Widespread Pollution from Gas Flaring: The Middle East faces a severe environmental and health crisis, with millions at risk due to toxic pollutants from gas flaring, a BBC investigation has found. This practice, prevalent in oil drilling operations, has been notably observed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), even as it hosts the significant COP28 climate summit.
The Gulf Region’s Air Quality Crisis: Research indicates that pollution from gas flaring is not confined to immediate areas but spreads across hundreds of miles, degrading air quality throughout the Gulf region. This alarming spread poses a threat to residents across several countries.
UAE’s Flaring Practices Under Scrutiny: Despite a ban on flaring enacted 20 years ago, evidence suggests that the UAE continues the practice. This raises concerns about the health implications for both its citizens and those in neighboring nations.
Regional Pollution Analysis: The study also analyzed pollution from flaring activities in Iraq, Iran, and Kuwait. The findings have been met with silence from the respective governments, with no comments received in response.
Oil Giants’ Stance: Major oil companies, including BP and Shell, implicated in the flaring activities, have stated their intentions to reduce this practice. However, concrete actions and timelines remain unclear.
Leaked Documents Reveal Alarming Plans: The revelation comes in the wake of leaked documents that suggested the UAE’s intention to leverage the COP28 summit for oil and gas negotiations, casting a shadow on its environmental commitments.
UN Official Expresses Concern: David R. Boyd, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights and the environment, has condemned the situation, highlighting the human rights violations and lack of accountability by major oil companies and Middle Eastern states.
The Human Cost of Environmental Negligence: This report underscores the urgent need for effective environmental policies and practices to protect the health and rights of millions in the Middle East. The continuation of gas flaring, despite its known detrimental effects, calls for immediate action and accountability from both governments and the oil industry.
