Ministry of Climate Change highlights UAE’S laurels
The Ministry has long-term projects, including the Fujairah Cultured Coral Reef Gardens and the Artificial Caves Programme
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, MOCCAE, marked a successful participation in the G20 Summit. Joined by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and the Office of the Minister of State for Food and Water Security, MOCCAE provided an overview of the UAE’S experience, achievements, and future trends in the areas of agriculture, environmental protection, and climate action.
The virtual G20 Summit was presided over and hosted by Saudi Arabia.
During his participation in the G20 Environment Ministers Meeting, Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, highlighted the importance of concerted action to preserve the environment for future generations and achieve Sustainable Development Goals, SDGS, 13: Climate Action, 14: Life Below Water, and 15: Life on Land.
He introduced the country’s approach to effective environmental action that integrates adequate legislation with on-the-ground programmes and initiatives.
The Minister noted that 2020 saw the designation of five new terrestrial protected areas in the UAE. The country now has 49 protected areas that account for 15.5 per cent of its territory. He also presented examples of long-term projects and initiatives aimed at protecting the marine environment, including the Fujairah Cultured Coral Reef Gardens, the largest project of its kind in the world that seeks to cultivate 1.5 million corals, the Artificial Caves programme that provides alternative habitats for aquatic life, and the mangrove planting drive.
Moreover, Dr Al Nuaimi explained how the country leverages state-of-the-art technologies to reduce the environmental footprint of the agricultural sector while increasing its production.
The Minister reiterated the UAE’S dedication to supporting global environmental efforts that contribute to improving lives and shaping a beter future for the next generations. In this context, he underscored the UAE’S support for the circular carbon economy, CCE, approach, proposed by Saudi Arabia to accelerate the transition to more sustainable and cleaner energy systems.
Moreover, Dr Al Nuaimi participated in the meeting of the G20 Climate Sustainability Working
Group, CSWG, where he reaffirmed the UAE’S commitment to its Nationally Determined Contribution, NDC, under the Paris Agreement. He added that the UAE was keen to help other countries scale up their climate resilience capabilities to counter the number one existential threat to the future of humanity.
He noted that owing to its forward-looking leadership, the UAE adopted multiple strategies to advance its climate change mitigation and adaptation drive. These include the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 that aims to increase the share of clean energy in the mix to 50 per cent, the National Climate Change Plan 2017-2050, and the National Climate Change Law that, once finalised, will serve as a framework for nationwide climate action.
Earlier, in a meeting with Sir Laurie Bristow, the UK government’s Regional Ambassador for the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, to the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and China, Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi emphasised the importance of green recovery POST-COVID-19.
He noted that ensuring the environmental friendliness of economic recovery plans would help the world overcome the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic while protecting the environment and sustaining natural resources.
At the meeting, Dr Al Nuaimi said: “The UAE is currently finalising its new Nationally Determined Contribution, NDC, under the Paris Agreement, and will be ready to share it at COP26. I am proud to say that we raised the bar high for our climate targets.”
He added: “On the sidelines of the UN Climate Action Summit in 2019 in New York, the UAE presented upgrades to its NDC through adopting the National Climate Change Plan 2017-2050, and seting a target of 50 per cent clean energy in its total energy mix by 2050 in line with the UAE Energy Strategy 2050.
“As part of its sustained commitment to climate action, the country also announced joining the Climate and Clean Air Coalition to Reduce ShortLived Climate Pollutants, an alliance that aims to improve air quality and reduce the momentum of climate change.”