2023 is the Year of Sustainability in UAE.

And the story has just begun.

This melting pot of a country has consistently shown its commitment to find innovative ways to push boundaries. Being a country with extreme hot climate, it has never let its  focus taken away from the conservation of resources. Historically, its development has revolved around the precious fresh water sources, and since independence it has tenaciously worked to conserve them. As climate change accelerated the land degradation and desertification rate, measures were taken to reverse the tide by untiring coastal and mangroves restoration. The existing forest cover, oases and green areas are being supplemented by adding more protected green areas. The turning of barren patch of land at Al Qudra  into a series of man-made lakes thriving with flora, fauna and now a thick canopy of trees makes one marvel at the ingenuity of human efforts. Apart from the protected areas throughout the Emirates, the roadside planting and maintenance of trees, and encouragement to residents to plant their own gardens, has turned this Middle East nation into a land of greenery. Ever ready to experiment, right from the adoption of drip technology to concocting a soil suitable to sustain plant life in this extreme heat, it’s the commitment to overcome the hindrances that is the guiding force in UAE.

UAE homes traditionally incorporated barjeel, the wind towers and  the mashrabiya, the latticework screen to catch wind and for passive cooling. The green architecture mindset has brought such sustainable designs back in vogue.  Low impact materials to cut emissions and reduce consumption of resources are being used now in construction. Sheikh Zayed Learning Center in Al Ain, Aldar Square in Abu Dhabi and Louvre Museum in Abu Dhabi are some examples. The idea has been taken further through construction of sustainable self-sustaining townships like Masdar city, Abu Dhabi, and Sustainable City, Dubai.

Some years back it was unthinkable to find large-scale agriculture in UAE but rapid strides have been made here too. To improve the nation’s food security, encouraging local produce was thought of and the government provided its complete support to such endeavours. This has resulted in immense improvement in the area under cultivation and the quantity of produce.  To reduce the costs of importing goods, to encourage entrepreneurship and to reduce carbon footprint, the government strategy of supporting local businesses too has helped sustainability in UAE. Hydroponics and Aquafarms now dot the outskirts of cities in UAE.

UAE is also one of the few countries where bee-keeping is a valued tradition. So much so that Hatta Honey Festival showcases and celebrates the sheer variety and finesse of the UAE honey. To enhance sustainable fishing practices, the recreational fisheries in UAE are now regulated by government. This conserves the fish stock and protects the marine environment. Sharjah government’s Sharjah Aquarium Safety Valve Program rehabilitates injured turtles to save them from extinction.

Tourism is a major contributor to UAE economy. A blueprint for sustainable tourism is in the making. In the energy sector too, despite its oil reserves, the clean energy is being adopted to achieve zero greenhouse emissions. The UAE has three of the world’s largest solar plants. Mohammad bin Rashid Solar Park began supplying power in 2020. A waste-to-energy plant is in the pipeline. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company ( ADNOC) built the region’s first carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) facility in 2016, and through it captures 800,000 tons of carbon dioxide. In January 2023, Emirates Airlines, operated a flight using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) to showcase its commitment to clean energy solutions.

UAE government’s commitment to good governance is evident from the concrete targets it sets for its departments to achieve. The high performing departments are acknowledged and applauded. The intent is to lead,  innovate, and outperform.  The paperless offices, supermarkets, hospitals reduce the wastage of natural resources. To match the government enthusiasm, the UAE residents also enthusiastically make environment-friendly choices. They are aware of the impact of their purchasing choices on the planet. As the preparations for COP-28 are underway, the collaborative, inclusive and global mindset of UAE seem to provide  a ring of assurance in this march towards sustainability.