Official: UAE makes significant progress toward net-zero emissions in energy sector

Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs Abdullah Belhoul has said that the UAE plans to update its energy strategy for 2050 and increase energy efficiency by 45 per cent.  

He made these remarks during the event "Ministerial Dialogue: Scaling up Investment for Tripling Renewables and Doubling Energy Efficiency" at COP29, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

Belhoul highlighted that the UAE has made significant progress toward achieving net-zero emissions in the energy sector.  

"We are also focused on further reducing the grid emissions factor, which will make the UAE one of the countries with the lowest emissions. We aim to be a model for an ambitious pragmatic transition to clean energy," he said.

The Summit of World Leaders within the framework of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) has started in Baku.

On November 11, the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) officially kicked off in Baku, marking one of the most significant and prestigious global events.

COP29, which is being held at the Baku Stadium from November 11 to 22, is Azerbaijan's largest event to date and the first of its kind in the region. A "Host Country Agreement" and other key documents were signed between the Azerbaijani government and the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The main expectation from COP29 is to agree on a fair and ambitious New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) related to climate finance.

The COP29 presidency has put forward 14 initiatives that encompass the interlinkage between climate action and sustainable development goals. These include green energy corridors, green energy storage, climate resilience harmony, clean hydrogen, methane reduction from organic waste, and actions in the field of green digital technologies, among other topics. 

One of the proposed initiatives is the establishment of a Climate Finance Action Fund. Beyond prioritising climate finance, which brings everyone together, this initiative will also contribute to meeting the 1.5°C commitment. Azerbaijan attaches great importance to environmental protection and addressing the impacts of climate change, actively working in this direction. 

The country’s unanimous election as the host of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties is a clear testament to this. As noted by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, this is a sign of great respect and trust from the international community towards Azerbaijan.

By Naila Huseynova