Emirate of Abu Dhabi's inaugural emissions report unveiled:

This project - endorsed by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) - further fulfils the UAE's commitment to the UNFCCC

Project focused on collaborating with institutions across the emirate to enable them to better measure and compile their own Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions

The GHG with the highest rate of emission was Carbon dioxide (CO2) which accounts for 78.6% of all emissions

Next GHG Inventory for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi will commence at the end of 2013, and will assess data from 2011

Abu Dhabi, May 20, 2013: The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) today released the results of its inaugural Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory Project for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for 2010. The project established the GHG inventory framework for Abu Dhabi Emirate and delivered a comprehensive database for all sectors: energy, industrial processes, agriculture, land use change and forestry, and waste. It is considered as the first cycle in a continuous and long-term process to provide comprehensive and accurate information as per international best standards, and will be updated every two years.

EAD conducted the inventory as further testament to the United Arab Emirates' (UAE) commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which requires signatory countries to establish and maintain a database on the greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. The inventory was made possible by the participation of stakeholders from all economic sectors, industries, businesses and public bodies, who engaged in the data collection, identification and coordination of the tasks, consultation, capacity building, and verification of the results. EAD oversaw that all processes were conducted according to international procedures and guidelines of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) - the leading international body for the assessment of climate change.

Commenting on the initiative, H.E. Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary General of EAD, said: "Introducing the inventory falls in line with EAD's strategic priority to ensure that our air is clean and to minimise climate change and its impacts. Besides allowing us to monitor and assess the greenhouse gases that are affecting the Emirate's air quality, the inventory allowed us to collaborate and transfer knowledge to our partners in both public and private sectors."

The inventory states that the GHG with the highest rate of emission was Carbon dioxide (CO2) which accounts for 78.6% of all emissions, then Methane (CH4) at 8.8%, followed by Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) at 7.6% and finally, Nitrous oxide (N2O) at 5%.

Overall, it was revealed that:

  • the Energy sector (Electricity & water desalination, oil & gas, transport, manufacturing, and others (residential/ commercial)) accounted for 72.6% of irect GHG Emissions

  • the Industrial Processes sector followed second with 18.1% of irect GHG Emissions

  • the Waste sector with 6.9% of direct GHG Emissions

  • the Agriculture sector with 2.4% of direct GHG Emissions

  • Land Use Change and Forestry sequestered 4.7% of direct GHG Emissions through uptake of around 6% of CO2 emissions

From an international perspective, the volume of GHG emissions by Abu Dhabi Emirate (approx. equivalent to 100 million ton CO2) is small, considering that the total emissions for the UAE is less than 0.5% of the global total [CDIAC, 2007]. Abu Dhabi is an oil producing emirate with a small population when compared to other cities, thus using the emission per capita indicator does not necessarily provide a complete picture of the country's CO2 emissions performance or its relative capacity to reduce emissions.

The developed standard emission indicators for Abu Dhabi Emirate (per GDP and per kWh electricity produced) strongly reflect energy constraints and the choices made to supply the economic activities of Abu Dhabi. Significant emissions are attributed to the support of economic activities in other emirates and internationally, through export of power, oil and gas, minerals, chemicals, metals, and foodstuff, or through business development and tourism.

H.E. Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said: "By launching this inventory, Abu Dhabi gains the ability to quantify the exact amount of emission reductions achieved by installing renewable energy and by increasing efficiency. Abu Dhabi gains the ability to correlate the emission reductions with air quality, cost-saving and national security and energy policy. Abu Dhabi gains the ability to see how carbon sinks, such as managed mangrove forests, contribute to carbon sequestration. And Abu Dhabi improves the ability of the United Arab Emirates to join other parties under the U.N. framework convention on climate change in accurately reporting greenhouse gas emissions and reductions."

She added: "Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates have a long tradition of leadership thanks to the vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who envisioned a world where humanity cherishes the environment and preserves it for future generations. Today, his vision is pursued, by increasing the use of renewables, by investing in efficiency and innovation and by contributing to the commercialization of carbon capture and storage technology. The Greenhouse Gas inventory gives Abu Dhabi a tool to quantify the results of these actions and it brings Sheikh Zayed's vision to the global stage by helping scale up and speed up climate action needed to fulfil the international commitment to limit warning to two degrees Celsius. Today, I applaud the launch of this inventory."

