Approaches to Achieve UAE's More Ambitious Climate Targets

mohmed 3 months ago

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has unveiled a comprehensive plan to achieve its more ambitious emission-reduction targets, involving significant changes across multiple sectors, including transportation, power generation, water production, waste management, and agriculture.

UAE's Ambitious Emission-Reduction Targets and Sectoral Transformations

Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Mariam Al Mheiri, announced the Emirates' goal of cutting emissions by 40 percent by 2030 compared to business-as-usual practices, emphasizing the government's commitment to climate action as a strategic imperative for sustainable economic growth and social inclusivity.

UAE's Nationally Determined Contributions: Pledges, Actions, and Challenges in Emission Reduction

As part of the United Nations process for emission reduction, the UAE's nationally determined contributions (NDCs) outline the country's pledges. Asher Minns, Executive Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, highlights the importance of countries not only making NDC pledges but also acting on them and enhancing their commitments over time. Emission reductions become progressively more challenging as initial efforts focus on relatively easier areas, such as carbon-intensive power generation.

UAE's Revised NDC: Ambitious Emission Reduction Targets and Path to Net-Zero

The UAE's revised NDC sets a target of 182 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in annual greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, representing a 40 percent reduction compared to business-as-usual projections. This new target also signifies a 19 percent decrease in emissions compared to 2019 levels, a significant milestone on the path to achieving net-zero emissions. The UAE had previously committed to achieving net-zero by 2050, with a key focus on decarbonizing energy, including the development of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant and increased investment in renewable energy.

UAE's Comprehensive 2030 Plans: Addressing Desalination, Transport, Waste, Agriculture, and Carbon Capture

The country's comprehensive 2030 plans also encompass reducing the carbon impact of desalination through water recycling, achieving a 56 percent reduction in transport emissions through the establishment of a national network of electric vehicle charging stations, an 8 percent reduction in waste emissions, and a 22 percent reduction in emissions from agriculture. Additionally, the UAE is employing natural methods to capture carbon by planting 30 million mangrove seedlings by 2030, which act as carbon sinks and protect against rising sea levels.

UAE's Commitment to Climate Action and Role as Host of Cop28 Conference

Dr. Michael Mason, Director of the Middle East Centre at the London School of Economics, emphasizes the UAE's commitment to meaningful climate action as it hosts the Cop28 conference. He acknowledges that the UAE has the necessary resources to invest in low-carbon technologies and transition to cleaner energy sources domestically, while also acknowledging that Gulf states intend to remain significant fossil fuel exporters. The UAE emphasizes the lower carbon intensity of its oil compared to the industry average, aligning with its long-term economic plan to reduce emissions and transition to cleaner energy sources.