Why should saudi arabia care about climate change - Research Paper Example

?Running Head: Saudi Arabia and Climate Change Saudi Arabia and Climate Change [Institute’s Saudi Arabia and Climate Change ABSTRACT Climate change is one of the biggest concerns for the entire planet today because the lives of every creature on this planet appear to be on risk. Without any doubts, only if all the countries and nations in the world unite for this cause then only we could move towards a solution. Saudi Arabia is one of the countries, which has received the label on being an obstructionist to this cause because reducing carbon emissions would seriously hamper their economy. This paper is an attempt to show that “why should Saudi Arabia care about climate change”. This paper, written with the help of secondary sources, shows that with a shift from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources and creating a service based, free market, private sector dominated economy would allow the kingdom to remove inefficiencies from the economy and would result in creation of an economy, which would be less vulnerable to external shocks. Second, Saudi Arabia itself is facing the consequences of climate change in form of increasing temperatures, evaporation of Lake Layla, and other water sources, sand storms and others. Third, if Saudi Arabia continues to obstruct and create problems for in global climate change then it would not be long before the world would decide to corner Saudi Arabia and impose sanctions and barriers on trade with the country. Fourth, the world is actively looking for alternative energy resources and the kingdom would not be able to blackmail the world for long. Fifth, according to the Islamic principles, it is the responsibility of the government to save the planet. Sixth, if Saudi Arabia continues to destroy the environment with its carbon emissions then this current generation would not be able to look into the eyes of their children for which they would leave the planet in the worse condition. TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 INTRODUCTION 4 METHODS 4 RESULTS 5 DISCUSSION 6 CONCLUSION 9 REFERENCES 11 INTRODUCTION Without any doubts, the man of today and the world of today are entirely different from the first man on earth and the face of the earth when human civilization began. Over these past thousands of years, human growth and development has taken place exponentially. However, at the other side of the picture, this development and progress have to the human civilization with strings attached to it (Moran, pp. 54-59, 2011). Global warming and climate change has already started to effect the environment and atmosphere of the earth and it appears that it would not be long before we witness drastic effects of this climate change. It is time that people should ask themselves one simple question that is “When we leave this world, would we be able to provide it to our coming generation in the same condition (if not better) in which we received it from our forefathers (Burroughs, pp. 58-59, 2005). Saudi Arabia is one of those countries, which has remained in the spotlight as the “bad guy” for obstructing and delaying all the resolutions, major movements, and collective global level actions taken for fighting with global warming and environmental destruction. Saudi Arabian administration believes that by doing so it is “protecting its own interests” like every other country (Beniston, pp. 26, 2002). This paper is an attempt to shed some light on the fact that “why Saudi Arabia should care about Climate Change”. METHODS This research paper will mainly rely on the secondary sources such as books, journals, articles, previously conducted researches, facts, figures, statistics, and others. However, it has been ensured that the data and information, which is being used, is reliable and authentic. RESULTS With a glance at the available secondary data about the topic, there are many reasons why the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia should be concerned about the environmental issues and climate change. Important here to note is that a shift from high dependence to fossil fuels and oil revenues to diversified economy is in the best interests of the country itself. High dependence on oil revenues means that the economy of the country is extremely vulnerable to external and internal shocks to oil production and demand (Issar & Zohar, pp. 69-71, 2007; Moran, pp. 54, 2011). On the other hand, the current Saudi population ranks extremely low when it comes to skills, talent, and qualification to fill up jobs in the growing economy. Females are not allowed to contribute to the sector and only amongst the males of the country; unemployment rate is as high as 12 percent (Zereini & Hotzl, pp. 87-89, 2008; Tollitz, pp. 49-51, 2006). Most of the jobs in the country are filled with foreign workers. Government expenses account for more than 70 percent of the total expenses in the kingdom and due to being a centrally planned, command and control and public sector dominated economy, the