Dubai plans to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030

Image courtesy: Waleed Zein/ Getty Images

Dubai, the Middle East region’s business and tourism hub, has unveiled plans to achieve carbon neutrality, with a stricter target to cut the city’s carbon emissions in half by the end of this decade, according to Dubai Media Office.

The emirate’s ambitious plan is set to accelerate the momentum that it has achieved in its transition towards clean energy over the last decade, “backed by a clear roadmap for reaching its net-zero goal by 2050”.

“We are committed to collaborating with other global cities that share our vision for sustainability and climate action,” Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, secretary general of The Executive Council of Dubai said while reaffirming the city’s dedication to environmental sustainability and climate action.

“This ambitious goal is a testament to Dubai’s dedication to a sustainable future, emphasising environmental protection, biodiversity, conservation of resources, a substantial increase in renewable energy, and the advancement of a green and circular economy.”

By fostering partnerships with leading regional and international organisations in clean energy, Dubai has created green funding mechanisms, balanced risks and expanded its local capabilities to play a dynamic role in driving its energy transition.

The city’s approach to climate action has sent positive signals to clean energy investors, created an attractive market for renewable technologies and led to the development of mega clean power projects.

Over the years, the city has delivered exemplary projects such as the world’s largest single-site solar power park, the first hydropower plant in the region, a green hydrogen facility, a waste-to-energy plant and the production of green aluminium.

The plan is the first for a major city in the Middle East that’s aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement to limit temperature rises to 1.5C, said Mark Watts, executive director of C40, a global network of nearly 100 cities that’s combating climate change.

“From setting up the world’s largest single-site solar park to having 75 per cent of vehicles as hybrid or electric powered, Dubai’s new climate action plan stands out in the region.”

Dubai’s ambitious goal

Meanwhile, Dubai’s move is part of a push by cities globally to tackle climate change. The emirate, which is hosting the global COP28 climate summit, set a goal to cut its carbon emissions by 30 per cent in February 2022.

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, the exclusive water and electricity provider, has increased the share of clean energy in the city’s energy mix to about 16.3 per cent of the company’s total installed capacity, which has reached 14,92MW.

Under the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy, Dubai seeks to obtain 100 per cent of its power from clean energy sources. Its Dhs50bn Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which was first announced in 2012, is expected to power as many as 1.3 million homes and reduce carbon emissions by 6.5 million tonnes annually.

The UAE also set a stricter target for reducing carbon emissions by 40 per cent in seven years compared with an earlier plan for a 31 per cent reduction, according to the Ministry of Climate Change & Environment.

The country has been investing in renewable projects and carbon capture as it tries to showcase its green efforts. Earlier in July, the UAE said it would invest as much as $54.5bn (Dhs200bn) as part of its updated national energy strategy that is aimed at tripling the contribution of renewable energy over the next seven years.

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