71
arab environment: survival options
consumption patterns and lifestyle choices as a result of rising oil revenues, leading to higher Ecological Footprint and increased demand for bioproductive resources. Arab countries hold nearly 58 percent of the world’s oil reserves. At the end of 2010, proven oil reserves were estimated at 712.4 billion barrels. Total crude oil production by Arab countries averaged 21.3 million barrels per day in 2010, accounting for 29.4 percent of world production. In addition, the Arab region holds nearly 29 percent of the world’s gas reserves. Arab countries produced 458.4 billion cubic meters of gas in 2010, accounting for 14.3 percent of world gas production (OAPEC, 2011). Thus, the hydrocarbon sector in the Arab region has had a long-term commitment to the security of energy supply for the global economy. Arab economies rely heavily on oil and gas to meet domestic energy demand, and they accounted for nearly 97.3 percent of total Arab energy consumption in 2009. Oil accounts for FIGURE 1
52.5 percent of total energy consumption, while gas accounts for 44.8 percent and renewable 2.7 percent. It is also worth noting that the energy sector plays a major role in meeting water and food needs in Arab countries. Fossil fuel-based combined heat and power thermal plants are commonly used for seawater desalination in the region, which hosts nearly 50 percent of the world’s desalination capacity (AFED, 2010). Electricity from fossilfuel power plants is used as the primary energy source to pump and distribute groundwater. Thus, food production in the region continues to rely on the availability of energy resources. Shifting to renewable sources of energy should be an option to secure sustainable supply of water resources and food production for decades to come. Arab economies are highly vulnerable to the volatility of the global oil market. High oil prices generate greater revenues for net exporters, but add additional stress on already strained public budgets of Arab oil-importing countries.
HDI and Energy Consumption (Ton of Oil Equivalent) Per Capita in Selected Arab Countries (2009)
18
Algeria Bahrain
16
Egypt Iraq
14
Jordan Kuwait
TOE/Capita
12
Lebanon Libya
10
Morocco Oman
8
Qatar 6
Saudi Arabia Sudan
4
Syria Tunisia
2
UAE Yemen
0 0
0.1
TOE: Ton of oil equivalent Sources: IEA, 2011 and UNDP, 2011
0.2
0.3
0.4
0.5
HDI
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.9