As a country at the heart of climate impacts and undergoing a major energy transition, the UAE is taking aggressive action to meet the global climate challenge and believes low-carbon investments will support diversification and job creation.
The UAE was the first country in the Middle East to:
- Sign and ratify the Paris Agreement,
- Commit to an economy-wide reduction in emissions and
- Announce an initiative to achieve net zero by 2050.
In September 2022, the UAE updated its second nationally determined contribution (NDC), aiming to curb carbon emissions by 31 percent by 2030, up from its previous 23.5 percent target.
The UAE will convene the global community to fight climate change when it hosts the 28th UN Climate Conference of the Parties (COP28 UAE) at Dubai Expo City in November 2023. Read more here.
Cooperation with the United States is also central to the UAE’s climate plan. The UAE is building solar and wind projects across the US, collaborating with the US to establish Mission Innovation, a partnership to double government clean energy R&D within 5 years, and working together with the US on implementation of the $50 million UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund, which is building solar power plants in 16 countries. And through the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM 4 Climate), the UAE and US are leading a group of over 40 countries to marshal investments in R&D for climate-smart agri-tech.
In addition, the recently announced UAE-US Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE) will mobilize $100 billion in commercial investment and other financing in addition to deploying 100 new gigawatts of clean energy by 2035.
“It’s remarkable to find the UAE trying to lead many other nations in the search of new technology to address the global climate challenge and in transitioning to the new economy while facing this crisis.” - US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry (April 2021)
Issue Brief – The UAE: A Leader and Partner for Climate Action
Learn more about the actions and initiatives the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change is leading to address the climate crisis.
Beyond its multilateral commitments, the UAE supports global sustainable development. Through direct investments, aid and concessional loans, the UAE has provided dozens of nations with the resources, infrastructure and technology required to adopt more efficient, sustainable sources of energy. The UAE has invested more than $50 billion in renewable energy projects across 70 countries – including 27 island nations – and plans to invest an additional $50 billion over the next decade.
The UAE is taking climate action at home and with partners around the world