country’s economy is highly inefficient. The point here is that a shift from fossil fuels to diversifying the economy would force the kingdom to allow foreign direct investment to enter in the country (Rosen, pp. 146-149, 2007; Tollitz, pp. 49-51, 2006). The administration would spend more money on training its people, infrastructure, education and the private sector would take up an active role, which would also help in making the economy more efficient. Furthermore, this may also end up in more women entering in the workforce. A service-based economy would mean that the country would become less vulnerable to external shocks regarding prices and demand of oil, which would mean that its growth would be long term and sustainable (Beniston, pp. 26, 2002; Issar & Zohar, pp. 69-71, 2007). DISCUSSION During the 70s and early 80s, “the foreign nationals and expatriates working at Saudi oil company Saudi Aramco” (Hodkinson, pp. 85-86, 2011) would enjoy their weekends, water skiing and swimming in the Lake Layla located in the heart of the Arabian Peninsula. This was one of the biggest water reserves or lakes in the widespread Arabian Desert. However, at the start of the 20th century, there is not a single drop of water where Lake Layla once existed (Hodkinson, pp. 85-86, 2011). In fact, it has become a part of the history. This increased evaporation and increasing sandstorms and the manifestation of the devastating effects of climate change and global warming that the Saudi Arabia will not face but it has played an important role in creating this disaster (Burroughs, pp. 58-59, 2005; Issar & Zohar, pp. 69-71, 2007). Environmentalists and experts from Saudi Arabia have predicted repeatedly that with the passage of time, these environmental threats will worsen. Considering the geography of Saudi Arabia, it is safe to say that it would be one of the few countries that would witness large scale and disastrous effects of global warming (Zereini, & Alt, pp. 345-349, 2006; Tollitz, pp. 49-51, 2006). Saudi Arabia ranks second after the United States in production of carbon dioxide per capita, however, unfortunately, the topic is not discussed in the Saudi Arabian circles that much. According to the statistics of the year 2009, Saudi Arabia produced an average of 13.2 tons of carbon dioxide, which accounted for more than 1.1 percent of the world’s total emissions. These figures even become more concerning when it considered that Saudi Arabia only accounts for 0.4 percent of the total world population (Hodkinson, pp. 85-86, 2011). In fact, the human development report for Saudi Arabia says that “If all countries in the world were to emit CO2 at levels similar to Saudi Arabia's, we would exceed our sustainable carbon budget by approximately 511 per cent” (Al Zawad, pp. 41-42, 2009). Saudi Arabian economy depends greatly on the revenues, which come from the oil reserves. In fact, oil production and export account for the biggest chunk of governmental revenues and as the sole means of earning foreign exchange. These revenues are much greater than the expenses of the kingdom, which allow the kingdom to show budget surpluses. This explains why the Royal Family of Saudi Arabia has been able to exert so much of influence on domestic and foreign affairs (Moran, pp. 54, 2011). The point here is that if steps are taken against climate change then they are most to include steps such as diversion from traditional means of energy development with carbon emissions to solar and wind energy. Furthermore, this would also mean that Saudi Arabia would face sanctions in forms of tariffs, taxes, quotas, trade barriers and others on the supply and export of its oil which may hurt the Saudi Arabia very badly which is still vulnerable to any shock on the oil revenues of the country (Hillstrom & Hillstrom, pp. 52, 2003; Hodkinson, pp. 85-86, 2011). Saudi Arabia should care about the climate change and other environmental issues because considering its current stance; it has created a vacuum for itself. During international conventions and at global forums when the issue is being discussed, except for Saudi Arabia and a few others, all other countries of the world appear to be having a consensus on fighting with climate change with sanctions, taxes, tariffs and others on carbon emissions and non environmental friendly energy development (Hodkinson, pp. 85-86, 2011). Despite the fact that up to this point, the country’s administration has been effectively able to avoid the topic, it would not be long that Saudi Arabian administration would find itself helpless in front of the increased external pressures (Zereini & Hotzl, pp. 87-89, 2008; Hillstrom & Hillstrom, pp. 52, 2003). One reason why Saudi Arabia appears to be least bothered about the talks of climatic change and global warming is because it believes that regardless of whatever is being said at global forums, towards the end of the day, all these countries are going to be turn to Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries to meet their energy demands. Therefore, if they try to impose