UAE Prioritizes Combating Desertification And Drought, Says Climate Minister

Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, underscored the significance of this year’s World Environment Day theme, highlighting the extensive impact of drought and desertification on various sectors. She emphasised the urgent need to rehabilitate degraded land, especially poignant for the UAE as a desert nation.

In her statement marking World Environment Day, Dr. Al Dahak said, "The slogan ‘Our land. Our future. We are #GenerationRestoration’ for this year’s World Environment Day perfectly captures the mindset that is gathering pace across governments, organisations, businesses, and communities worldwide." She noted that this theme addresses crucial aspects of climate action.

The Minister highlighted the UAE's strategies to address the UN’s fifteenth Sustainable Development goal of Life on Land. Through the National Adaptation Plan and Biodiversity Strategy, the UAE is working to protect its land by rehabilitating degraded areas and preventing further degradation. The country has also expanded its mangrove cover significantly.

Dr. Al Dahak mentioned that the UAE has set an ambitious target to plant an additional 100 million mangroves by 2030. At COP27, the UAE partnered with Indonesia to launch the Mangrove Alliance for Climate (MAC), backed by $10 million of UAE investment for a new mangrove research centre in Bali.

Global Partnerships and Investments

In December 2023, at COP28, the UAE built on existing relationships and led global efforts to tackle climate change. A formal partnership between MAC and the Mangrove Breakthrough was announced to halt mangrove destruction by 2030. This partnership includes 49 governments, representing around 60% of the world’s mangroves, and over 50 non-state actors.

The initiative is committed to investing $17 billion in climate-smart agriculture and food systems through the AIM for Climate global initiative with the US. These partnerships aim to reverse poor land conditions and combat desertification in regions most vulnerable to climate change.

Water Scarcity Initiatives

Dr. Al Dahak continued, "As a desert nation, in the UAE we recognise water as a precious resource." Earlier this year, President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan launched the Mohamed bin Zayed Water initiative to address global water scarcity challenges. This initiative aims to accelerate technological innovation to protect countries like the UAE against drought threats.

The initiative will also drive investment for the benefit of current and future generations. By pooling resources and expertise to protect and restore land, economies can begin to transform and drive growth through sustainable practices.

With inputs from WAM