of target marine, terrestrial and freshwater species. EF is an indicator used to measure and communicate sustainability. It involves collecting data on a range of activities such as transport, energy use, materials and product consumption, waste production and water use, and converting the impacts of these activities into a common currency of land and sea area (global hectares). This indicator of the demand (the 'footprint') can be compared with the global supply (the availability of productive area) which can then be monitored over time to determine trends.

The EF of the UAE presented in the LPR- 2006 can be seen as a baseline study intended to deliver a platform from which further research and data improvements can take place. It is intended that that findings of the LPR will support evidence-based policy development. In addition the EF calculations can be used to comment on and analyze the sustainability of the UAE in comparison with other regions and countries.

The publication and release of the 2006 report, created a number of reactions in the UAE, some at the highest level of the government.

Objectives

Engage various partners (local and international) in a concrete dialogue on the Ecological Footprint and its use for the UAE. The first step would be to organize a 2-3 day workshop in the UAE on the Ecological Footprint, leading to the establishment of a programme of work centered around the following:

- Identify and rectify the data from the UAE submitted to, and used to calculate, the Ecological Footprint.

- Identify and establish a policy framework to reduce the UAE footprint.

Solution

Engage key stakeholders in workshop, the aims of which are to:

1. Gather the various local (ministries and government agencies, decision-makers, major business partners) and international stakeholders (Global Footprint Network, Redefining Progress, WWF International) that are in a position to develop a programme of work on the UAE Ecological Footprint.
2. Identify the key data issues and propose a way forward in addressing data issues.
3. Identify the key initiatives to reduce the UAE Ecological Footprint.
4. Identify a roadmap to start collaboration and sharing efforts to address key local footprint issues.

The time frame would be for a corrected, accurate set of data on the UAE to be provided in time for the inclusion in the next Footprint Report (2008) and at the same time have a policy framework in place for the key government sectors.