UAE Carbon Alliance launches; founding members include FAB, TAQA, ACX, Masdar

Image: UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators

Powered by a coalition of partners, the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA) has launched the UAE Carbon Alliance to advance the development of a carbon market ecosystem.

The UICCA, an Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) registered non-governmental organisation, is a think tank and accelerator supporting the nation’s transition to a green economy.

Chaired by Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, the UAE Carbon Alliance comprises leading organisations that recognise the importance of carbon credits to achieve net zero goals.

The alliance’s founding members include AirCarbon Exchange (ACX), First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) and Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), in addition to UICCA.

#Masdar is proud to be part of the newly established #UAECarbonAlliance, a coalition of partners dedicated to developing the region’s first carbon market, chaired by HH Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan.

— Masdar (@Masdar) June 9, 2023

Bringing together key market participants from across the UAE, the Carbon Alliance looks to establish national cooperation in decarbonisation efforts, develop innovative standards and frameworks for constructive carbon financing, increase education and knowledge of carbon markets, and support organisations on greenhouse gas emission reduction projects.

The establishment of a resilient, transparent, and high-quality carbon market will direct investment and capital towards projects that support decarbonisation, while providing corporations with a market-based mechanism to accelerate their transition journey and achieve reduction targets.

Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, president and CEO of UICCA, commented: “Carbon reduction is both fundamental and non-negotiable for the health of our planet. To reach net zero, we must actively reduce our emissions across all sectors, and it is imperative that public and private sectors take active steps to reduce emissions.

Productive partnerships like the UAE Carbon Alliance will help the world find practical solutions on the path to decarbonisation, by funding the actual physical carbon abatement efforts and making them financially, environmentally, and socially viable.

“The UAE Carbon Alliance will establish the UAE as a leading hub for high integrity, high quality carbon markets, to help fund the much-needed action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees.”

UAE Carbon Alliance aims to support private and public sector

The UAE Carbon Alliance will facilitate inclusive dialogue between all stakeholder groups to promote a robust framework and action plan for implementing a carbon market in the UAE.

It will convene its first executive committee meeting with all its founding members soon. The UICCA will play a significant role, guiding the deployment of carbon credit solutions in the region by facilitating stakeholder collaboration across the public and private sector, as well as acting as the secretariat of the Alliance.

The outcomes from the UAE Carbon Alliance will inform and drive government strategies while bringing greater alignment between the private and public sector. The alliance will represent buyers and sellers of carbon credits, traders, climate project developers, financial institutions, corporations, exchanges and brokers from across the UAE and beyond.

To facilitate sector-wide dialogue across all industries and the development of a robust carbon market framework, organisations that are committed to driving forward the nation’s decarbonisation agenda are welcome to join and collaborate with the UAE Carbon Alliance.