United Arab Emirates’ First Long-Term Strategy (LTS) - Demonstrating Commitment to Net Zero by 2050.

This First Long-Term Strategy (LTS) is a nationwide multisectoral document aiming to guide the country's climate actions in addressing one of the most pressing threats to humankind. It reflects the commitment and efforts to reach net zero emissions by mid-century and aims to inspire the UAE’s society as well as the global community to take similar actions towards a more sustainable future. In 2022, the UAE announced a strategic initiative to pursue net zero by 2050, to transform its economy following the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The first submission of the UAE’s Long-Term Strategy represents another step towards addressing climate change. It is intended to solidify and provide transparency on the plans to tackle climate change, both in terms of mitigation and adaptation. The UAE is committed to reducing economy-wide GHG emissions to as close to zero as possible by 2050, with any remaining emissions re-absorbed from the atmosphere. Thus, total net GHG emissions in 2050 will be net zero, after accounting for the removal of CO2 from the atmosphere with nature-based solutions (e.g., planting mangroves) or using engineering-based technical solutions. All key economic sectors are covered inclusive of industry, transport, buildings, waste, agriculture, power/water, and negative emissions. The results cover key GHG emissions which include Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Methane (CH4), and Nitrous Oxide (N2O). However, the targets do not cover emissions from fluorinated gases or negative emissions due to land use types. On a conservative level, this ensures 95% coverage of total national GHGs.
The UAE conducted a thorough process to develop its net zero pathway, which tackles the emissions and involved the following steps (i) identifying and quantifying emissions for all UAE’s sectors in recent years, following a bottom-up approach; (ii) assessing existing committed programs related to emissions to understand how the nation’s emissions would evolve once these are deployed. This analysis concluded current strategies are not enough to reach net zero emissions in 2050; (iii) building on existing programs to close the gap to reach net zero. This was done by identifying optimal emissions reduction measures for each source of emissions and planning their uptake based on their business case, emissions reduction potential, and other benefits to society. The analysis made it possible to define the UAE’s net zero pathway for each sector. It included details such as the pace and volume with which measures should be deployed, their decarbonization impact and associated business case, job creation, and further opportunities for the sector.
In particular, sustainable farming practices can reduce synthetic fertilizer application by up to 13% annually from 2030-2050, contributing to 2% of emissions reductions and improving soil quality and food security. Improving nitrogen fertilizers with additives or coatings will further reduce N2O and CO2 emissions, which are expected to be fully adopted by 2050, and will also contribute 2% to emissions reductions. Dietary supplements for livestock, such as methane pills and supplements reducing N2O emissions, will begin in the 2040s, accounting for 14% of emissions reductions by 2050.