UAE to boost low-carbon energy to 24%
United Arab Emirates will scale up low-carbon energy over the next few years as part of its new national climate plan
The United Arab Emirates will scale up low-carbon energy over the next few years as part of its new national climate plan, according to an official announcement.
The UAE submitted its national plan to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and announced its goal of covering 24 per cent of its energy mix with low-carbon sources by 2021.
The target is a central point of the UAEs Intended Nationally-Determined Contribution (INDC) that all UN member states were asked to submit by 1 October this year as part of international efforts to reach a global climate agreement in Paris in December.
On Friday 25 October, the UAE Cabinet endorsed the target to boost low-carbon energy in the nation’s energy mix from 0.2 per cent in 2014 to 24 per cent in 2021.
Low-carbon technologies will include renewable energy and nuclear power and the target will be distributed among the 7 Emirates Abu Dhabi, the capital, Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain.
The UAE will introduce newt energy efficiency measures, feed-in tariff reforms, and demand-side management initiatives to assist in meeting the target.
The new measures will include the sharing of information with consumers about their energy consumption patterns, implementation of electric appliance entry efficiency standards, and setting water and energy usage standards for buildings.
In the transportation sector, the UAE is planning to introduce a new fuel pricing policy to track the global crude oil prices.
The rail network will also be expanded and emissions standards for vehicles will be implemented in line with European standards.
The UAE will also introduce initiatives in waste management, water conservation and desalination, wetland and marine environment conservation, and has already launched a project to introduce a greenhouse gas emissions inventory.
