UAE Climate Risk Assessment and Adaptation Measures in Key Sectors 2019 - Health, Energy, Infrastructure and Environment.

This UAE Climate Risk Assessment and Adaptation Measures in Key Sectors is a comprehensive document that summarizes the UAE's climate risk assessment conducted in its four key sectors - health, energy, infrastructure, and the environment - as the first step to implement the National Climate Change Adaptation Program aiming to assess the impacts of climate change on key sectors and identify the climate risks that demand urgent action. The document includes the climate change effects the UAE will face in coming years and the approach the UAE will take to tackle those effects. Priority climate risks have been identified and the next steps for advancing adaptation have been considered.
The document outlines the existing relevant efforts at both national and local levels – even though they may not be specifically targeted at climate change adaptation – in the four sectors and considers how they can be enhanced to better address the need for tackling the risks: (1) Health: The UAE has implemented the Mid-Day Break Policy (2005) to protect outdoor workers from heat-related illnesses during peak summer hours. The Safety in Heat Program (2009) promotes employer awareness to reduce heat-related health issues and productivity losses; (2) Energy: Smart meters are being installed to improve power management during peak times. District cooling, a more energy-efficient alternative to traditional air conditioning, is widely used; (3) Infrastructure: Abu Dhabi's Plan Maritime 2030 includes the construction of seawalls to protect against storm surges. The National Early Warning System (2018) sends alerts via smartphones during extreme events; (4) Environment: The UAE's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) cover over 12% of its territorial waters, aiding climate resilience. The National Blue Carbon Project highlights the significant carbon storage capacity of the UAE’s coastal ecosystems, emphasizing their conservation benefits. Further interventions in the relevant sectors have been identified as potential adaptation measures, including (i) adopting advanced technologies to safeguard outdoor workers from heat; (ii) enhancing monitoring and surveillance of heat-related illnesses; (iii) incorporating climate resilience into the design standards of power facilities; (iv) expanding the use of smart energy systems to manage power load and demand; (v) integrating climate risks into insurance schemes; (vi) retrofitting infrastructure to enhance climate resilience; (vii) improving the management of marine resources; and (viii) embedding climate resilience into coastal development planning.