Environment: Not a Priority

Prior to coming to the United Arab Emirates, I ran into my “Strategies for Sustainability” professor from last semester. Professor Graham basically said to me “Celine, you better ask them about their reckless behavior towards the environment”. I most definitely made it my mission to understand the importance of the environment within the UAE’s agenda. After having spoken to many CEOs, executives, and government officials, I have come to the conclusion that the environment is definitely not at the forefront of the majority of the business being done in this country. Abu Dhabi and Dubai want to grow. They want to grow fast. The urgency of development and the pressure of immense GDP growth, in the double digits, mean that the country does not regard the environment as a priority or even a consideration. This being said, the country does value not only economic growth but social growth as well. In a country where there are thousands of low wage workers, the UAE is striving to improve the living conditions and the quality of life of not only their Emiratis but of the variety of its expats as well. The UAE is prioritizing in this sense – the country seems to have a “double bottom line”. In a country with only a 37-year history, there is hope with respect to social issues, and once the UAE realizes the complexity of social-environmental issues, I want to be idealistic and believe that there is hope with respect to the environment as well.