Cities can lead in combatting climate change - Dubai is showing the way

Attendees in the Green Zone on the opening day of Cop28 at Expo City in Dubai on Thursday. Bloomberg

The UAE is hosting the world’s biggest opportunity to make meaningful progress on climate change: the 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, Cop28. And for the first time in the history of the conference, mayors and governors will have a formal role in the proceedings.

That change reflects a growing awareness among national and international leaders of the critical role that cities play in driving down emissions and building climate resilience – and Dubai is a leading example of both.

Consider that earlier this year, the UAE witnessed a surge in temperature, topping 50°C. The likelihood of continued extreme heat means that Dubai has had to become a pioneer in climate change innovation. Today Dubai is a city-sized laboratory, working to create conditions where humans can not only live, but thrive.

Right in the heart of our city, the Dubai World Trade Centre has become a model for how to combine different climate and resilience measures – from extensive solar panelling to lower energy consumption, to revolutionary waste management.

Dubai is also running conservation and sustainability initiatives across its tourism ecosystem, and it has increased water usage efficiency and developed clean energy alternatives through its Carbon Abatement Strategy. In 2021 alone, the city reduced carbon emissions by more than 20 per cent, preventing millions of tonnes of carbon from polluting our atmosphere.

Dubai has also set targets to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases by 50 per cent in 2030 and to achieve net-zero by 2050. The city will reduce emissions in power and water, road transportation, manufacturing and the waste sector to achieve its goals.

While Dubai has made great strides, the UAE federal government has accelerated its ambitions. In July, it raised its national emissions targets, planning to curb carbon emissions by 40 per cent by 2030. In the months ahead, the UAE will update its climate action plan based on the strategies and insights that emerge at Cop28.

Dubai is also home to Emirates Airlines, the largest carrier in the Middle East, which is also taking action to be more sustainable. Emirates recently conducted the first ever test flight of an Airbus A380 powered by 100 per cent Sustainable Aviation Fuel. Sustainable fuel, electric aviation and hydrogen-powered aviation are all being explored in Dubai and the UAE as pathways to decarbonising aviation.

To achieve the next round of climate targets, Dubai has already begun diversifying its energy sources. While the city’s history is closely tied to fossil fuels, it is building a new future by harnessing its most abundant natural resources: sunlight.

For a sense of what’s on the horizon, leaders attending Cop28 should consider visiting the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park – among the world’s largest single-site solar parks. In June of this year, the solar park launched its fifth phase, with plans to add another 2.2 million photovoltaic panels that will produce as much as 900 megawatts of energy. And this is only the beginning. Once complete, the facility is expected to eliminate more than 6 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

Cop27 President Sameh Shoukry, left, hands over the gavel to Cop28 President Dr Sultan Al Jaber at the UN climate conference's opening ceremony. AFP

Dr Sultan Al Jaber speaks during the opening session at Expo City Dubai. AP

King Charles III visiting Heriot-Watt University Dubai Campus during the Cop28 summit. PA

Sameh Shoukry, Cop27 President, centre, attends the opening session. AP

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry attends the Cop28 opening session. Reuters

Raquel Sousa Chaves from Brazil at Cop28. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Visitors on the first day of Cop28. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Recyclable wind turbines on show on the first day of Cop28. Chris Whiteoak / The National

A plant-based food cafe at Cop28. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Vegan activists on the first day of Cop28. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Pollution Pods, an installation by British artist Michael Pinsky, where Cop28 visitors can safely experience the air pollution in Beijing and other cities. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Indigenous leaders and climate campaigners are among the attendees at Cop28. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Fair-trade vegan chocolate being handed out at Cop28. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Day one at Cop28, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Cop28, Dubai Expo City. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The first day of Cop28. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Cop28, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

The first day of Cop 28 at Expo City, Dubai. Chris Whiteoak / The National

National flags on display at the UN climate summit. AP

Delegates arriving for the opening of Cop28. Pawan Singh / The National

More than 70,000 delegates, including world leaders, climate scientists, business leaders and young people, are expected to attend. Pawan Singh / The National

Delegates will engage in a stock take to see how pledges to limit global warming are being implemented. Pawan Singh / The National

The summit aims to keep on track efforts to restrict global warming to less than 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. Pawan Singh / The National

Hora – The Unity Dance artwork, by Marius Diaconu, on display at Cop28. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Cop28 runs until December 12. Chris Whiteoak / The National

This scaled foray into solar power has enabled other exciting energy innovations, too. For instance, Dubai has partnered with Siemens Energy to build the Middle East’s first hydrogen plant driven by renewables, a potentially game-changing development in the global energy sector. Industry leaders are hopeful that the UAE may eventually produce enough green hydrogen to export it to other nations.

This is more than a technological marvel. It can be a model for how businesses and local governments can work together on projects that are incredibly ambitious towards our global fight against climate change.

We recognise, of course, that many cities simply do not have the capacity (or weather) to scale state-of-the-art solar facilities. But the perceived limitations of any city – be it a dependence on cars, air-conditioning, or energy-intensive industries – does not disqualify anyone from climate action. If Dubai can begin transforming itself into a champion for solar energy, then cities worldwide should be just as bold in charting a more sustainable future.

To win the battle against climate change, it’s going to take leaders at every level working closer together than ever before. At the UN climate conference, with Dubai taking centre stage, cities have a historic opportunity to help lead the way.