In the run-up to the best ever successful climate summit, the United Arab Emirates has set its goals and priorities to ensure a successful conference that minimizes the impact of climate change on the world.

The UAE could experience unprecedented use of clean energy and global warming climate solutions as part of a strategic initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.

It is a national engine aimed at reducing emissions and climate neutrality by 2050; This makes the UAE the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to officially declare its goal of achieving climate neutrality.

UAE strategic initiative

The UAE initiative is in line with the new 1050 Principles, and will provide new opportunities for sustainable development and economic progress. It will also contribute to establishing the state as an ideal destination for living and working, and establish prosperous societies.

As part of the energy strategy until 2050, the UAE is targeting a mix of renewable, nuclear and clean energy sources to ensure a balance between economic needs and environmental goals with investments of 600 billion dirhams until 2050, in order to ensure that energy demand is met. The strategy also aims to raise the efficiency of individual and institutional consumption by 40%, to raise the contribution of clean energy to the total energy mix produced in the country to 50%, of which 44% is renewable energy and 6% is nuclear energy, to achieve a saving equivalent to 700 billion dirhams until 2050, in addition to reducing carbon emissions from electricity production by 70% over the next three decades.

Green Retreat… Towards a Better Future

The UAE also hosted a conference on climate change and the environment as a “green retreat”. A group of ministers and more than 150 officials from 50 government and private sector entities took part in the conference, building on the UAE’s leading role in leading national climate efforts.

The UAE is preparing to host COP28 by the end of this year, which opened the door to a green retreat organized in the city of Expo in Dubai under the slogan “Together for Climate.” The retreat aims to mobilize capacities and coordinate efforts among all stakeholders, to build on what has been achieved in combating climate change, preserving the environment, enhancing sustainability in the country, and to find more ideas and innovative projects in this field.

The “Green Retreat” also saw the presence of President Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Executive Director of Independent Projects for Climate Change in the UAE, Mariam Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, Suhail Al Mazroui, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, Dr. Ahmed Al Hawl Al Falasi, Minister of Education, and Sheikh Salem bin Khaled Al Qasimi, Minister of Culture and Youth.

Minister Maryam Al Muhairi said that the Green Cell has an ambitious mission, with the participation of the UAE’s national cadres and its strategic partners from various sectors concerned, to advance the course of climate action in the UAE and to provide a model befitting the country’s status and climate efforts during COP28, and to enhance the country’s contribution to providing inspiring and innovative solutions to meet global climate challenges and build a climate-safe world, according to the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

Seven councils were agreed to cover all topics linked to the sustainability value chain, which include water resource management and conservation, biodiversity and blue carbon system protection, private sector participation and industrial transformation, waste management and the circular economy, sustainable transport, renewable energy and energy efficiency, sustainable agriculture and food security.