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The UAE, as part of its participation in the activities of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate COP27, which was held in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh from November 6-18, revealed the national track for climate neutrality 2050, which represents the time frame for the mechanisms and stages of implementation of the Emirates Strategic Initiative. To strive for climate neutrality by 2050 announced in October 2021.
The path sets the ceiling for climate ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and aims to achieve an 18% reduction in emissions compared to the reduction rates targeted in the updated report of the second nationally determined contributions, under the Paris Agreement by 2030, then reach the reduction rates to 60% by 2040, and reach a degree of neutrality. by 2050.
Maryam bint Mohammed Al Muhairi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: “Climate change represents the most serious threat to the future of humanity, and the planet as a whole, as it will affect public health, the availability of food and water, air, places to live, and even wildlife and biodiversity, and we are aware of the importance and inevitability of confronting this. The challenge and its repercussions, with the participation of all components and sectors of society, and within our voluntary commitments to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement, last year we launched the Emirates Strategic Initiative to strive towards achieving climate neutrality by 2050, and today, we are proud to announce the details of the national track for climate neutrality 2050, which represents the mechanisms for the phased implementation of the initiative.”
She added: “We depend on the actual implementation directions of the initiative on innovative solutions and the latest available technologies, and we expect the path to achieve significant gains in creating new job opportunities and balanced and sustainable economic growth opportunities, and will also contribute to raising air quality rates, and we are determined and committed to move forward in taking the necessary measures. To contribute to global climate action to ensure a more sustainable future.”
The UAE, after announcing the strategic initiative to strive for climate neutrality 2050, in October 2021 as part of the Expo 2020 Dubai, approved the formation of the Emirates Council for Climate Action headed by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and with the membership of more than 19 bodies from the government and private sectors to work as a general umbrella for climate action on At the local level, the formation of the national committee was approved to prepare the national strategy for climate neutrality 2050, which worked on preparing the long-term strategy for climate neutrality.
The development of the strategy consists of two phases, the first, which was completed last September, defined the national track for climate neutrality 2050, and included a measurement to determine the best practices in this field with similar and developed countries of the world, with countries of similar nature and developed countries in climate neutrality, determining the baseline for emissions and assessing The impact of current national strategies (energy, water, demand management, waste, industry) on emissions up to 2050, the development of a model for estimating greenhouse gas emissions and modeling, the preparation of a list of priority mitigation measures, the preparation of scenarios to reach climate neutrality.
The best global methodologies were adopted in the development of many scenarios to achieve climate neutrality, and the scenario was chosen that represents a diversified and balanced path in climate ambitious development activities, and depends on accelerating the implementation of economically feasible mitigation measures and steps, with a focus on the green economy, and pushing the transition towards green industrial development , which enhances exports and protects the main industries based on (aluminum, steel, cement, oil and gas), so this scenario achieves a balance between environmental and climate impacts on the one hand, and social and economic impacts on the other, and is expected to meet the requirements of maintaining global warming less from 2 degrees Celsius.
As part of this scenario, the UAE will adopt several measures to mitigate climate change, such as increasing the share of clean energy in the domestic energy mix, expanding the use of clean electricity in various sectors, including heavy sectors, and a gradual decrease in the use of ordinary fossil fuels, including In line with the principles of a just energy transition, the measures also include expanding carbon capture, utilization and storage systems through nature-based solutions, as well as modern industrial systems such as carbon capture technologies and ocean-based solutions, as well as supporting climate-smart transportation.
The approved national track will support an increase in cumulative GDP by rates ranging from 1.8 to 3.2 percent until 2050, with a total increase of between 610 billion to 1080 billion dirhams compared to the baseline for the year 2019. The path will also contribute to creating and maintaining jobs with an average of 200,000 jobs.
On the other hand, it will contribute to recording a significant and increasing improvement in air quality levels as a result of a decrease in pollution resulting from industry, energy and transportation, and consequently, public health levels will improve, disease rates will decrease, and the competitive advantage of various industries will increase due to the fact that they provide low-carbon products.
The climate-neutral national track will contribute to enhancing transparency and increasing the chances of achieving national targets to limit the global warming rate to 1.5°C and 2°C, in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.
