Abu Dhabi: Sustainable Future Abu Dhabi: Sustainable Future

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Abu DhabiSustainable Future

Abu Dhabi has embedded sustainability at the heart of its development strategy with ambitious goals to slash carbon emissions, bolster its circular economy and expand clean energy and transport.

As the emirate continues to diversify its economy away from oil, which in 2023 accounted for more than 53% of GDP, the United Arab Emirates’ self-styled “capital of capital” is becoming a testbed for a range of ecological initiatives. With its Environment Vision to promote environmental, economic, and social sustainability, Abu Dhabi aims to preserve its natural heritage while building a cutting-edge, eco-friendly city of the future. Successful organizations that have grown from Abu Dhabi’s supportive and business-friendly ecosystem include Agri-Tech operator Pure Harvest Smart Farms. The company has developed hi-tech, climate-controlled food production in Abu Dhabi, bringing food security and a plentiful supply of fresh fruit and vegetables. Founded by Sky Kurtz, a former US tech investor turned entrepreneur, the company locally produces premium quality fresh fruit and vegetables while ensuring water conservation and sustainable production.

Supercharging sustainability

Sustainability initiatives are everywhere in Abu Dhabi. Key to fueling the emirate’s switch to sustainable energy is the Noor Abu Dhabi solar plant, which came on stream in 2019. With a total capacity of 1.2 GW and 3.3 million solar panels on one site, this is one of the world’s six biggest solar farms. In 2023, the Al Barakah nuclear energy plant commenced commercial operations and will meet 25% of the UAE’s energy needs. The 2GW Al Dhafra Solar PV project, the world’s largest single-site solar power plant, was inaugurated in November 2023. Once it is fully operational, the plant is expected to reduce Abu Dhabi’s CO2 emissions by more than 2.4 million metric tons per year, equivalent to removing approximately 470,000 cars from the road. Also high on the city’s agenda is low-emission transport. Abu Dhabi is ramping up electric vehicle infrastructure, fitting EV charging stations and promoting broader innovation in sustainable transport across shipping, road and air. Plans are underway to trial an electric air taxi service in 2026.

Environmental protection is a fundamental building block of Abu Dhabi’s development. The founder of the United Arab Emirates, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan was a committed environmentalist and garlanded by global organizations, including the United Nations and WWF, for supporting ecological initiatives. Since the formation of the UAE in 1971, environmental conservation has played a key role in the emirate’s growth strategy. The late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan launched a forestation program to cultivate mangroves along the coast and in the 1970s he oversaw projects to protect forests, create nature reserves, preserve wildlife, build dams, and protect groundwater sources.

Committed to conservation

Abu Dhabi’s investment and government institutions are casting their nets wide in bolstering the new, sustainable economy. With a commitment to hitting net zero by 2050, the emirate’s carbon reduction plan is looking to halve carbon emissions from over 40 million tons in 2020 to 20 million tons by 2025. UAE aims to become one of the world’s top green hydrogen producers and has published a hydrogen strategy to produce 1.4 million tons of green hydrogen annually by 2031 and 15 million tons by 2050. Hydrogen gas can be used as an energy source in heavy industry, freight, shipping and aviation. The hydrogen is obtained by electrolyzing water, and the process, though energy intensive, can be achieved by using renewable energy for electrolysis. Green hydrogen could save up to 20% of global carbon emissions. Meanwhile, state-owned oil company ADNOC is committed to reducing operational greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2030. The company is also increasing investments in renewable energy projects such as producing blue hydrogen.

Looking ahead

Disclaimer: The Reuters news staff had no role in the production of this content. It was created by Reuters Plus, the brand marketing studio of Reuters. To work with Reuters Plus, contact us here.

With a commitment to phase out single-use plastics, the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) has already banned single-use plastic bags, with single use Styrofoam cups, plates and food containers to be phased out this year. This is part of EAD’s strategy to enhance sustainable living in Abu Dhabi and is accompanied by a public education campaign. Further enhancing the modern, eco-friendly environment in Abu Dhabi, the urban sustainable community Masdar City is pioneering eco-friendly living, with green spaces, buildings and planning all created with energy and water efficiency in mind. Local, renewable, and recyclable building materials are used wherever possible. With sustainability a founding principle of the UAE, Abu Dhabi is uniting its environmental heritage with eco-centric modernization to build a society which is a model of sustainable living.

Eco-centric living

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Buildings are being retrofitted with clean technology such as high efficiency air-conditioning systems to lower their carbon emissions. Meanwhile, Abu Dhabi is drawing on long experience of mangrove restoration to help restore 10,000 hectares of mangroves across the UAE. This is a significant nature-based intervention, with the trees and plants acting as a deep sink for carbon, storing four times more than rainforests.

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Another significant announcement during COP28 was the launch of a ground-breaking framework for the circular economy. Unveiled by the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development, the strategy will help Abu Dhabi’s businesses use resources more responsibly, minimize environmental impacts and maximize reuse and recycling. The city is already on the journey to circularity, boasting 30 state-of-the art recycling and processing centers. The circular economy framework is one arm of the Abu Dhabi Industrial Strategy and boasts ambitious goals, aiming to achieve a 50% reduction in industrial process waste – about 40,000 tons annually – and bring compliance across numerous sectors by 2030.

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Such initiatives have set Abu Dhabi on the path to becoming a global leader in sustainability, driving forward the modernization of its economy with sustainability at the core. During the COP28 global climate conference hosted by UAE in December 2023, the annual Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week hosted the ADSW Special Edition at COP28, bringing together global stakeholders to discuss key sustainability issues and drive the international climate agenda. The emirate used the event to announce the launch of Alterra, an investment fund to promote climate-focused investment in developing nations. Committing $30bn to the fund, Abu Dhabi hopes to catalyze some $250bn of investments worldwide to mitigate and address global warming. The fund is focused on nations where traditional investment has been lacking.

Abu Dhabi hopes to catalyze some

The aim of the emirate's carbon reduction plan is to halve carbon emissions from

Abu Dhabi is working towards the restoration of

10,000

40m tons

over

in 2020

20m tons

by 2025

hectares

of mangroves across the UAE

$250bn

of investments worldwide to address global warming

Al Dhafra Solar PV project will be the world’s largest single-site solar power plant

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The Reuters news staff had no role in the production of this content. It was created by Reuters Plus, the brand marketing studio of Reuters.

PRODUCED BY REUTERS PLUS FOR

Disclaimer: The Reuters news staff had no role in the production of this content. It was created by Reuters Plus, the brand marketing studio of Reuters. To work with Reuters Plus, contact us here.

In AI, sustainability, and much more, Abu Dhabi has opportunities for both start-ups and global enterprises.

Discover more

Abu Dhabi Powerhouse

Ascending the ranks of the world’s leading financial centers, Abu Dhabi is a magnet for investors and businesses.

Abu Dhabi Financial Fortitude

The emirate has a reputation as a hotbed of innovation and a hub for disruptive start-ups.

Abu Dhabi Unleashing Tomorrow

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Sky Kurtz, Founder & CEO of Pure Harvest Smart Farms, talks to Reuters Plus about the advantages of forming a business in Abu Dhabi, sustainable technologies, and the government’s vision for the future.