DOHA • The per capita rate of carbon dioxide emission (CO2) is high in the GCC nations. The good news is that total emission of the toxic green house gas is low in the region, except for Saudi Arabia and relatively UAE, a Qatari expert said.

Dr Hasan Al Mohndi, Assistant Professor Water Resources, Qatar University, said in his document published by the UAE-based Gulf Research Centre (GRC) that Qatar has the highest per capita CO2 emissions in the world.

While the country's total emission rate is limited to a low 46 m tones annually, its per capita emission is highest in the world-63.1 ton. This is because of Qatar's low population rate like the other GCC states.

However when it comes to the total quantity of emission, Qatar's rate (46m tones) is very low to Saudi Arabia (308 metric tones) and UAE (149 metric tones)., Dr Al Mohndi said.

Quoting the 2007-2008 Human Development Report, Dr Mohndi said the US is the biggest CO2 emitter in the world with an annual emission of total 6,046 metric tones. During 1990-2004 period it has registered a 25 percent increase in the emission of the toxic gas. During the period, China and India registered a quantum jump in the emission.

While China registered a 109 percent increase, India recorded 97 per cent. Russia, which had an emission of 1,984 metric ton in 1990, witnessed a lesser emission rate in 2004--1,524 metric tone.

The paper which discusses the grave environmental effects on marine life, CO2 effluents and oil-related earthquakes in the GCC region, stresses the need for the countries to look for the alternative energies including nuclear power, renewable energy and biofuel. It said the US and Russia have offered to develop the Gulf nuclear programme for peaceful purpose.

On the renewable energy, Dr Mohndi said, as many as 114 energy generation projects of more than $160bn are currently operational in the GCC Sates. Solar energy is used to desalinate 44 cubic metres daily in Qatar.

The GRC document attributes the Gulf environmental pollution largely to oil drilling and transport which lie heavy on every inch of the local environment. Gulf water, renewed slowly due to its narrow basin, has been subject to contamination due to the 1980s and early Gulf wars where millions of barrels of oil leaked into Gulf waters and many maritime systems were damaged. Tanker spills, exploration activities and illegal cleaning and discharging into Gulf waterways are also to blame.

In a bid to prepare a road map for a comprehensive Sustainable Development Plan for the whole GCC, the GRC is working on a "Green Gulf 2020 Study" project. Its aims include raising awareness about the environmental issues in the region; create networking among experts, governmental and non-governmental bodies and highlight the need for more in-depth research.

The study will be led by six different expert teams. Each team will focus on resource-specific issues and concerns such as biodiversity issues, land degradation, coastal environment, water, air pollution and solid waste management.