Download People and their enviornment Arabian Peninsula

People and Their Environment: the Arabian Peninsula
Managing Resources
• Oil is a nonrenewable resource, yet it is the
most widely used energy source today.
• Burning fossil fuels creates greenhouse gases,
which contribute to a rise in air temperature.
• This climate change negatively affects the
environment by decreasing the amount of
rainfall and causing a rise in sea level,
threatening coastal populations and marine
ecology.
People and Their Environment: the Arabian Peninsula
Human Impact
• The rapidly growing population in the subregion
is dramatically increasing the demand on
already scarce water resources.
• Political instability contributes to the problem as
corrupt and weak governments do not enact
solutions, while profiteers extract precious water
for personal gain without regard to the
environment.
• Ongoing desertification is taking a heavy toll on
vegetation, resulting in soil erosion.
People and Their Environment: the Arabian Peninsula
Addressing the Issues
• Governmental subsidies to lower water costs
have resulted in high water consumption rates
despite the scant water resources in the region.
• Desalination is being used to address some
water needs, but it alone cannot satisfy
demand; it also has negative environmental
impacts.
• Changes in agricultural practices are being
encouraged to meet the demand for food,
thereby decreasing the amount of water needed
for farming, dairy, and meat production.