Global warming is worsening and urgently requires the attention of the international community. Climate change is rapidly becoming the largest challenge facing the world today, and poses dangerous threats for our future. According to a report from the World Bank, titled ‘Turn down the heat,’ the Middle East stand at the forefront of climate change. Rivers are drying out, coastal areas are sinking, and over the last 150 years, industrial development has released a large amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are a significant cause of climate change, leading to increasing the planet’s average temperature. Although greenhouse gas emissions in Arab countries does not exceed 5% of the world’s emissions, it is still one of the largest contributors to climate change.
Environmental experts believe that the effects of climate change are already impacting the Arab region. There have been torrential rains and floods in Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, including a cyclone that hit the southern coasts of Oman and Yemen. Desertification and drought are also the results of climate change. The Arab region has witnessed a significant rise in temperatures in recent decades. Temperatures are expected to rise by as much as eight degrees Celsius in parts of Algeria, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq by the end of the century.
Three main challenges that face the UAE to mitigate the increasing effects of climate change include: population growth, urban and industrial development, and limited natural resources. The rapid increase in the country’s population has led to a rise in the demand for industrial growth. This has led to excessive greenhouse gas emission, especially carbon dioxide. We are aware that the pressing issue of climate change is not only an environmental challenge, but also an issue for ensuring development, with enormous social and economic challenges that directly impact the rate of sustainable development.
The UAE has taken great strides towards addressing climate change and mitigating its impact on the environment and economic sectors. The UAE works according to a strategic framework, to preserve the environment, and strives to develop the role of the youth in its work to reduce the effects of climate change. The UAE’s wise leadership launched the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, to highlight the importance of environmental preservation, reflecting the priority the UAE gives to protecting the environment. The UAE is one of the first countries in the world to support the international community’s efforts to tackle climate change. The UAE was one of the first countries to support the Kyoto Protocol in 2005, to curb greenhouse gas emissions in industrialised countries, in addition to being the first country in the region to sign the Copenhagen Agreement, during the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties, to support the long-term agreement towards reducing emissions.
The UAE has played an important role in the negotiations that led to an agreement to combat climate change, at the International Conference of the Parties in 2015 (COP21), in Paris. For the first time in over 20 years of UN negotiations, 186 out 195 countries pledged their commitment to reduce emissions and combat climate change, to keep the increase of planet’s temperature less than 2 degrees.
UAE is committed to achieving the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, launched by the United Nations, to eradicate poverty, inequality, and the effects of climate.
Dubai seeks to support efforts in renewable energy, sustainability and environment. The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy launched the Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021, to reduce carbon emissions by 16% by 2021. This will transform Dubai into the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2021. HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to transform Dubai into an international hub for clean energy and green economy, by providing 7% of Dubai's total power output from clean resources by 2020, 25% by 2030, and 75% by 2050. This will enable Dubai to reduce its carbon footprint, and limit the effects of global warming.
To contribute to global efforts in this regard, Dubai hosted the World Green Economy Summit over the last three years, to promote Dubai as an international hub for green economy, while providing a platform to gather experts in the field of green economy, to strengthen partnerships between the public and private sectors, while developing green initiatives aimed at ensuring a sustainable future.
DEWA works to enhance sustainability in the Emirate, by launching clean and renewable energy projects, and increasing the efficiency of water end energy networks, in addition to launching initiatives, to raise awareness and instil a culture of rationalisation among community members. This supports objectives to lower Dubai and the UAE’s carbon footprint and mitigate the impact of global warming. DEWA continuously participates in conferences, events and national forums that highlight environmental action and the most innovative solutions in the field of green development.
Solar energy is the most common source of clean energy in the UAE, as the country is conveniently located within the solar belt. In Dubai, about 2,150 kilowatts per square meter (kW/m2) of solar radiation, which can be used in PV technology, is recorded annually. The amount of direct radiation which can be used for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology is recorded at 1850 (kW/m2) annually. These results greatly contribute to the implementation of solar energy technology in Dubai.
DEWA launched the ‘Shams Dubai’ initiative to support the ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Development’ initiative, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, in adherence with the UAE Vision 2021 to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world. Shams Dubai focuses on achieving a sustainable environment, in adherence with the Dubai Strategy 2021, to transform Dubai into a city with clean, healthy, and sustainable environmental elements. Shams Dubai encourages customers to install PV panels on their rooftops to generate electricity from solar power. The electricity is used on-site and the surplus is exported to DEWA’s network. An offset between exported and imported electricity units is conducted and the customer account is settled based on this offset.
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