any sanctions or barriers then it would ultimately hurt the developed nations (Hillstrom & Hillstrom, pp. 52, 2003). However, the Saudi Royals will have to realize if Saudi Arabia is not sincere with alternative energy sources it does not mean that, the rest of the world is not sincere with the same too. Many developed nations of the world including United States and European countries are increasing their efforts in search of alternative energy sources (Burroughs, pp. 58-59, 2005). They are investing trillions of dollars for coming with effective and efficient solar energy, wind energy, and nuclear energy sources (Zereini, & Alt, pp. 345-349, 2006). Considering their investments, research, capabilities, and sincerity, it would not be long that most of these countries would be able to satisfy a considerable portion of their energy requirements with the help of alternative energy sources (Moran, pp. 54, 2011). Quite clearly, this would be the worst possible nightmare for the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. However, if Saudi Arabia is ready to understand the intensity of the problem and is ready to commit itself with sincerity then there is way out. Considering the landscape of the country, it has great potential for generating wind and especially solar energy (Zereini & Hotzl, pp. 87-89, 2008). It has widespread warm deserts, which offer great potential for installing solar panels. Therefore, if the country develops its potential in alternative energy sources, it would be in a better position to woo the developed nations for the continuation of trade (Hardy, pp. 236-238, 2003; Hillstrom & Hillstrom, pp. 52, 2003). Another important why Saudi Arabia should care about the environmental hazards is because Islam and the Hanabli school of thought (which is the dominant school of thought of Islamic jurisprudence in the kingdom) teaches them to do so. Islam teaches collectivism and believes that every follower has not only responsibilities for his immediate actions but also for the entire society, community, and even the entire world in which he lives. Promotion of good and prevention of evil is the cornerstone of Islamic ethics, which was taught by Prophet Muhammad over the course of his entire life. Muslims have the obligation to stop any evil in their surroundings with all possible force and failure to do so will not only be considered as ignorance, but also as evil support of the evil itself. Therefore, in light of Islamic ethics, the government has the responsibility to take care of the environment and the citizens of the kingdom have the all moral obligation to protest and ensure if they government is not willing to do the same (Al Zawad, pp. 41-42, 2009). CONCLUSION Therefore, towards the end, it appears understandable enough to conclude that Saudi Arabia has all the reasons in the world to care about the climate change. In fact, it is high time for the kingdom to take some positive and responsible steps regarding the same, which would allow them to gain the trust and confidence of the world and build a safe and better future for the coming generations (Rosen, pp. 146-149, 2007). For years, Saudi Arabia has lead the world in being one of the biggest carbon emitter but now is the time that it should take the lead in being the world’s biggest and most sincere country in producing and supplying energy through alternative and more greener sources. The coming generations of Saudi Arabia would curse the current generations if they fail to take any considerable actions for saving our planet, however, their coming generations would feel proud of their identity if their parents would leave a better world for them (Zereini, & Alt, pp. 345-349, 2006). REFERENCES Al Zawad, Faisal. 2009. Climate Change in Saudi Arabia on a Regional Scale. VDM Verlag. Beniston, Martin. 2002. Climatic change: implications for the hydrological cycle and for water management. Springer. Burroughs, William James. 2005. Climate change in prehistory: the end of the reign of chaos. Wiley. Hardy, John T. 2003. Climate change: causes, effects, and solutions. John Wiley and Sons. Hillstrom, Kevin, & Hillstrom, Laurie Collier. 2003. Africa and the Middle East: a continental overview of environmental issues. ABC-CLIO. Hodkinson, Trevor. 2011. Climate Change, Ecology, and Systematics. Cambridge University Press. Issar, A., & Zohar, Mattanyah. 2007. Climate change: environment and history of the Near East. Springer. Moran, Daniel. 2011. Climate Change and National Security: A Country-Level Analysis. Georgetown University Press. Rosen, Arlene Miller. 2007. Civilizing climate: social responses to climate change in the ancient near East. Rowman Altamira. Tollitz, Nino P. 2006. Saudi Arabia: terrorism, U.S. relations, and oil. Nova Publishers. Zereini, Fathi, & Alt, Friedrich. 2006. Palladium emissions in the environment: analytical methods, environmental assessment and health effects. Springer Science & Business. Zereini, Fathi, & Hotzl, Heinz. 2008. Climatic Changes and Water Resources in the Middle East and North Africa. Springer. Read More