WWF sets renewable challenge

UAE urged to strive for 100 per cent green energy target

ABU DHABI // The World Wildlife Fund has urged the UAE to look beyond its ambitious Energy Plan 2050 because it believes those goals can be surpassed by striving for 100 per cent renewable energy.

As part of its vision, the WWF – in association with Emirates Wildlife Society – is completing an assessment of the feasibility of 75 to 100 per cent levels of renewable power generation in the UAE by 2050.

The assessment will provide cross-sector recommendations the UAE could implement to reach these ambitious levels of renewable energy generation.

“You look at the cost of solar and it keeps going down,” said Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, head of WWF International’s Climate and Energy Practice.

“The UAE is doing a very good job, but the world as a whole needs to commit more

“Right now, we are on track for 2.7°C global warming, so more needs to be done if we are to meet the Paris Agreement.” The terms of the agreement were decided during the Conference of Parties 21, where 196 countries signed a legally binding contract to take action and reduce global warming to less than 2°C from pre-industrial levels by 2050.

Mr Pulgar- Vidal said that renewable energy presented the best opportunity for closing the gap between what science demands and what countries have committed to in terms of reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

He said the world’s energy system was in transition, driven by the demand for clean, sustainable energy, and the WWF believed a world powered by 100 per cent renewables was possible by 2050.

“If we are to avoid the worst effects of climate change, we must limit global temperature rise to well below the 1.5° C threshold agreed to in Paris,” he said. “To achieve that, we must significantly scale up the roll-out of renewable energy.”

Tanzeed Alam, director of climate and energy at Emirates Wildlife Society-WWF, said the UAE was uniquely positioned to push forward renewable energy innovation and had “the opportunity to drive even greater ambition for renewables here and across the region”.

Reaffirming the importance of cross- sector collaboration in support of the UAE’s goals, EWS-WWF is urging businesses and government entities to join it and fund its drive for 100 per cent use of renewables.

“We are inviting all entities looking to partner with us on this project to approach us throughout Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week,” said Mr Alam.

‘ The UAE is doing a very good job, but the world as a whole needs to commit more Manuel Pulgar-Vidal head of WWF International’s Climate and Energy Practice