The UAE is prioritizing responsible water management as part of its sustainability drive, with a focus on reducing potable water consumption and increasing the reuse of treated water. The UAE is developing and scaling up independent water projects that use reverse osmosis technology, while expanding the share of clean and renewable energy in desalination to reduce the environmental impact of desalination. The country is also making substantial progress in reducing water losses and consumption through green building and product standards, building retrofit initiatives, water tariff reform, and public awareness initiatives. The UAE is set to host COP28, where inclusivity will be a hallmark, as the country champions climate, peace, and security, and the need for the Council to address emerging challenges. The UAE is also at the forefront of climate-smart agriculture and food systems, utilizing modern farming solutions like optimized greenhouse design, hydroponics, and vertical farms. The country has partnered with the United States in the Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate, committing $8 billion towards investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems to benefit long-term water security.
The UAE’s Commitment to Sustainable Water Management and Climate Action
The UAE is prioritizing responsible water management as part of its sustainability drive, according to the country’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment, Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri. Speaking at the UN 2023 Water Conference, Almheiri highlighted the importance of water management for a country with limited freshwater resources, a growing population and economy, and an average rainfall ten times lower than the global average.
The UAE Water Security Strategy 2036 is aimed at ensuring continued and sustainable access to water, and it addresses every dimension of the water supply chain. One of its goals is to reduce potable water consumption by 20%, while increasing the reuse of treated water to 95%. This strategy aligns with the UAE’s Updated Second Nationally Determined Contribution and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategy.
Almheiri emphasized that water is essential to the UAE’s well-being, saying, “As our nation’s founder, the late Sheikh Zayed Al Nahyan, taught us, water is not simply a commodity; it is our lifeblood.” The UAE is committed to advancing progress on Sustainable Development Goal 6, which seeks to ensure access to water and sanitation for all, as well as to accelerating progress throughout the Water Action Decade.
The UAE is developing and scaling up independent water projects that use reverse osmosis technology, while expanding the share of clean and renewable energy in desalination to reduce the environmental impact of desalination. The country is also making substantial progress in reducing water losses and consumption through green building and product standards, building retrofit initiatives, water tariff reform, and public awareness initiatives.
Almheiri stressed the importance of innovation in addressing water-related challenges and taking advantage of opportunities. Currently, agriculture accounts for 70% of all freshwater withdrawal globally. To shift to a more sustainable pathway, Almheiri believes that innovation and efficiencies will be inevitable.
The UAE is set to host the 28th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in November 2023. The Global Stocktake, which provides the first opportunity to evaluate collective progress in delivering on the goals of the Paris Agreement, will be one of the critical outcomes of COP. As an elected member of the Security Council, the UAE champions climate, peace, and security, and the need for the Council to address emerging challenges.
Almheiri said that inclusivity will be one of the hallmarks of COP28, not only in terms of the stakeholders involved but also in terms of the agenda. The UAE’s commitment to sustainable water management and climate action is evidence of the country’s determination to be a leader in addressing global challenges.
The UAE’s Leadership in Climate-Smart Agriculture and Food Systems
The UAE is leading the charge in climate-smart agriculture and food systems, utilizing modern farming solutions like optimized greenhouse design, hydroponics, and vertical farms. The country has also partnered with the United States in the Agricultural Innovation Mission for Climate, a joint initiative that has committed $8 billion towards investment in climate-smart agriculture and food systems. These efforts are expected to benefit long-term water security in the UAE. The Khaleej Times reports that these initiatives are at the forefront of sustainable agriculture and food systems, positioning the UAE as a leader in this space.
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