LONDON: A BBC investigation suggests that toxic pollutants released during gas flaring pose a greater threat than previously thought, endangering millions across the Gulf region.
Despite the United Arab Emirates (UAE) hosting COP28, where they banned flaring two decades ago, evidence reveals ongoing flaring, worsening air quality and spreading pollution hundreds of miles away.
The study also highlights the silence or lack of response from countries like Iraq, Iran, and Kuwait regarding pollution from their wells. Even major oil companies operating in these areas, such as BP and Shell, acknowledge the issue but claim efforts to minimize flaring. Leaked documents further exposed the UAE’s intentions to leverage the UN climate talks for oil and gas deals.
UN Special Rapporteur David R. Boyd condemned these findings, emphasizing not to disregard human rights and operate without consequences despite the severe impact on millions.
The hidden spread of toxic air pollution by oil giants spans hundreds of kilometers, imperilling the health of millions in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Iran, and Iraq. Although preventable, flaring persists globally despite the potential to capture and utilize the gas for electricity or home heating.
This form of flaring emits PM2.5, Ozone, NO2, and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), which, when exposure is prolonged or at high levels, have been linked by international experts, including the World Health Organization (WHO), to illnesses like cancer, strokes, asthma, and heart disease. Furthermore, global flaring significantly contributes to the emission of planet-warming greenhouse gases such as CO2 and methane.
Even though the UAE’s national oil company, Adnoc, under the leadership of Sultan al-Jaber, president of the COP28 climate summit, pledged two decades ago to cease “routine flaring,” satellite assessments conducted by the BBC reveal ongoing daily occurrences at offshore sites. Notably, the UAE stands as a major oil source for the UK market.
