The United Arab Emirates (UAE), the host of this year's COP28 climate summit, is not only a major oil producer but also a pioneer in renewable energy.
The country has set ambitious targets to increase its share of clean energy in its power mix and reduce its carbon footprint.
At the COP28 conference, the UAE is rallying other nations to join its efforts and commit to tripling the world's renewable energy capacity by 2030.
The UAE's renewable energy vision
(Photo : KARIM SAHIB/AFP via Getty Images)
The UAE has a vision to become a global leader in renewable energy and a hub for innovation and technology.
The country has invested heavily in developing solar, wind, and nuclear power projects, as well as green hydrogen and carbon capture and storage.
The UAE aims to generate 50% of its electricity from clean sources by 2050, and reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 23.5% by 2030 compared to 2016 levels.
One of the UAE's flagship projects is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world, with a planned capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2030.
The solar park also hosts the world's tallest solar tower, which uses concentrated solar power technology to produce electricity even when the sun is not shining.
Another landmark project is the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the first nuclear power plant in the Arab world, which started operating in 2020 and will provide 25% of the UAE's electricity needs once fully operational.
The UAE is also exploring the potential of green hydrogen, a clean fuel that can be produced from renewable energy sources and used for various applications, such as transport, industry, and power generation.
The UAE has launched several pilot projects to produce and export green hydrogen, as well as to blend it with natural gas to reduce emissions.
The UAE is also a founding member of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), which is headquartered in Abu Dhabi and promotes the adoption of renewable energy worldwide.
Also Read: UN COP28: UAE Plans To Use Climate Meetings To Promoto Oil and Gas Deals, Documents Says
The UAE's role at COP28
As the host of COP28, the UAE is playing a key role in facilitating the negotiations and building consensus among the parties.
The UAE is also using its platform to showcase its achievements and initiatives in renewable energy and to encourage other countries to follow suit.
The UAE has co-led the Global Renewable Energy Initiative, a voluntary pledge by nearly 120 nations to triple the world's renewable energy capacity from 2,800 gigawatts in 2020 to 8,500 gigawatts by 2030. The initiative aims to accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy and to create jobs, reduce poverty, and enhance energy security.
The country has also supported other initiatives at COP28, such as the Global Methane Pledge, the Powering Past Coal Alliance, and the Mission Innovation 2.0.
The UAE has also announced new partnerships and collaborations with various countries and organizations, such as the United States, the European Union, China, India, Saudi Arabia, and the World Bank, to advance renewable energy development and deployment.
Several events and exhibitions at COP28, such as the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the World Future Energy Summit, and the World Green Economy Summit have also been hosted by the UAE to showcase the latest innovations and solutions in renewable energy.
The UAE's leadership and commitment to renewable energy at COP28 has been praised by many observers and participants, who see it as a positive example for other oil-producing countries and regions.
The country has demonstrated that renewable energy is not only a necessity but also an opportunity for economic diversification, social development, and environmental protection.
They have also shown that renewable energy can coexist and complement other energy sources, such as oil, gas, and nuclear, in a balanced and sustainable way.
The UAE hopes that its efforts and achievements will inspire other nations to join the global renewable energy movement and to work together to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Related article: Oil and Gas Industry Announces Emissions Reduction Target for COP28
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