This article has been created by AESG in collaboration with the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and its Middle East North Africa Regional Partners and Net Zero Collaborators through interviews and surveys from industry experts. It is the first of four articles that highlight the achievements of advancing net zero in the built environment.
As the world is coming together for the stocktaking COP28 Conference in the UAE, this thought leadership series highlights the achievements of advancing net zero in its built environment. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) buildings and construction sector has made progress and is called to continue its enhancement of building and construction performance. The efforts are driven by the number of actors across the value chain, developers, construction companies, and solution providers. Nevertheless, the UAE Government has announced the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative in October 2021 and is continuously working on detailing these targets and providing enabling mechanisms to the industry.
UAE Leadership is mobilising for sustainability and decarbonisation actions through the UAE-wide target to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030, UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy, and sustainability requirements within the stock exchange market.
The UAE has been setting targets and implementing a wide range of climate related strategies and initiatives:
The aluminium industry, reliant on natural gas for the generation of electricity for manufacturing needs, has set emission intensity targets that cover the complete range of industrial processes
The steel industry is leveraging technology interventions to increase the efficiency of energy use in reheating of steel billets, heating of metal scrap in electric arc furnaces, as well as casting. In addition, Emirates Steel has begun the implementation of a two-phase green hydrogen project
The cement industry, where most emissions come from clinker production, is shifting to alternative fuels, including refuse derived fuel (RDF), for powering furnaces and generators
Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ras al Khaimah have been implementing Energy Efficiency (Demand Side Management) strategies for almost 10 years, achieving great results, and continuously improving requirements via governmental policies. This will be the key fuel for the change of companies’ way of designing to include more energy efficient practices.
There is a greater focus on urban planning solutions, such as the ‘15 minute city’ concept, which created urban districts that encourage walking, cycling and other micro-mobility solutions – a concept being implemented at Expo City Dubai. These will have a substantial positive impact on emissions reductions.
The UAE has focused on sustainable urban planning, sustainable building certifications, and technology to reduce energy demand. There are many examples, such as the Dubai 2040 Structure Plan , that will create more sustainable urban development, integrating passive design strategies, walkable communities, nature-based solutions, and sustainable transport to reduce energy consumption at an urban scale.
Decarbonisation of Utilities
The UAE has invested heavily in renewable energy, and this has helped to reduce the country’s reliance on fossil fuels. In 2021, renewable energy accounted for 14% of the UAE’s total energy mix. The target for the 2050 energy mix is as follows: 44% clean energy, 38% gas, 12% clean coal and 6% nuclear. The current energy needs are met by a mix including over 90% natural gas. The overall target of the UAE iNational Energy Strategy is Carbon Neutrality by 2050.
Awareness and Engagement
The UAE’s journey highlights the importance of public awareness and engagement. Effective communication and education campaigns foster a culture of responsible energy use, inspiring individuals, tenants, visitors to actively participate in the decarbonisation agenda.
There is an importance of engaging with other sectors as well like the oil & gas industry to integrate the energy transition from energy efficiency to renewables into the overall energy mix and optimization approach.
UAE Regulations
The regulatory frameworks play a pivotal role in shaping the construction landscape. Net Zero policies, incentives, and standards can provide a solid foundation for businesses to align their strategies with sustainable practices.
There is an opportunity for the UAE to develop more stringent building codes or standards to reduce the embodied carbon and enable life cycle assessments of the building and construction industry.
Globally, incentives can be used as a tool to support the regulatory enforcement and compliance (e.g. carbon taxes, building labelling schemes, utility discounts) and ensure the buildings are built in line with the codes, regulations, and development compliance is monitored systematically.
To further understand the market needs, governments are engaging with global and local Green Building Councils with an aim to catalyse the uptake of sustainable and built environment regulations.
Energy Efficiency
To maximise the reduction from operational carbon emissions, the UAE government has developed multiple strategies to drive the direction for policies and regulations. With a strong focus on reducing the demand of energy and water, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, Sharjah and Ras al-Khaimah, driven by their Demand Management Strategies, have set strong regulatory frameworks and policies on building design, energy auditing, building retrofitting, efficient cooling (district cooling) but also on energy-efficient equipment and appliances and others.
Renewable Energy Regulations
The deployment of renewable energy is essential for decarbonization. With utility decarbonisation measures, the UAE has the opportunity to provide incentives and tools for businesses to implement renewable energy and decarbonise further. The market is in need of policies and regulations supporting the renewable energy adoption and reduction of Scope 2 carbon emissions.
Carbon Emission Disclosure
Disclosing the emissions by companies within the public and private sector would support other market players to follow the same path and provide a driver to implement climate action and decarbonisation initiatives to impact the emission reduction. Mandatory disclosure policies and regulations are needed.
We’d like to thank our MENA Regional Partners and Net Zero Collaborators for contributing to this collaborative thought leadership series:
Dubai Holding Corporate | Dubai Holding Real Estate | Masdar | Department of Energy, Abu Dhabi | A³&Co | Bee’ah Group | ICD Brookfield Place | Majid Al Futtaim | AD Ports Group | Linxion/Bartec Group | Expo City Dubai | Dar Group | Saint Gobain | Benchmark Gensuite | AESG
