GRC forecasts economic highs, security lows in the Gulf (page 7 of 7)

In the area of defense, there was a noticeable increase in defense spending and procurement of weapons. The GCC states concluded a total of 13 deals, most of which were with western countries, for a total amount of $35billion. There was a clear trend toward strengthening and modernizing the air force.

The security developments in 2006 could have far-reaching adverse effects on the stability of the Gulf region in 2007. Failure to stabilize the situation in Iraq will have catastrophic consequences for the Gulf region and beyond. On the other hand, the lack of resolve in tackling the Iranian nuclear program would perpetuate the crisis, lead to a possible arms race and invite more foreign interventions in the Gulf. Therefore, it is certain that 2007 will inherit most of the security problems that engulfed the Gulf region last year.

State of the Environment in GCC Countries

Dr. Mohamed Raouf
Senior Researcher, Environment Program

This section of the Gulf Yearbook covers the most important developments in environmental affairs in the GCC countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE) in 2006.

This section is structured as follows: First, the current state of the environment, natural resources, and environmental problems in the Gulf region which include land degradation and desertification, terrestrial biodiversity, coastal and marine environment, water resources, air pollution and solid wastes management, are discussed.

The GCC are very poor in terms of arable lands and water resources. The GCC countries contribute about 2.4 percent of world CO2 emissions; they have just 0.5 percent of the world's population. The per capita emissions of all GCC countries are higher than the average for high-income countries.

Second, an overview of the main environmental changes, threats and opportunities of the year 2006 - including institutional and legislative changes, important environmental events, civil society organizations' activities in the environment field and environmental management system in the Gulf region - is provided. Two major environmental threats of 2006 - Environmental Threat from the Iranian Nuclear Program and Construction and Demolition debris threats - are also discussed. The final section focuses on the environment outlook for 2007.

The GCC countries have made strides towards enhanced environmental governance since the publication of the Brundtland Report. National Environmental Strategies (NES) and Action Plans (NAP) have been prepared and the development of sustainable development strategies is underway in some countries. However, the Brundtland Commission's vision has not achieved. The main cause has been governmental reluctance to implement the integrated environmental, economic, and social decision-making the report called for. Governments still routinely conceive and implement economic development programs on a sectoral basis without considering their environmental and social causes, contexts and implications.

One would like to see a scenario of environment or sustainability first where environment and natural resources get maximum attention in every decision at all levels. This can only be achieved by an environmental policy mix which addresses different environmental issues, assigns a more active role for civil society organizations in environmental decision-making and implementing environmental policies, and gives an important role to the private sector. In fact, public-private partnerships in environmental issues are important to overcome environmental problems.

Keen observers of environmental issues will agree that while 2006 was a noteworthy year for the GCC, there have been no major changes in environmental policies and development priorities.