UAE beats Americans' environmental harm ( This is Disgusting)

[leftchick]

and of course the USA places number two...
:puke:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070115/ap_on_sc/emirates_ecological_nightmare

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - When it comes to squandering the earth's natural resources, residents of this desert land of chilled swimming pools, monster 4x4s and air-conditioned malls are on a par with even the ravenous consumption of Americans, according to the World Wildlife Fund.

The average person in the Emirates puts more demand on the global ecosystem than any other, giving the country the world's largest per-capita "ecological footprint," WWF data shows. The United States runs second.

But the oil-rich Emirates is considered a developing country, and even as a signatory to the
United Nations' Kyoto protocol on global warming, is not required to cut emissions. The United States is not bound by Kyoto.

Even so, the Emirates government has been embarrassed by the WWF report, which it says is flawed. The federal environment agency is devising strategies to cut emissions, including a public campaign that may offer economic incentives to those who turn down their air conditioning, Saad al-Numairy, an adviser to agency, said Monday.

"We have an action plan," al-Numairy said. "But we are a multicultural country with 180 nationalities. It's not going to be easy."

<snip>

Making matters worse are Dubai's audacious developments, including artificial resort islands that have destroyed coral reefs and an indoor ski slope that still creates snow when it is 120 degrees outside.



A luxury car drives past an artificial ski slope in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Jan. 14. 2007. When it comes to squandering the earth's natural resources, residents of Dubai, small desert land of chilled swimming pools, monster 4x4s and air-conditioned malls have no equals. On average, they outpace even the ravenous consumption of Americans, according to the World Wildlife Fund. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

[MisterHowdy]

1. Why is the UAE stable??

Always wondered why this little country prospers while most middle-eastern oil-rich countries are stomped upon by the US as soon as they start to stabilize.
Anyone know why the UAE is what it is (dirty but successful)