Environment in Kuwait Essay ⋆ Environment Essay Examples ⋆ EssayEmpire

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Located in the strategically important oil region of the Persian Gulf, Kuwait achieved its independence in 1961. In August 1990, Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait, but were forced to withdraw after the United States and the United Nations (UN) launched a retaliatory strike in February 1991. While retreating, the Iraqi military intentionally set fire to 60 oil wells and dumped 4 million barrels of oil directly into the Persian Gulf. The Kuwaiti government was subsequently forced to spend $5 billion to renovate its oil infrastructure, and the environmental impact will continue for decades.

Kuwait’s natural resources include petroleum, fish, shrimp, and natural gas. Accounting for close to half of the Gross Domestic Product, 95 percent of export revenues, and 80 percent of overall government revenue, the petroleum industry is Kuwait’s most valuable resource, representing 10 percent of world reserves. Kuwait has a per capita income of $22,100, making it the 43rd richest nation in the world. However, approximately 80 percent of the workforce of 1.67 million are non-Kuwaitis, whose income is a small fraction of that of native Kuwaitis. The UN Development Program (UNDP) Human Development Reports rank Kuwait 44th of 232 nations on overall quality-of-life issues.

Along the Persian Gulf, Kuwait’s coastline runs for roughly 310 miles. The terrain is generally flat with desert plains that undulate slightly. Kuwait’s dry desert climate produces intensely hot summers and short, cool winters. From October to April, sudden damaging cloudbursts and heavy rain are frequent, and sand and dust storms are most likely to take place between March and August.

Environmental Changes

Because of limited access to freshwater resources, the Kuwaiti government has installed sophisticated desalination facilities. Three-fourths of all potable water used in Kuwait is either imported or distilled. Less that 1 percent of the land is arable. Because the government limits agricultural development, most of the food supply is imported. Other environmental problems include air and water pollution and desertification. With 96.2 percent of the population residing in urban areas, Kuwait’s carbon dioxide emissions rose from 19.7 per capita metric tons in 1980 to 24.6 in 2002. Kuwait produces 0.2 percent of the world’s supply of carbon dioxide emissions. The government has converted to unleaded fuel and implemented modern technologies designed to reduce emissions of sulfur and toxic gases. Forested land in Kuwait amounts to only 0.3 percent of the total land area, and these forests are generally part of the plantation system where exotic tree species are grown. Only 1.5 percent of Kuwaiti land has been brought under national protection. Of 21 endemic mammal species, one species is threatened. Seven of 35 endemic bird species are endangered.

Kuwait passed its first environmental legislation in 1964 to check the spread of oil pollution in navigable waters. In 1986, the government began monitoring the quality of air and sea water. Over the next four years, the National Ecological Network was established to promote biodiversity. The Kuwaiti government has expressed commitment to the global environment by participating in the following international agreements: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, and Ozone Layer Protection. The agreement on Marine Dumping has been signed but not ratified.

Bibliography:

Timothy Doyle, Environmental Movements in Minority and Majority Worlds: A Global Perspective (Rutgers University Press, 2005);
Kevin Hillstrom and Laurie Collier Hillstrom, Africa and the Middle East: A Continental Overview of Environmental Issues (ABC-CLIO, 2003).