Energy & Climate
Change

Climate includes patterns of temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind and seasons. “Climate change” affects more than just a change in the weather; it refers to seasonal changes over a long period of time. These climate patterns play a fundamental role in shaping natural ecosystems and the human economies and cultures that depend on them. The climate has always varied, but in the past century or so we have observed an increase in global temperatures much more rapid than seen before in human history. The driver of this change is emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) from human activity, most importantly by burning fossil fuels and also through other activities such as deforestation and industrial processes.

 

GHG’s traps heat in the earth’s surface, keeping it warm enough for people to live in. However, increasing the concentration of these gases will push temperatures up. The general trend is for global temperatures to increase - hence the phrase “global warming” – climate change will be more varied and complex in its impact. Warmer global temperatures in the atmosphere and oceans leads to climate changes affecting rainfall patterns, storms and droughts, growing seasons, humidity, and sea level. Even though a warming trend is global, different areas around the world will experience different specific changes in their climates, which will have unique impacts on their local plants, animals and people. A few areas might even get cooler rather than warmer. While the specific impacts of future warming are therefore hard to predict in detail, the basic facts are well established.

  • Impacts of Climate Change

    •  
      Higher sea levels:

      Higher temperatures on the earth cause sea water to expand with heat and glaciers to melt, raising the sea level year after year. Some low lying countries and many small island states are very much at risk from these higher sea levels.

       
      Water resources and natural disasters:

      Global warming changes the balance of water supply and demand and could expand the worldwide gap in water availability. Some places will be frequently flooded while others will suffer from constant drought and water shortage. In areas that already have a water shortage problem, the situation will worsen; many other areas will face similar problems.

       
      Agriculture:

      Global warming will seriously affect agriculture as well. Higher temperatures, increased weeds and harmful insects will adversely affect some species of agricultural crops. It is also possible that global warming will lead to global food shortages.

       

      Human health:

      Climatic change affects human health in many different ways. As well as direct impact from heat, warming increases the range of some disease carrying insects. More erratic precipitation will also make waterborne diseases more dangerous.

       
      Animals and plants:

      Global warming will cause animals and plants to shift their habitats to northern and mountainous areas. It is anticipated, however, that some will become extinct if they cannot migrate due to topographical obstacles. It is predicted, for example, that alpine flora growing near mountain summits will become extinct, and that many beech forests will disappear and be replaced by oak forests, which are widely distributed in warm regions. As a result, not only wild animals that live in or feed on these trees, but also fruit cultivation and forestry will be seriously affected.

       
      Cities:

      While winter heating energy consumption will be reduced due to global warming, it will also increase the need for summertime air conditioning. In urban areas water use and energy consumption for cooling will also largely increase. In low lying coastal cities infrastructure will also have to be adapted to rising sea levels.

  • The UAE and Climate Change

    •  
      Climate change has risen rapidly in recent years as one of the most important challenges faced by the global community. The impacts of climate change are already felt around the world. The UAE is a low lying coastal country with an arid climate and which already faces high temperatures. At the same time, we play a central role in the world’s energy economy as a supplier of fossil fuels, which gives us an important stake in finding solutions to cutting emissions while still providing the world with the energy it needs. With investment in renewable energy and the role as the host of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), we are at the heart of the clean energy revolution. The UAE is engaged in the fight against climate change both because we recognize the risks of not acting and because we are a responsible global citizen committed to multilateral action. But we are also convinced that in rising to this challenge there is a real opportunity. New clean energy technologies will play a major role in economic growth in the next few decades. Together we can build new industries, create knowledge-intensive jobs and create opportunities for our young people, all in the service of the global good.

  • The UAE and Actions on Climate Change

    •  
      Controlling emissions:
       
      Renewable Energy:

       The UAE lacks many of the most widespread renewable energy resources, with no potential for hydroelectric power or tidal power and relatively little biomass. However, we are blessed with sunshine. Abu Dhabi has set a renewable energy target which it expects to meet largely through solar power, and 2010 has seen work begin on one of the world’s largest concentrating solar power plants. We are also developing geothermal cooling at Masdar City.

       
      Peaceful Nuclear Power:

       The UAE views peaceful nuclear energy as a significant contributor to meet increasing future electricity demand and as part of its strategy for the overall reduction in carbon emissions. With its nearly zero carbon footprint and high availability factor, it complements the UAE’s other renewable and low carbon energy sources, such as solar and clean fossil fuel power plants. A sizeable nuclear energy sector is being developed in the UAE which consists of four nuclear power reactors and the associated infrastructure, the first of which is scheduled for commercial operation in 2017.
       
      Energy Efficiency and Conservation:

      From new standards for appliances such as air conditioning, to the cutting edge technologies being demonstrated in Masdar City, the UAE is putting efficiency at the heart of its domestic energy strategy.

       
      Transport:

      Transportation is one of the fastest-growing sources of emissions worldwide. We are investing in new mass transit systems such as Dubai’s light rail system and a proposed high speed train.

