Abu Dhabi, 23 November 2024: The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environment Agency –Abu Dhabi (EAD) announced significant progress in implementing the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy 2023–2027. The strategy aims to enhance the emirate’s resilience to climate change risks, support efforts to achieve climate neutrality goals and the outcomes of the UAE Consensus, continue the UAE’s global leadership in sustainability, and ensure sustainable economic growth.
The joint announcement came on the sidelines of the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), (COP29), held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from November 11 to 22 November 2024.
The strategy focuses on achieving climate leadership by improving the ability to adapt to expected impacts while still attracting investment, reducing emissions from key sectors in an ongoing drive towards a low-carbon economy, and enhancing innovation.
The first of its kind in the region, the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy is based on mitigation by reducing the emirate’s emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change by protecting the most vulnerable sectors from its repercussions. The target emissions reduction is the equivalent to 500 million trees storing carbon dioxide over 10 years. The strategy constitutes Abu Dhabi’s plan to reach Net Zero by 2050 and is being implemented over a period of five years through 77 strategic projects implemented by 14 governmental and non-governmental entities.
The strategy is based on two main pillars: the first is adaptation to climate change, which will be achieved by enhancing the resilience of the four main sectors (energy, health, infrastructure, and environment) in adapting to the expected risks of climate change. The second focuses on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions by reducing them in key sectors and expanding the scope of innovative carbon capture and storage technologies.
A follow-up committee is responsible for the implementation of the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Strategy. Led by the DOE, it also includes members from EAD, the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), the Department of Economic Development (DED), the Department of Health (DOH), and the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA).
The committee is responsible for: tracking implementation of the projects included in the strategy, proposing and implementing new projects, and aligning them with the initiatives of the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy, the Plan Capital and Al Dhafra 2040 plans, as well as other long-term plans and strategies. It also coordinates with strategic partners to define action plans regarding future challenges and opportunities, and supervises the mechanism for implementing joint initiatives, including the feasibility of reducing emissions, the trading system, and any related initiatives.
According to the report issued by the committee, which has monitored the achievements made in the first year of the strategy’s launch since July 2023, about 26 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent will have been reduced by the end of 2024. This is a significant achievement towards achieving the strategy’s ultimate goal of reducing by 22 per cent the emirate’s emissions by 2027, compared to the base year 2016.
During this year, several projects were completed, including, for example, the completion of the nuclear power generation project, which in turn reduced greenhouse gas emissions in the emirate by 22 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. This is in addition to the Al Dhafra Solar Power Project, which contributed to reducing emissions by 2.4 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent and developing the regulatory mechanism for implementing the circular economy in the industrial sector. Similarly, developing a decision to report environmental data will contribute to developing the Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) programme in accordance with the requirements of the Paris Agreement.
The change in greenhouse gas emissions is monitored through the inventory conducted by EAD to determine the quantities and locations of these emissions using the best approved inventory programs, as the fifth inventory of emissions for Abu Dhabi has been completed.
The implementation progress of plans to adapt to the effects of climate change in the most vulnerable sectors such as energy, environment, infrastructure, and health, has currently reached about 30 per cent. These efforts are part of wider aims to develop comprehensive 100 per cent adaptation plans for all major sectors by 2027.
The report monitored the progress of the strategy’s projects, 77 of which support four main axes, including adaptation, mitigation, economic diversification, and cross-cutting topics. The completion rate of all projects planned during the strategy period is currently at 26 per cent. This includes the completion of 20 major projects, including a feasibility study to reduce and trade carbon emissions, and the development of the Al Dhafra Solar Power Project.
There are 43 projects currently being implemented as part of the strategy. These include major initiatives such as a temperature warning system, a reduction in the oil and gas sector’s carbon footprint, green protection from natural storms, a green government to support the local green economy, a reconsideration of urban planning, and a move to a low-carbon smart transportation system. In addition, 14 projects are being prepared for implementation, including, for example, establishing shelters to confront natural disasters, fortifying existing infrastructure, and developing carbon emission reduction technologies.
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