Abu Dhabi firmly on road to a greener future

Greenhouse gas inventory shows clarity of figures lies in convertibles to a shrinking carbon footprint

The second Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory Project released by Abu Dhabi’s Environment Agency highlights the synthesis the emirate is achieving in its goal of reducing carbon emissions and its part in the global fight against climate change. The report points a 16.3 per cent increase in GHGs between 2010-2012 owing to population growth and economic development, with the energy sector taking up 74.1 per cent of GHGs emissions in 2012. The 16.3 per cent increase was commensurate with the population growth — between 2010 and 2012, the emirate’s population increased by 15.4 per cent. Of the 74.1 per cent emissions in the energy segment, electricity and water (27 per cent) and oil and gas (21.8 per cent) take up significant percentages, with transport and manufacturing comprising the rest.

The significance of the report lies in its clarity and purpose. What these numbers actually mean is that they are the convertibles for aiming for a shrinking carbon footprint. For example, Abu Dhabi’s green cover, including mangroves, absorbs around 6 per cent of the total carbon dioxide emissions every year.

The findings and the apportioning of causes are critical in policy planning and segue seamlessly with the overall national strategy of moving towards an environmentally sustainable future, that is part of the Abu Dhabi Plan 2020. The UAE’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) was fully articulated when it deposited the instrument of ratification for the Entry into Force of the Paris agreement last week.

The road ahead is clear: By 2030, Abu Dhabi is working towards a potential 40 per cent reduction in emissions. Plus, the country’s nuclear energy programme is expected to lead to a saving of 12 million tonnes of emissions annually. Fact-finding missions such as these reports contain the seed of the future.