EAD and DoE partner to contribute to UAE carbon neutrality goal
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and Department of Energy (DoE), are leading a fundamental shift in Abu Dhabi's energy mix to achieve significantly lower carbon emissions in the Emirate. This will be achieved through new regulations aimed at generating a large proportion of Abu Dhabi’s electricity from clean and renewable sources by 2035, marking a significant milestone in the UAE’s journey to deliver carbon neutrality by 2050.
The new regulations, drafted by the DoE, will see 60 percent of the Emirate’s electricity being generated from clean and renewable sources by 2035, and up to 75 percent reduction in carbon emissions per MWh produced by the electricity sector. The DoE’s ‘Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 for Electricity Production in Abu Dhabi’ regulatory framework is the first legally binding clean and renewable energy target in the Middle East for the electricity sector. It forms part of an ongoing energy transition to accelerate the UAE’s decarbonisation and green growth efforts.
At the United Nation’s annual climate summit, COP27, in Egypt, Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, said the new regulations would promote economic diversification, attract domestic and foreign investment, and encourage technology development and innovations in the clean and renewable energy space. “The planned investment of billions of (UAE) dirhams in clean energy infrastructure will be transformative in helping us transition to a low carbon economy with positive environmental and social outcomes. We are working closely with 26 Abu Dhabi entities, including the Department of Energy, as members of ‘The Abu Dhabi Climate Change Taskforce’, to develop climate change policy and related strategic plans to achieve this transformation.”
EAD is leading a set of framework initiatives to reduce the impact of climate change, including the preparation of the climate change policy for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and a comprehensive strategy for the years 2023-2027.
Her Excellency also announced that EAD is developing a Nexus decision support system that would allow Abu Dhabi to achieve policy coherence between Water, Environment, Energy and Food. The project would be implemented with the participation of the key custodians of these sectors. This pioneering initiative aims to support the Government of Abu Dhabi in achieving more sustainable utilisation of the natural resources of the Emirate, improved water, energy, and food security and more cost-effective projects and efficient management in the relevant sectors.
To complement this scheme, there would be existing voluntary programmes, such as the electronic platform for trading carbon credits on the Abu Dhabi Global Market.
DoE Chairman, His Excellency Awaidha Murshed Al Marar said the clean energy targets 2035 framework would have a deep impact on the Abu Dhabi energy structure, allowing the broader economy and industrial sector to quickly move in the sustainability direction. He added that the speed of transition and deployment of 60 percent clean and renewable electricity by 2035 would be among the most profound globally.
Abu Dhabi, therefore, will be a leading contributor to the UAE’s updated climate targets to achieve a 31 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2030 and net zero by 2050. The UAE’s new targets were published in its ‘Second Nationally Determined Contribution’ in September ahead of COP27 and as part of the COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact commitments.
As the UAE prepares to host COP28 UAE in 2023 at Expo City Dubai, a focus will be on bringing together all stakeholders to deliver practical and actionable sustainable energy solutions that accelerate climate progress, energy security and energy transition.
