UAE Alliance For Climate Action Hosts Third Advisory Committee Meeting To Review Progress And Future Initiatives

The UAE Alliance for Climate Action (UACA) recently held its Third Advisory Committee meeting. This gathering, led by Emirates Nature–WWF and supported by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), aimed to assess progress and outline plans for 2025. The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) officially joined the committee during this session.

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, President of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), chaired the meeting. Al Mubarak emphasised the importance of collaboration in climate efforts, stating, "UACA mobilises non-state actors and fosters cross-sector dialogue to identify collective synergies and key levers to accelerate climate action." She highlighted the role of private sector companies in achieving national climate goals.

The Advisory Committee comprises leaders from various sectors, including government, finance, industry, academia, and environmental organisations. Notable members include Laila Mostafa Abdullatif from Emirates Nature–WWF; Dr. Alanoud Alhaj Al Ali from MOCCAE; Mohamed Al Marzooqi from HSBC UAE; Sheikha Al-Mazrouei from the Environment Agency–Abu Dhabi; Eng. Sharif Al Olama from MoEI; Dr. Steven Griffiths from the American University of Sharjah; Dr. Leila Hoteit from Boston Consulting Group; and Dr. Nasser Saidi from the Clean Energy Business Council.

A significant focus was on Road2.0, an initiative aimed at decarbonising commercial transport in the UAE. This initiative has already achieved a milestone with the Electric Vehicle (EV) Demand Declaration signed by 17 stakeholders. It aims to increase commercial EV adoption soon and deploy 20,000 Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) by 2040.

Eng. Sharif Al Olama stated that to advance green mobility, MoEI supports sustainable transport through policies and infrastructure development. He mentioned UAEV, a strategic venture to establish a nationwide EV charging network. "With initiatives like Road2.0," he added, "we are laying the foundation for a robust domestic EV ecosystem."

Mohamed Al Marzooqi, CEO of HSBC UAE, stressed that collaboration among leaders is crucial for achieving net-zero targets. He said their role as UACA founding donor highlights the importance of uniting stakeholders to share knowledge and explore solutions that reduce emissions while creating economic opportunities.

Encouraging Non-State Actor Participation

Laila Abdullatif noted that UACA offers a credible platform for non-state actors to enhance climate ambition and action. "Now in its third year," she said, "UACA convenes 55 non-state actors setting science-based targets supporting the Paris Agreement." The alliance focuses on building readiness for decarbonisation and advocating for supportive policies.

UACA continues to invite non-state actors to join its efforts in increasing decarbonisation ambitions within the UAE. Through collaborative initiatives like these, UACA aims to drive significant reductions in emissions across various sectors.

With inputs from WAM