The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) and the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy are leading the charge for a "fundamental shift in Abu Dhabi's energy mix" (DoE). The plan, which was announced during COP27 in Egypt, calls for the generation of the majority of Abu Dhabi's electricity from clean and renewable sources by 2035, with the goal of dramatically reducing the emirate's carbon emissions. His Excellency Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of the Department of Energy, and Her Excellency Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General of EAD, spoke at COP27 to announce the new rules. He said the new rules would foster technological development and breakthroughs in the clean and renewable energy field, which would help diversify the economy and bring in both domestic and international investment.
“The target to produce 60% of all electricity using clean sources by 2035 is an important step towards meeting the UAE’s Net Zero aspirations by 2050. Planned investment of billions of dirhams in clean energy infrastructure will be transformative in helping us transition to a low carbon economy with positive environmental and social outcomes. We at EAD are working closely with 26 Abu Dhabi entities including the Department of Energy, as members of ‘The Abu Dhabi Climate Change Taskforce’ to develop climate change policy and related strategic plans to achieve this transformation,” she explained.
EAD and ENGIE reported the completion of Phase II of their Mangrove Rehabilitation Project in January 2022, and in July 2022, the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy signed an agreement with the Ministry of Mines and Energy of Colombia to explore energy-related potential for cooperation. According to HE Al Dhaheri, EAD's dedication to the UAE government's sustainability strategy would be strengthened by the new laws. She also said that the EAD is working on a Nexus decision support system to help the emirate realise water, environment, energy, and food policy coherence. "We hope the emirate will be the first in the region to adopt this initiative, which will further reinforce the UAE's climate leadership role and help its hosting of COP28 next year," Al Dhaheri said. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Climate Change and Environment unveiled the National Air Quality Agenda 2031 in September 2022, and in the following month, the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) announced new regulations to hasten the UAE's transition to Net Zero. HE Al Marar predicted, "This will pave the way for higher value-added and increased productivity for local enterprises. These decarbonization strategies will facilitate the UAE Net Zero 2050 pathways beginning immediately. They are pledges to the well-being of humanity and the Earth that are both genuine and immediate." He also noted that the rate of change and deployment of 60% clean and renewable electricity by 2035 would be among the world's most significant. According to the Department of Energy, carbon emissions per MWh produced in Abu Dhabi are projected to drop by 75% by 2035 compared to 2016 levels thanks to the new regulatory framework. In light of this, Abu Dhabi will play a pivotal role in helping the United Arab Emirates (UAE) meet its revised climate targets of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) by 31% in 2030 compared to business as usual and reaching Net Zero by 2050. According to the statement released by EAD, the UAE's new goals were laid forth in its "Second Nationally Determined Contribution" in September, well in advance of COP27 and as part of the COP26 Glasgow Climate Pact pledges. Towards the end of September 2022, the EAD announced that three of its facilities had been granted LEED certification, and by the end of the same month, four cement manufacturers announced that they will use alternative fuels as part of a contract with MOCCAE and Emirates RDF.
