UAE firmly committed to climate neutrality: COP28 chair-designate

ABU DHABI – Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technologies and Chairman-designate of COP28, said that the launch of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 Update and the development of a National Hydrogen Strategy is a groundbreaking step that confirms the The UAE is committed to taking practical measures and developing supportive policies to achieve sustainable economic and social development, while enhancing climate action efforts, reducing emissions and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

In his statement, Dr. Al Jaber emphasized that the announcement of the UAE Energy Strategy Update 2050 and the formulation of the National Hydrogen Energy Strategy constitute an example of the joint efforts of all relevant national authorities to achieve the expected progress in these areas. Sustainable development, climate action and energy security, explaining that these efforts provide a model that can be emulated around the world.

“Over the past decade, the UAE has grown more installed renewable energy capacity than any other country in the world and plans to more than triple this again to 14.2 GW by 2030. By leveraging our expertise in the energy sector expertise and the export of hydrogen, the UAE will play a key role in accelerating the decarbonization of the global economy. The UAE also aspires to become a leading producer of low-carbon hydrogen by 2031,” said the COP28 President-Elect.

He added that Masdar is already a global leader in deploying renewable energy solutions and I welcome the ambition to turn the UAE into a leading low-carbon hydrogen producer by 2031.

Dr Al Jaber continued that the world must triple its renewable energy capacity by 2030, and our ability to achieve this will depend on having the right policies, investments and infrastructure in place. “The world must double its hydrogen production by 2030, and the UAE is committed to leading by example as we prepare to host COP28.”

He emphasized the need to focus on achieving a logical, pragmatic, gradual, equitable and deliberate transformation of the energy sector, while ensuring energy security and access to energy at an appropriate cost.

The COP28 presidency will focus on responding to the global progress in implementing the goals of the Paris Agreement in a pragmatic and effective manner, and strive to involve all relevant parties to achieve fundamental progress and qualitative changes in climate action. Support action plans that move in the right direction to achieve climate goals,” concluded Dr Al Jaber.