Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
As the world grapples with the urgent need to address climate change, the UAE is emerging as a global leader in sustainability through its combination of bold domestic and impactful international initiatives.
Positioned in a region already feeling the impacts of climate change, the UAE has set its sights on a low-carbon future, viewing sustainability not only as an environmental necessity, but also as a driver for economic diversification, growth, and job creation.
At the Forefront of Climate Leadership
The UAE was the first in the Middle East to sign the Paris Agreement and is home to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
Its commitment to a sustainable future was further underlined when it hosted COP28 in December 2023 in Dubai, the largest and most inclusive climate conference in history.
At this landmark event, world leaders and negotiators reached the UAE Consensus, a historic agreement calling for a global transition away from fossil fuels, including new targets to triple renewable energy capacity and double energy efficiency by 2030.
Transforming the Energy Sector
The UAE's energy transformation is nothing short of ambitious.
The country is pursuing an aggressive strategy to diversify its energy mix and meet its climate goals while supporting economic growth. Today, oil and gas exports account for only about 30% of the UAE's economic activity.
Renewable energy plays a central role in this transformation. In 2023, the UAE made a breakthrough by bringing the cost of solar power below that of natural gas, making it one of the most cost-competitive energy sources in the region.
The UAE now boasts some of the world's largest solar power plants, including the Noor Abu Dhabi Solar Park, which reduces the country's carbon footprint by 1 million metric tons annually, and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, which will power 800,000 homes by 2030. With solar capacity exceeding 5,900 MW in 2023 alone, the UAE is making rapid strides toward its clean energy goals.
Wind energy is also becoming a key component in the UAE's energy mix. In October 2023, the country launched its first wind power programme, a 104 MW project expected to power over 23,000 homes and displace 120,000 tons of CO2 annually.
Furthermore, the UAE has embraced nuclear energy, with its Barakah nuclear power plant now supplying 25 percent of the nation's electricity.
Even with these advancements, the UAE recognises that oil and gas will remain part of the global energy mix for the foreseeable future. To mitigate the environmental impact of these industries, the UAE operates one of the world's largest carbon capture systems, an essential measure to reduce the carbon footprint of heavy industries and energy exports.
The UAE is also scaling up its production of blue and green hydrogen as part of its National Hydrogen Strategy 2050, positioning itself to become one of the largest hydrogen producers globally by 2031.
Water: Securing the Future of a Vital Resource
The UAE has invested heavily in advanced desalination technologies, with over 140 desalination plants in operation.
The Taweelah Reverse Osmosis (RO) facility in Abu Dhabi and the Hassyan seawater desalination project are among the key initiatives driving the country's efforts to secure a sustainable water supply.
Through its Water Security Strategy 2036, the UAE is committed to reusing 95% of treated water and sourcing more than 75% of its drinking water from reverse osmosis technology.
The country's leadership in water innovation is not limited to domestic efforts; it has also launched global initiatives like Clean Rivers, a non-profit dedicated to reducing plastic waste entering the oceans via river systems, and the Mohammed bin Zayed Water Initiative (MBZWI).
The MBZWI aims to combat global water scarcity through research, partnerships and technological innovation, including the launch of the XPrize Water Scarcity Competition, a $119 million global challenge to develop sustainable desalination technologies.
COP28: A Turning Point in Global Climate Action
The UAE's hosting of COP28 in December 2023 was a defining moment in the country's climate leadership. With over 85,000 participants, including 150 heads of state, the summit facilitated a critical global stocktake to review progress on the Paris Agreement goals.
One of the key outcomes was a call for a 43% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to keep the 1.5°C target within reach.
At COP28, the UAE also played a pivotal role in advancing climate finance, with the launch of a loss and damage fund aimed at supporting communities affected by climate-related disasters.
Over $660 million was pledged to this fund, a crucial step in ensuring that the most vulnerable nations receive financial support to cope with climate change.
COP28 also saw an unprecedented focus on integrating climate action with biodiversity preservation. World leaders committed to halting deforestation by 2030 and to protecting 30% of the planet's land and oceans by 2030.
The UAE's Climate and Health Declaration, signed by 125 countries, mobilised $1 billion for climate-health solutions.
A Future of Innovation and Collaboration
Looking ahead, the UAE is doubling down on its role as a global leader in climate action and sustainability.
At the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, Mariam bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, Head of the International Affairs Office in the UAE Presidential Court, announced a groundbreaking initiative: the development of CHAG (Chat + Ag), a ChatGPT tool designed to assist farmers in difficult climatic conditions by drawing on decades of agricultural research.
