See also: US calls Gulf oil exporters ‘part of the solution’ to climate crisis
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid will lead US President Joe Biden's upcoming climate summit for the UAE.
The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai will attend the online Leaders Summit on Climate talks on April 22 and 23.
The White House convened the high-level meeting, which will bring together leaders from 40 countries. The UAE is one of two countries from the region invited to attend .
The event comes only a few weeks after US Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry visited the UAE for the Mena Regional Climate Dialogue, which was held in Abu Dhabi.
The discussions focused on advancing global action to halt climate change in the GCC.
During Mr Kerry's first visit to the Middle East since being appointed to the role, he vowed to swiftly make up for America's "lost years" in the fight to protect the environment.
The UAE's commitment to climate targets Last December, the UAE became the first country in the region to commit to an economy-wide reduction in emissions when it submitted its second Nationally Determined Contribution to the Secretariat of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
The document outlines the country’s enhanced climate target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 23.5 per cent compared to business as usual for the year 2030.
This translates into absolute emission reduction of about 70 million tonnes.
The UAE’s efforts to reduce emissions include increasing reliance on clean energy, boosting energy efficiency, expanding capacity for carbon capture, promoting sustainable agriculture and implementing environmentally friendly waste management.
It is hoped the Leaders Summit will help to build momentum in a crucial year for climate progress.
The UN Climate Change Conference (Cop26) will take place in Glasgow in November.
In pictures: US Special Envoy for Climate John Kerry visits the UAE US climate envoy John Kerry attends the Regional Climate Dialogue in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. This is Mr Kerry's first visit to the Middle East, and Asia, since being appointed to the role. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
US climate envoy John Kerry attends the Regional Climate Dialogue in Abu Dhabi on Sunday. This is Mr Kerry's first visit to the Middle East, and Asia, since being appointed to the role. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
Alok Sharma, President of Cop26, attends the Regional Climate Dialogue in Abu Dhabi.
The pledge issued at the end of the Regional Climate Dialogue vowed to help the most vulnerable.
Delegates at the talks in Abu Dhabi.
Abdullah Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment and John Kerry, US climate envoy at the dialogue.
Abdullah Al Nuaimi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, at the Regional Climate Dialogue.
The dialogue comes during a critical year in the global fight to halt rising temperatures. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
The UAE's Special Envoy for Climate Change, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, at the Regional Climate Dialogue. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
US climate envoy John Kerry is given a helicopter tour of Noor solar park, outside Abu Dhabi on Saturday. Courtesy: Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
John Kerry speaks with Dr Sultan Al Jaber at Abu Dhabi's Shams 1 solar park on Saturday. The National
This is John Kerry's first visit to the Middle East since being appointed US climate envoy. The National
Mr Kerry has vowed to make up for the 'lost years' of the Donald Trump presidency and put the US at the forefront of efforts to protect the environment. The National
John Kerry meets Francesco La Camera, director general of International Renewable Energy Agency, which has its global headquarters in Abu Dhabi. The National
US climate envoy John Kerry visits Jubail Mangrove Park. Courtesy Office of the UAE Special Envoy for Climate Change
An aerial image of Abu Dhabi's Noor solar park. Its 3.2 million panels make it the largest single-site solar park in the world. Courtesy: Noor Abu Dhabi
Arrayed panels at Abu Dhabi's Noor solar park. Pawan Singh / The National
Updated: April 22, 2021, 3:02 AM