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ABU DHABI, 11th May, 2023 (WAM) — Funding for a UAE-US-led initiative to develop climate-friendly agriculture has grown to more than US$13 billion, surpassing the The $10 billion target Cop28 will hold a global climate change summit in the UAE later this year.
In an editorial on Thursday, The National said, “At yesterday’s Climate Technology Conference, Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Cop28 Chair-designate, discussed key elements of the UAE’s climate in a wide-ranging presentation policy, talking about solar energy, hydrogen technology and carbon capture.
“Notably, he also highlights how the right approach can reduce emissions while supporting a sustainable low-carbon economy. The focus is on the need to reduce emissions, rather than progress, and prioritizing sustainable economic development.”
The daily noted that the two developments demonstrate the need for a holistic and multifaceted approach to the world’s rapidly changing environment.
The Abu Dhabi event involved key players from the UAE, such as ADNOC and Masdar, joining more than 100 companies, executives and energy industry veterans to discuss practical, cutting-edge technology solutions to global warming. These include robotics and artificial intelligence, carbon capture, digitization, alternative fuels, hydrogen, and new low-carbon energy plans.
On the other hand, the UAE – a country with a relatively small agricultural sector – is playing a leading role in the 50-nation Climate Agriculture Innovation Mission, or Climate Targets initiative, to create more resilient and sustainable food production and supply networks, and reduce agricultural emissions.
Billions of dollars in funding pledged this week will support small farmers, emerging technologies and initiatives to reduce methane emissions. This is an important sector to focus on – agriculture plays a vital role in global warming. In 2021, the World Bank calls it “a major part of the climate problem”, accounting for 19% to 29% of total greenhouse gas emissions.
The editorial continues, “When it comes to overnight change and the importance of maintaining economic growth, it is a healthy dose of realism to inform both aspects of climate-related work.
“With regard to agriculture, it is generally agreed that the world still needs industrial-scale agriculture to feed billions of people, support national economies and livelihoods in countless places. It is a matter of reducing farming’s worst by-products and developing newer, smarter and more sustainable ways to produce enough food for everyone and reduce food waste – another issue that the UAE has been focusing on.”
Likewise, Dr. Al Jaber stated in March, speaking at the CERAWeek energy conference in Houston, Texas, that “renewables are not enough for high-emitting industries”. After completing a two-day trip to China last month, he said, “We need to explore every option available. It’s not renewables, hydrogen, nuclear, carbon capture, or just using the least carbon-intensive oil and Natural gas. It’s all of the above, plus new technologies waiting to be invented, commercialized and deployed.”
“The challenges are enormous, but the energy and time devoted to addressing the problems caused by climate change should be reassuring. It is wise to avoid stopgap measures or methods that leave developing countries behind. This week shows that when it comes to The UAE also joins forces with the interconnected challenges posed by man-made climate change,” the editorial concluded.
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