       

      Building Design:

      New energy efficiency standards for buildings are being set at a national level for the UAE. In addition, the Urban Planning Council has developed the new Estidama label for sustainable buildings, the first standard adapted for this region and climate.

       

      Carbon Capture and Storage (clean fossil fuels):

       Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a means of mitigating climate change by capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from large point sources such as power plants and storing it safely underground instead of releasing it into the atmosphere. The potential impact of CCS is huge. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says CCS could contribute between 10% and 55% of the cumulative worldwide carbon mitigation effort over the next 90 years. Technology for capturing of CO2 is already commercially available for large CO2 emitters, such as power plants. Storage of CO2, on the other hand is a relatively untried concept. The UAE is developing a major CCS project.

  • IRENA

    •  
      The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) was officially established in Bonn on 26 January 2009.  Following the deposit of the 25th instrument of ratification, the IRENA statute entered into force on July 8, 2010 – this marks an historical step for the growth of an international agency. To Date 148 states and the European Union signed the Statute of the Agency; amongst them are 48 African, 38 European, 35 Asian, 17 American and 10 Australia/Oceania States. Mandated by these governments worldwide, IRENA will promote the widespread and increased adoption and sustainable use of all forms or renewable energy. Acting as the global voice for renewable energies, IRENA will facilitate access to all relevant renewable energy information, including technical data, economic data and renewable resource potential data. IRENA will share experiences on best practices and lessons learned regarding policy frameworks, capacity-building projects, available finance mechanisms and renewable energy related energy efficiency measures.
       

  • About us


    • History:

      Given the growing importance of climate policy in the UAE’s domestic and international policy, and drawing on the lessons learned from the campaign to bring IRENA to the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, took the decision to establish a Directorate of Energy and Climate Change within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. DECC was established in March 2010 following a detailed review of experience creating similar institutions in other countries. This Directorate has three main areas of responsibility, to liaise with IRENA, to represent the UAE I international negotiations, and to support a national climate change strategy.

       
       

      Liaison with IRENA:

      The Directorate is the main focal point for the UAE’s engagement with IRENA both as its host country and as a member state. It actively participates at Council and Assembly meetings and ensures the delivery on the UAE commitment to the Agency and member states. DECC has engaged actively in designing effective statutes for the legal status of IRENA, putting effective management in place and providing world-class infrastructure to support its operation. In addition, the UAE is providing specific support for IRENA activities through a wide range of channels. For instance, the Masdar Institute provides scholarships for international students selected with IRENA’s advice to study renewable energy topics. The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has committed $350 million over seven years to support renewable energy projects in developing countries with IRENA guidance. Looking forward, DECC is facilitating UAE engagement in IRENA’s work programme. For instance, in linking IRENA to the Clean Energy Ministerial initiative on solar and wind energy mapping, in which the UAE has an active role. The commitment of the member states of expediting the ratification is a clear indication of the importance of IRENA in deploying renewable energy technologies to developing and developed nations alike.

       
       

      International climate change affairs:

      The DECC plays a major diplomatic role for the UAE in all international negotiations on Climate Change, in particular within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) including the Kyoto Protocol. Most recently, the United Arab Emirates played an important role in the successful outcome of the 16th Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC in Cancun, Mexico. Furthermore, the Directorate provides support to His Highness Sheikh Abdullah’s engagement with the UN Secretary General’s Global Sustainability Panel, which was set up to consider longer term issues related to sustainable development. DECC also leads for the UAE in a range of other forums, including the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) process and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate (IPCC).

       
       
       Domestic affairs:

      DECC supports internal UAE processes by linking them to relevant international ones. By engaging with international partners DECC helps bring global best practice to the UAE, and raise international awareness of UAE initiatives and successes. The UAE government has established a National Climate Change Committee (NCCC), chaired by His Excellency Dr. Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahad, Minister of the Environment, to set clear strategic direction for climate policy at a national level. DECC plays the role of the secretariat to the NCCC.

UAE and the International Agenda
Energy & Climate
Change
Climate includes patterns of temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind and seasons. “Climate change” affects more than just a change in the weather; it refers to seasonal changes over a long period of time. These climate patterns play a fundamental role in shaping natural ecosystems and the human economies and cultures that depend on them.
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Foreign Aid
Foreign aid is one of the top priorities in the UAE's external relations approach.
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Environment
Conserving environment and the natural resources for sustainable development.
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UAE Nuclear Program
The UAE believes that the most environmentally friendly and most sustainable solution to its energy requirements is electricity generated by nuclear plants.
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Human Rights
The foreign policy of the UAE prides itself with justice, protection and respect of human rights and their implementation by means of regulations that emphasize equality and justice among the people of the country.
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Human Trafficking
In recent years, the most severe test for the country’s human rights record has come from problems associated with labour issues, specifically human trafficking. Some of the temporary contractual workers that the UAE receives every year from throughout the world, unfortunately, are deceived by labour recruiters and become victims of human trafficking.
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