The former UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment has highlighted the slow progress in global climate initiatives, stating that efforts remain largely unchanged.
Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, who served as the minister from 2020 to 2021, expressed on Wednesday that ongoing fuel dumping and carbon emissions are ineffective in aiding the environment, resulting in a stagnant approach.
During a panel with Khaleej Times Chief Content Officer Ted Kemp at the Journey to Net Zero event by KT Events, Al Nuaimi pointed out that since the Paris Agreement, only 10% of energy is sourced from renewables, with 85-90% still reliant on fossil fuels.
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The Paris Agreement, an international accord signed by 195 parties to combat climate change, was adopted on December 12, 2015, nearly a decade ago.
“In 50 years, gas and oil may no longer be available,” Al Nuaimi remarked. “We risk reverting to coal if we don’t wisely use current resources.” He emphasized that renewable minerals, like gas and oil, are finite.
UAE’s Climate Commitment
The UAE plans to establish the world’s largest mangrove farm and the biggest solar park. Yet, Al Nuaimi warns these measures are insufficient, noting climate change is a global, not regional, challenge. “You can’t reduce emissions if others increase theirs,” he said, addressing decarbonization efforts.
The UAE is at the forefront of climate action in the MENA region, implementing the Net Zero 2050 Strategy, targeting net-zero emissions by 2050.
The United Nations defines net zero as reducing carbon emissions to minimal levels that can be absorbed and permanently stored by natural or technological means, resulting in no atmospheric release.
