Dr. Abdullah Hamid Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, has affirmed that the emirate has made tangible progress in reducing its carbon footprint, recording a total decrease in carbon dioxide emissions of 42.5 million metric tonnes compared with 2016 — the baseline year — alongside ambitious plans to cut emissions intensity per megawatt-hour by 75% and raise the share of electricity generated from clean and renewable energy sources to 60% by 2035.
This reflects the emirate's commitment to a pathway of transition towards a low-emissions economy that supports the United Arab Emirates' climate neutrality targets.
He added that environmental sustainability today represents a fundamental pillar in the journey of comprehensive development and a key axis in building more efficient, resilient, and sustainable economies. Addressing environmental challenges requires an integrated approach based on enhancing resource efficiency, adopting advanced solutions and technologies, and developing energy, water, and infrastructure systems in ways that support quality of life, preserve natural resources, and ensure their sustainability for future generations.
Speaking on the occasion of World Environment Day, he said that global climate challenges continue to escalate at an accelerating pace, which underscores the importance of building more resilient and sustainable energy and water systems as a fundamental pillar for supporting long-term environmental and economic stability.
He stressed that Abu Dhabi's Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalisation Strategy, DSM 2030, embodies the emirate's commitment to enhancing resource-use efficiency and entrenching sustainability principles through ambitious targets that include reducing electricity consumption by 22% and water consumption by 32% by 2030, equivalent to savings of approximately 19 terawatt-hours of electricity and 485 million cubic metres of water. These efforts represent an integrated model of strategic planning that balances the requirements of economic growth with the preservation of natural resources, supporting the achievement of sustainable development and enhancing quality of life for current and future generations.
Engineer Ahmed Mohammed Al Rumaithi, Undersecretary of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, said that the United Arab Emirates continues to play a pioneering role in supporting international efforts related to climate change and sustainable development, driven by a firm commitment to backing solutions that contribute to building a more resilient and sustainable future.
Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Obaidli, Director General of Regulatory Affairs at the Department of Energy, affirmed that the United Arab Emirates is advancing steadily in leading a rapidly accelerating global transformation in the energy sector, one that ranks among the most advanced and ambitious transition pathways in the region.