Addressing climate change issues were the main focus of Cop 21 at Paris and Cop 22 in Marrakesh. Participating 195 countries accepted in unison that climate change is a foreseeable and urgent global threat with long-term implications for the sustainable development of all countries. Countries set a road map to implement last year?s Paris Agreement and also pledged to mitigate the emissions and fossil fuels, as air pollution has become both environmental and public health crisis. Curtailing Greenhouse gas emissions was the most pressing issue discussed there.

As a part of its policy UAE reiterated its action plans and consolidated its role in the Middle East by introducing targets to use 100% renewable energy and cutting down on fossil fuels through its green mobility projects.

 In my earlier report, I had written about hybrid vehicles being introduced by Dubai government which will reduce carbon emissions by 16 percent by 2021. Further to its green mobility initiative, Dubai has made its foray into automatic flying vehicles and electric cars.

Years back no one could think of having flying cars in reality. We read about it in fictions but today UAE has achieved that milestone of starting flying cars that will automatically whisks public riders by air, land and sea safely.

Dubai will launch the trial runs of the world?s first manned autonomous aerial vehicle (AAV) this summer. This magnificent move by UAE is a result of its goal to mitigate emissions of GHG and reduce the use of fossil fuels. The autonomous mobility, where 25 % of journeys will be driverless without traffic jams, will put UAE in the leading position worldwide in autonomous mobility by 2030. The AAV has been developed in collaboration with a Chinese drone maker, EHANG. Other modes of transport besides car, buses even boats will have similar autonomous future. EHANG aircraft can carry a passenger for up to 30 minutes in the air. The vehicles will have preset buttons to automatically fly public riders anywhere in the emirate.

In addition, under Smart Autonomous Mobility Strategy, 25% of all journeys in Dubai will be driverless by 2030. Tesla, California electric automaker is setting up stores and service centers to support the fleet of electric cars arriving in UAE this summer.

UAE truly believes that to put our sustainable goals into action, we need to incorporate behavioral changes, awareness, commitments and environmental education in every strata of society. Potential of UAE lies in its renewable energy sector and advance technology and it is not leaving any stone unturned in resolving the climate change issues and reducing the carbon emissions to the level targeted in COP 21.

Inputs- Gulf News