Sustainable development and the UAE's green economy initiative
Sustainable development is the management of cultural, economic and social factors to ensure human beings live comfortably. Due to several factors, sustainability is not achieved in the world and managing these factors can be critical in ensuring the future generations will not be affected (Blewitt 2017). UAE through its leaders launched an initiative to ensure use of green economy in its long-term plans to support economic growth. The initiative aimed to ensure UAE will be the leader in the exportation of green technology products in the world. The sectors in focus were transport, agriculture and energy and its adoption was to ensure the sustainable environment will support economic development (Khaleej Times 2012).
Barriers to sustainability in UAE
One of the barriers to sustainability in UAE has been political ignorance and human greed. There have been increased efforts have been put in place to attract investors who will come to invest in UAE with no focus set on ensuring sustainability will be maintained (Jesper 2009). Another barrier to sustainability is lack of controlled productivity. The population is growing in the region at a high rate, and with no regulation put in place, the economy is affected. Jesper states that increase in population has resulted in an open economic system which does not guarantee an increase in production that will ensure employment of the people (Jesper 2009).
Managing the barriers to sustainability
One of the ways that can be used to manage these barriers includes government regulation. For instance, buildings consume 90% of all the energy in UAE, but that can be improved to ensure sustainability for economic development (Moncef 2017). It can be done by ensuring the government give permits to people who will ensure adoption of green technology in the building hence reducing energy consumption in the country. Another way to manage the barriers will be through creation and adoption of environmental policies and standards. The government can look at the effects various entities are causing to the environment and economy and develop frameworks to help manage the situation (Faizul 2017). The success to achieve sustainability though requires efforts from all the stakeholders (Stavins 2003). Using the case of UAE, achieving prosperity in the adoption of the green economy, the country should involve the people by ensuring awareness is created. Managing the barriers to sustainability will ensure the people benefit and the future of the coming generation will be guaranteed.
References
.Blewitt, John., 2017. Understanding Sustainable Development. Taylor " Francis. 3rd
Edition,
pp.3-16.
Faizul, Haque. Collins, Ntim., 2017 Environmental Policy, Sustainable Development,
Governance Mechanisms and Environmental Performance. John Wiley " Sons. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bse.2007/full#publication-history
Jesper Jespersen, 2009. "The barriers to sustainable development." Insight. From
http://www.insightweb.it/web/content/barriers-sustainable-development
Khaleej Times, (2012). Green economy for sustainable development. Viewed on 2nd January
2018. From https://www.khaleejtimes.com/article/20120115/ARTICLE/301159883/1002
Moncef, Krarti. and Dubey, Kankana., 2017. Review analysis of economic and environmental
benefits of improving energy efficiency for UAE building stock. ScienceDirect, pp.14-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.013
Stavins, R. Wagner, A. Wagner, G., 2003. "Interpreting Sustainability in Economic Terms:
Dynamic Efficiency Plus Intergenerational Equity". Economics Letters. 79 (3): 339–343. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-1765(03)00036-3
