The most vulnerable areas to climate change in the UAE are water, coastal and marine, dryland ecosystems, buildings and infrastructure, agriculture and food security, and public health. Based on the analysis of past and present anthropogenic drivers, future projections using climate models suggest an increase in the UAE’s annual average temperature of around 1 degree Celsius by 2020 and between 1.5C-2C by 2040.

The effects of climate change are likely to be felt most severely in coastal zones, where marine habitats will suffer from rising water temperatures and salinity, whereas infrastructure will be tested by storm surges and sea level rise. Other risks include weakened food security and health damage from extreme heat events.

Results of local climate change studies and research show that climate change could have implications on the UAE’s development objectives. Direct impacts of extreme weather events as well as slow-onset phenomena such as sea level rise could disrupt the daily functioning of transport and infrastructure, impact the value of real estate, affect environmental assets, and damage the tourism industry. If climate change is left unmanaged, consequences will be felt across the nation and could slow down the UAE’s efforts toward economic diversification.

UAE aims to become the world’s best-prepared country to tackle the challenges that climate change will bring. The plan has identified three key priorities: First, making a difference in inventory and management of greenhouse gas emissions by combining dispersed efforts at the sectoral and local levels, developing a unified and comprehensive framework for the measurement of emissions and reporting. It also seeks to establish an integrated monitoring, reporting and verification system by applying international best practices. In addition, a national climate information system will be developed to take advantage of emission data in support of scientific research and prediction of the impact of climate change on the country.

Second, mainstreaming climate flexibility into levels and sectors of development plans of the country.

Third, contributing effectively to the country’s orientation towards economic diversification by providing effective systems and incentives that support private sector participation in the development process and ensure the promotion of the market for environmental products and services in the country.