Abu Dhabi ramps up its climate action strategy

The Abu Dhabi Environment Agency (EAD) has outlined its plans for the emirate’s climate change strategy.

The EAD’s five-year plan aims to reduce the UAE capital’s emissions by 22 percent from 2016 levels by strengthening its efforts to achieve greater environmental resilience and climate neutrality, and attracting investment as part of a sustainable economy.

EAD secretary general Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri said the plan “provides proactive solutions to promote economic diversification through innovation and the use of low-carbon technologies”.

Sectors such as infrastructure, energy and health will be enhanced to ensure both business continuity and climate resilience, she said.

The strategy will be implemented at an accelerated rate across two pillars: mitigation, which will involve reducing climate emissions while maintaining economic growth; and adaptation, which refers to enhancing the resilience and agility of key economic sectors against climate risks.

It will employ 81 initiatives and 12 strategic projects across low-emission vehicles, mangrove restoration, green procurement, building codes, negative emission technologies, decarbonisation and cleaner renewables.

EAD

Sheikha Al-Mazrouei, executive director of integrated environmental policy and planning sector at EAD, said: “Our goal is for sectors to be adaptable to any repercussions of climate change by 2050.

“Over the next five years, we will reduce the emirate’s emissions by 22 percent from 2016 levels, which is equivalent to CO2 sequestered by 500 million trees for 10 years.”

This emission reduction target forms part of the announcement of the emission target reduction of 40 percent by 2030 – through a reduction of absolute emissions by 47 million tonnes of greenhouse gases.

The strategy was developed in collaboration with entities including government departments for energy, transport and economic development, as well as the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, oil company Adnoc and investment group Mubadala.

Al Dhaheri said the launch of the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy demonstrates the UAE’s climate leadership in the regional and global arena.