World Environment Day: How the UAE is Becoming More Green Friendly

Today marks World Environment Day 2021 under the theme ‘Restore Our Earth’. The UAE is a long-standing supporter of preserving the environment through many initiatives.

“Our goal is to create a truly inclusive environment that not only meets the needs of Dubai’s diverse population, but also inspires them to tap into their creative and innovative capacities and realise their true potential," His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai, UAE’s Vice President and Prime Minister said.

Here are some of the steps that were done by the UAE to help make the environment better.

Dubai 2040:

Green and recreational spaces and areas dedicated to public parks will double in size to serve the growing number of number of residents and visitors.

Nature reserves and rural natural areas will constitute 60% of the emirate’s total area.

Several green corridors will be established to link the service areas, residential areas and workplaces, facilitate the movement of pedestrians, bicycles, and sustainable mobility means across the city, in coordination with developers and government departments.

Reducing Carbon emissions

The country has set an enhanced emissions reduction target in its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, and is investing in nuclear energy and renewables, carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS), electrification of transport, sustainable agri-tech, and blue and green hydrogen.

The UAE Strategy for the Fourth Industrial Revolution focuses on achieving future water and food security through bioengineering and renewable energy, enhancing economic security through digitalisation and blockchain technologies, and optimally utilising satellite data for urban planning.

Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park

Once finished, Dubai Energy and Water Authority (DEWA) the 50 billion-dirham ($13.6 billion) investment could power as many as 1.3 million homes, reducing carbon emissions by 6.5 million tonnes annually.

It will use mirrors called heliostats to focus sunlight at the top of the tower, in order to heat up a flow of molten salts. The heat is used to power steam turbines, generating electricity.

Abu Dhabi’s 2030 Energy Efficiency Strategy

The UAE’s operator of utility-scale renewable energy projects, Masdar, will develop the largest rooftop-located solar PV and provide an estimated 16,000 solar modules across the Warner Brother theme park roof area in Abu Dhabi that spreads across 36,000 square meters of area as part of the agreement with developer Miral.

Barakah Nuclear Plant

The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, located in the Al Dhafra region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is one of the largest nuclear energy plants in the world, with four APR-1400 Units.

The 1400 MW Unit 1 is now providing constant, reliable, and sustainable electricity around the clock, with three further units to begin generating in the coming years. As a result, ENEC is now leading the largest decarbonisation effort of any industry in the UAE to date.

Electricity produced at Barakah Plant feeds into the national grid in the same manner as other energy plants, providing clean electricity to homes and businesses across the country.

Environment Monitoring Satellite

The miniature satellite, which will be carried by Soyuz 2.1a into low-Earth-orbit, will measure air quality, pollution, and marine conditions in the country.

DMSat-1 will measure the main sources of pollution in the country by studying air quality and the footprint of greenhouse gases.

Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050

The Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 is working towards generating 25% of its energy output from clean sources by 2030, and 75% by 2050 -- equivalent to a capacity of 42,000 megawatts.

Image Source: WAM, DMO