Air quality is one of the leading priorities in the UAE because it is associated directly with human health, the environment and its effect on the economy. Air quality is affected by natural and man-made pressures as a result of development. The UAE has been rapidly witnessing a substantial growth of population and urbanization. This is followed by a huge investment in the tourism, construction and finance sectors. The unprecedented growth has put a big pressure on the development of an advanced infrastructure and transportation system.

The country has a target of 90 per cent adherence to the WHO air quality guidelines by 2021. Efforts have been made to properly monitor and regulate emission levels throughout the UAE in the past few years. However, despite high consumption levels, more than 90 per cent of the UAE?s fuel for energy is natural gas, the cleanest and most efficient form of producing electricity from a carbon-based fuel. Airborne dust particles and major sand storms adversely affected air quality, especially in times of high humidity. There are currently 46 air quality monitoring stations, in addition to a range of dust monitoring stations in crusher and quarry sites as well as cement factories.

There are many causes for air pollution such as cars and factories send out harmful gases into the atmosphere. We have lots of thing to do to keep the air clean which is an important to keep the life continuing. In my opinion, everybody is responsible of causing this real problem.

Moreover, the burning of fossil fuels (coal and oil) in factories increases the amount of CO2, which causes dangerous pollution of the air we breathe. Furthermore, the air pollution and the uses of CFCs can affect the Ozone layer. Ozone layer is very important layer because it acts as protect for the earth?s surface against ultraviolet rays in the sun?s light would be harmful to the health of people, plants and animals in the UAE. Research is needed to develop alternative source of energy like solar power and sea-wave power. Making new paper from waste paper and cardboard not only saves trees but also saves energy so recycling and upcycling of materials should be promoted. To save and protect the ozone layer use of harmless gases instead of CFCs, the scientists should research the ways that can protect air from pollution or reduce it.

Transportation has significant and long lasting economic, social and environmental impacts, and so it is an important dimension of urban sustainability. Deploying efforts into this field can help in creating a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. RTA has put in place a range of environment-friendly services and products starting from the electric-powered driverless Dubai Metro generating zero carbon waste, to public buses that use a specific type of fuel that only contains 50 ppm of sulphur whereas the commercial fuel in use has a 500 ppm sulphur content, to car park machines operating with solar energy technologies, to the deployment of a number of hybrid vehicles in the Dubai Taxi fleet, in addition to  starting of a bio-fuel powered buses.  

Source:TheNational, KhaleejTimes, Sustainablesquare,Gulf News