The UAE’s Air Pollution Problem

From Our Own Correspondent

BBC

News, News Commentary

4.4 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 2 December 2023

⏱️ 29 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Kate Adie presents stories from the UAE, Iran, Ireland, Finland and Cambodia

As the world's seventh largest oil producer, the UAE may seem an odd choice to host the world's annual climate summit, but the Emiratis have been keen to showcase their green credentials. But the UAE’s desired image is falling short of the reality, says Owen Pinnell, as he reveals the devastating impact of gas-flaring.

In Iran, the enforcement of the mandatory hijab rule was once again in the spotlight after the death of 16-year-old Armita Geravand, following an alleged altercation with morality police in Tehran. While the mass protests seen last year may have faded, Faranak Amidi reflects on her own childhood in Tehran and the will of Iranian women to continue taking a stand.

The Irish government has promised better resources for police and stronger hate crime laws after rioting in Dublin city centre just over a week ago. Our correspondent Chris Page says a combination of disinformation, growing anti-immigrant sentiment, and changing social dynamics is presenting new challenges in Ireland.

Finland this week announced the temporary closure of all crossings on its border with Russia amid claims that Moscow has been deliberately channeling asylum seekers into the country. After Finland’s decision to join NATO, relations with Russia have soured considerably. Richard Dove was in Helsinki

A new Chinese-funded airport has opened in Cambodia's north-east, serving as the main gateway to the Angkor Wat temple complex. China’s influence on the Cambodian economy is everywhere with numerous projects funded by Chinese loans. But this foreign influence is nothing new, says Sara Wheeler

Series Producer: Serena Tarling Editor: Richard Fenton-Smith Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts.
0:05.0	Today in Iran, the clump down by authorities on women's freedoms may be heftier than ever,
0:12.0	but women continue to take a stand.
0:15.0	After rioting in Dublin last week, our correspondent reflects on the challenges for changing
0:20.6	communities in Ireland. In Finland relations with Russia have become
0:26.4	even icier amid claims that Moscow is sending undocumented migrants to the Finnish border. And from baguettes and wide boulevards
0:36.9	to shiny new international airports, we hear about the influence of foreign powers in Cambodia. But first, the COP28 Climate Change
0:47.2	summit is this year being hosted by the UAE, a country that draws a sizable chunk of its wealth from oil and might seem a peculiar choice.
0:57.0	But the emermaties are at pains to showcase their green credentials and pioneering solutions such as high-tech greenhouses and indoor
1:07.6	vertical farms.
1:10.1	Cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi have developed as tourist hubs over the last few decades
1:16.1	and become a favourite holiday destination for Winter Sun.
1:20.4	But in a recent investigation, Owen Pinnell discovered the UAE's desired image as an eco-friendly destination is falling short of the reality.
1:31.0	A year after we released our documentary investigating the deadly impact of gas
1:36.0	flaring on children living next to some of the world's biggest oil fields, I
1:40.0	found myself heading back to Basra, southern Iraq.
1:43.6	Looking down from my plane, I could see the bright orange glow of flares
1:47.4	dotting the landscape.
1:49.0	As I'd learned, they made life hell for those who live next door to them.
1:53.6	One of those was Ali, a 19 year old who spoke out against the pollution and
1:57.9	environmental problems caused by the giant BP-run oil field he grew up next to.
2:06.2	He talked about cancer being as common as the flu and casually dubbed his town Ramele, the cemetery. Ramele is not accessible to
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