The efforts to respond to the challenges posed by climate change are not recent; the UAE has already submitted two National Communications Reports to the UNFCCC and is in the process of finalizing the third one. Additionally, several strategies are in place to address the impacts of climate change, such as:

  • the Masdar initiative

  • the Ecological Footprint Initiative (Al Basma Al Beeiyah)

  • the Executive Affairs Authority's programme to reduce energy consumption through improved AC efficiency

  • the Estidama Initiative on green building codes for new residential and commercial construction

  • the Abu Dhabi Energy Policy that states a 7% renewable electricity capacity target by 2020; nuclear power generation; and demand side management schemes

  • Abu Dhabi Environment Vision 2030

  • Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030

  • Abu Dhabi Plan 2030

  • Surface Transport Master Plan 2030

  • Waste Management Strategy

  • and ADNOC's Strategic Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Objectives, including elimination of hydrocarbon flaring, and optimization of land, energy and raw materials utilization within the oil and gas industry.

H.E Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak added: "We are confident that the results of the inventory will contribute to the government's objective of integrating economic, social and environmental goals into strategy formation and policy-making. Knowing where we stand today is a vital component in evolving Abu Dhabi's green growth, thus increasing the UAE's overall economic competitiveness. Through the knowledge that we now have about our atmosphere, the strong partnerships formed, and with the national capacities we have helped develop to update data for future reports, I am certain that we are on the right track to adopt a more targeted approach to the mitigation of GHG emissions."

Eng. Shaikha Ahmed Al Hosani, Director of Environmental Monitoring & Analysis at EAD said: "The inventory enabled us to compile baseline data that will help the government develop strategies to assess and monitor the levels of emissions as well as the 'sinks' that absorb greenhouse gases. Moving forward, focus should be given to CO2 emissions from power production combined with water desalination, transport, as well as to CO2 and other GHG emissions from industry - in particular steel and aluminium production. Managed plantation and forestry are important sinks for CO2 removal, as they currently absorb 6% of Abu Dhabi emissions."

The completion of the GHG inventory is a milestone for EAD as it continues to manage the impact of climate change. EAD will continue to work with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Directorate of Energy and Climate Change), supporting the UAE's efforts to fulfil its obligation to UNFCCC. It will also continue liaising with the UAE Ministry of Environment & Water in playing a lead and coordination role in Abu Dhabi to ensure the development and implementation of the UAE National Climate Policy.

The next GHG Inventory for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi will commence at the end of 2013, and will assess data from 2011. EAD will organise workshops and coordinate with stakeholders to support the assessment of the inventory, as well as provide updated information on the project's aim, its methodology and data collection process.

Additional information:

A greenhouse gas is an atmospheric gas which absorbs solar radiation and traps it within the Earth's atmosphere.

The GHG Inventory compiled data about gases specified in the Kyoto Protocol. These include Carbon dioxide, Methane, Nitrous oxide, Hydrofluorocarbons, Perfluorocarbons, Sulfur hexafluoride, Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen oxides, Non-Methane Volatile Organic Compounds and Carbon monoxide

About Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD)
The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) was established in 1996 to preserve Abu Dhabi's natural heritage, protect our future, and raise awareness about environmental issues. EAD is Abu Dhabi's environmental regulator and advises the government on environmental policy. It works to create sustainable communities, and protect and conserve wildlife and natural resources. EAD also works to ensure integrated and sustainable water resources management, to ensure clean air and minimise climate change and its impacts.

About the UNFCCC
With 195 Parties, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has near universal membership and is the parent treaty of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol has been ratified by 192 of the UNFCCC Parties. For the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol, 37 States, consisting of highly industrialized countries and countries undergoing the process of transition to a market economy, have legally binding emission limitation and reduction commitments. The ultimate objective of both treaties is to stabilize greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that will prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system.

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Environment Agency- Abu Dhabi (EAD)
Tel: +971 2 6934-637
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Email: pressoffice@ead.ae
Website: www.ead.ae

© Press Release 2013