The UAE and US governments are building on many years of strong bilateral ties to tackle global climate challenges together. The UAE is proud to host COP28 UAE in 2023 at Dubai Expo City, and welcomes the US’s partnership in the organization of an ambitious and inclusive climate conference.
UAE-US collaboration will not only accelerate efforts to reach climate goals, but will also enhance economic opportunity and diversification, while creating knowledge, skills and jobs.
In the private sector, UAE-US partnerships are driving advances in sustainability and clean energy technology. Additionally, the UAE is working with partners in the US to protect natural environments in both countries and tackle pressing climate issues.
UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber coordinates regularly with US Climate Envoy John Kerry to tackle the global climate challenge.
The UAE seeks to increase investments in agricultural innovation as climate change threatens the world’s food production.
The UAE is taking aggressive action to meet the global climate challenge, pioneering renewable energy and committing to reach net zero by 2050.
Partnerships between the UAE and US strengthen international cooperation around shared sustainability goals and promote climate-smart policies.
More than 40 countries have joined the UAE and US in the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate.
Partnerships between the UAE and US are driving expansion across the United States in the wind energy sector, helping grow the economy and create jobs while laying the foundation for a more sustainable energy future.
- In November 2022, the UAE and US launched the UAE-US Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE), which will mobilize $100 billion and deploy 100 new gigawatts (GW) of clean energy in the US, UAE and emerging economies around the world by 2035. The initiative represents a shared commitment by two major energy producers to a responsible and ambitious energy transition. In January 2023, UAE and US officials announced that $20 billion will be allocated to fund 15 GW of clean and renewable energy projects in the US before 2035. This first wave of investments under PACE will be financed through $7 billion in cash equity from the private sector that will catalyze $13 billion through US debt financing and other instruments.
- At COP26 in November 2021, the UAE became the first Gulf country to commit to reach net zero emissions by 2050. During the conference, the UAE and US launched the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), a coalition of 42 countries that accelerates innovation and research and development in agriculture and food systems in order to spur low-carbon growth and enhance food security. Learn more about AIM for Climate.
- UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment HE Mariam Almheiri and US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack led the first AIM for Climate ministerial meeting in February 2022. AIM for Climate partners set a goal of doubling investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems innovation to $8 billion by November 2022.
- UAE and US climate envoys HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber and John Kerry are coordinating on joint efforts to deliver global action on key climate issues, including decarbonization. During a visit to the UAE in 2021, Special Envoy Kerry highlighted the UAE’s role in driving international efforts to combat climate change.
- In 2021, the two countries jointly hosted the first Regional Climate Dialogue in Abu Dhabi, where countries from the GCC and MENA region committed to reducing emissions by 2030 and working collectively to help the region adapt to the serious impacts of climate change and mobilize investment in a new energy economy. To hear more about the progress towards climate action made during the landmark summit, watch this segment from CNN’s Connect the World with Becky Anderson.
- In 2019, UAE company Masdar invested in renewable energy projects in the United States for the first time, acquiring wind farms in New Mexico and Texas. Building on this, in 2020 Masdar announced a second investment that supported the development of eight clean energy projects comprising 1.6 GW across the US. This includes three utility-scale wind farms in Nebraska, Texas and New Mexico and five photovoltaic solar projects in California, totaling 689 MW of solar and 75 MW of lithium-ion battery energy storage to help power local communities.
- In 2017, the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, through its affiliates, purchased a large stake in Arevon Energy, a leading renewable energy development firm operating one of the largest portfolios of solar projects in the US, at around 2.5GW, and is currently building and developing a pipeline of new projects of approximately 5GW. In addition, ADIA is a significant minority investor in Great River Hydro, which produces renewable, carbon-free electricity totaling 584MW in New England.
- UAE sovereign wealth fund Mubadala’s investment in Germany-based Skyborn Renewables in October 2022 included the acquisition of a stake in US-based, 1.6GW Bluepoint Wind, part of the New York Bight Project.
- The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) played a key role in the establishment and development of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, a graduate institute dedicated to renewable energy research that is today part of Khalifa University.
- An MOU signed in 2010 between Masdar and the US Department of Energy laid the foundation for a number of joint partnerships with national laboratories in the US, including projects related to carbon capture, use and sequestration and renewables-powered desalination.
- Collaboration with the US has been key to the UAE becoming the first country in the MENA region to deploy zero-emission nuclear energy. In December 2009, a US-UAE bilateral agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation went into effect, enhancing international standards of nuclear non-proliferation, safety and security. Known as a “123 Agreement,” the pact established a required legal framework for commerce in civilian nuclear energy technology between the two countries. The UAE’s Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, established based on the guidelines laid out by this agreement, is generating clean electricity that is powering the UAE.
The UAE and US share a commitment to protecting the environment.
