Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, participated in the first UAE Regional Climate Dialogue, hosted by the UAE in the presence of US special presidential envoy for climate John Kerry.
In his opening statement, Dr. Al Nuaimi said: "The impacts of climate change are already evident and are likely to escalate. Enhancing the adaptive capacity of communities, economies, and ecosystems is essential to protect the gains of growth, and pave the way for continued development. Adaptation action also yields valuable co-benefits for climate mitigation, and human health and welfare."
He added: "Characterised by a desert climate, our region is especially vulnerable to climate impacts. True to our spirit of innovation, we in the UAE are taking strong steps to adapt to the risks posed by climate change, and we hope to share our experience with other countries."
Dr Al Nuaimi provided an overview of the UAE’s climate change adaptation efforts. He noted that the country has submitted its second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) that raises its climate ambitions, and covers climate change mitigation as well as adaptation.
He added: "The UAE National Climate Change Adaptation Program aims to strengthen climate resilience. As part of the program, risks across four sectors – energy, infrastructure, health and environment – have been assessed, and sectoral adaptation action plans are being developed."
Speaking about food security – one of the country’s current priorities, Dr Al Nuaimi said: "The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for stable food supply chains and a reduction in export dependence. Despite climatic limitations, we are seeing promising developments in sustainable agriculture in the form of cutting-edge agri-tech and cultivation methods, such as hydroponic farming. Vertical farming projects in the UAE exhibit the potential to produce an output equivalent to traditional farms 300 times their size. Maximizing yields, optimizing resource use, and reducing emissions, these practices address the critical water-energy-food nexus."
Read the complete article at www.wam.ae.