A Bridge to Greater Climate Ambition - Updated Second Nationally Determined Contribution of the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE is providing this update for its second Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) in response to COP26's invitation to parties to reevaluate and enhance 2030 targets. This update focuses on intensifying mitigation efforts, aiming to achieve a 31% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 compared to the 2030 business-as-usual (BAU) scenario. This marks an improvement from the 23.5% target set in the 2020 NDCs, reflecting an additional 7.5% reduction and indicating renewed commitment to achieving the highest possible ambition aligned with the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. The major contributions, relative to the BAU scenario, stem from sectors including a 54% cut in electricity generation emissions through the adoption of clean and alternative energy, a 14% reduction in transport sector emissions driven by enhanced vehicle standards, a 19% reduction in industrial energy production emissions through the implementation of a National Water and Energy Demand Management Programme, a 26% reduction in waste emissions through initiatives to reduce waste, a 35x increase in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) activities, and the planting of 100 million mangrove seedlings for carbon sequestration, with the effects beginning after 2030. Other components of the second NDCs, submitted in 2020, remain relevant in conjunction with the updates prepared, including adaptation action with mitigation co-benefits and engagement of youth and women in climate action.
The document includes the Net Zero by 2050 Strategy, a national strategic initiative to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The Strategy covers the entire economy and brings into focus five sectors (1) power and water; (2) industry (including oil and gas); (3) transport; (4) buildings; (5) waste, agriculture, forestry, and land use. Economic diversification initiatives with mitigation co-benefits regard the following sectors as in the previous NDC (i) Power – Supply; (ii) Power – Demand; (iii) Non-Energy Emission-Intensive Industries; (iv) Water resources management. Furthermore, interventions in some sectors yield results for adaptation and mitigation objectives, i.e. the UAE’s efforts to boost its adaptive capacity through coastal ecosystems management, and food and agriculture policies lead to mitigation benefits as well. These interventions primarily concern the conservation of Blue Carbon Ecosystems and Agriculture and Food Security. Inclusivity and empowerment are crucial elements of the UAE’s approach to climate change and sustainable energy, with a particular focus on strengthening the participation of women and young people.