ACCELERATE EFFORTS TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE

The UAE has always done its best to combat global warming and has been supporting global initiatives to reduce the consequences of climate change. The country has adopted a series of ambitious visions and strategies, including the UAE Vision 2021, to promote sustainability. The UAE Energy Strategy 2050 seeks to bring the share of clean energy in the total energy mix to 50 per cent, while the National Climate Change Plan of the UAE streamlines the concept of climate change mitigation and adaptation across the government and private sector.

Dr Thani Bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, has rightly called for acceleration in global efforts to ensure that the terms of the Paris Agreement on climate change are implemented without further delay.

As he stated in his address at the Conference of the Parties (COP24) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Poland, the warning signs are becoming more evident AND DRAMATIC – THE DEVASTATING FOREST IRES, DROUGHTS, LOODS, AND hurricanes are now the norm rather than the exception across the globe.

Such climatic catastrophes make it very clear for world nations that they have no choice but to intensify their efforts to cut down carbon emissions and expedite climate adaptation measures.

The agony of Maldives is a glaring example. The low-lying Maldives is among countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change such as rising sea levels and coral reef deterioration.

The words expressed by the head of the Maldives delegation, Mohamed Nasheed, highlight the seriousness of the issue. As he put it, “We are not prepared to die. We are not going to become THE IRST VICTIMS OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS. INSTEAD, WE ARE GOING TO DO everything in our power to keep our heads above water.”

In Paris, three years ago, countries agreed to do everything they could to keep global temperature rises to well under 2°C above pre-industrial levels, and as close as possible to 1.5°C.

Now, in Katowice, Poland – with 2018 chosen by the parties themselves as deadline for the adoption of implementation guidelines to move forward – the 197 parties of the convention have little choice but to succeed.

The solution, as Dr Al Zeyoudi points out, lies in experimenting with models that have proved successful in reducing the effects of climate change, across several sectors. The adoption of renewable and clean energy projects will go a long way in alleviating the problem. ■■■