A local newspaper has highlighted the need to reduce carbon footprint on the occasion of the World Environment Day, which falls on 5th June.
“The world could keep global warming at, or just a shade below, 2 degrees Celsius, but only if countries not only fulfil their specific pledged national targets for curbing carbon emissions by 2030, but also come through on more distant promises of reaching net zero carbon emissions by mid-century,” said Gulf Today in an editorial on Monday.
The paper added, “The UAE stands out in its efforts to curb the carbon footprint. Several companies are doing their bit to conserve the environment.”
A recent report said that Masdar, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, is continuing to strengthen its support for global climate action, with the capacity of its clean energy project portfolio rising 40 percent in 2021.
The electricity generation capacity of all projects Masdar has invested in – either installed or under development – increased from 10.7 gigawatts (GW) to over 15 GW in 2021, according to the company’s 2021 Annual Sustainability Report. The company’s operating clean energy portfolio displaced almost 7.5 million tonnes of CO2 last year, a 38 per cent rise on 2020.
During 2021, Masdar entered new markets including Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Greece, Iraq and Poland, extending its renewable energy investments to over 40 countries with a combined value of more than US$20 billion.
Last December, it was announced that three of the UAE’s energy giants – ADNOC, TAQA and Mubadala – will partner under the Masdar brand to form a clean energy powerhouse with a combined current, committed, and exclusive capacity of over 23 GW of renewable energy, with the expectation of reaching over 100 GW.
In 2021 Mubadala committed $1.5 million annually for three years to support the MBZ Fund conservation efforts for the protection of endangered flora and fauna in Africa and Asia.
The Abu Dhabi Fund for Development has highlighted the UAE’s leading role in preserving the environment and addressing the negative impact of climate change by launching various initiatives locally. Through the Green Development Strategy, the country aims to promote long-term growth by focusing on the green economy and maintaining a sustainable environment, and preserve natural resources for future generations.
The Sharjah-based daily concluded by saying, “2023 will be a historic year for the UAE. The international community has agreed to host the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the UAE next year.
“This goes to prove the importance of the Emirates’ investments in quality clean energy projects, its quest for effective solutions to tackle climate challenges and engagement in innovative climate action that helps stimulate the economy and build a more sustainable future.”
Source: Emirates News Agency