Dubai achieves 19% reduction in net CO2 emissions

In conjunction with the conveningof the preparatory conference for the UN 2019 Climate Summit (COP 25)in Abu Dhabi, the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy announced thatthe net CO2 emissions of Dubai have decreased by 19% compared to the business as usual (BAU) scenario and 10% below the Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021 target to reduce carbon emissions by 16%by 2021.

The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy has been monitoring Dubai’s carbon emission since 2011 through the United Nations’ MRV methodology (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification). This detailed data-centric platform has allowed Dubai decision makers to streamline their strategy and was pivotal to other initiatives and projects such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the Green Fund, the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), Shams Dubai and Electric Vehicles initiatives.

Data for the past few years have recorded a decline in the per-capita annual consumption of electricity and water in Dubai. Per capita annual consumption of electricity has fallen from 13,626 kwh in 2015 to 11.731 kwh in 2018 and is expected to reach 10,538 kwh by 2025. Annual per capita consumption of water has decreased from 38554 IG to 33,565 IG in 2018. It is expected to reach 28,455 IG in 2025.

The UAE recorded an improvement of 60% bringing the per capita emissions to 15.7tCO2 in the last MRV compiled, well below the US ranking of 16.5tCO2 per capita.

“We are honored by these results as we strive to achieve the vision of our wise leadership. Dubai has taken early steps to conserve natural resources, increase the contribution of clean energy, and implement green development plans, consistent with our strategies at the federal and local levels, including UAE Centennial 2071, and UAE Vision 2021.Dubai has been a pioneer in the implementation of programmes and initiatives that contribute to reducing the carbon footprint and its pursuit of a greener future is proving its validity,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy.

The MRV data infographics is expected to be publicly released during the upcoming World Green Economy Summit taking place in October 2019.