Que: How do you believe countries can effectively collaborate to transition to renewable energy and mitigate the impacts of climate change on a global scale?

Ans: Collaborative partnerships and international cooperation play pivotal roles in advancing renewable energy deployment in emerging markets. International partnerships facilitate technology transfer, investment, and financing from developed countries and international financial institutions, enabling the adoption of efficient solutions. Additionally, they provide policy support, capacity-building programs, and infrastructure development assistance, while promoting knowledge sharing among stakeholders. Moreover, these partnerships help mitigate risks associated with renewable energy projects, enhancing investor confidence and accelerating the transition to sustainable energy systems in emerging markets.

The UAE follows a collaborative approach in driving a robust energy transition. This was reflected in COP28’s historic UAE Consensus, where countries committed to the Global Renewables and Energy Efficiency Pledge and will triple the global renewable energy capacity by 2030.

The UAE is also a major global investor in renewables, having invested USD 50 billion in renewables projects in over 70 countries with plans to invest an additional USD 50 billion into these initiatives over the next decade. Our flagship renewables company Masdar has made substantial renewable energy investments across the world with a total capacity of 20 GW installed or under development. By 2030, Masdar aims to grow its global renewables capacity to 100 GW.

Que: The UAE has set ambitious goals for reducing emissions from the oil and gas sector and investing in clean energy technologies. Could you elaborate on the strategies and technologies being pursued to achieve these goals, particularly in areas such as carbo

Ans: Carbon capture is recognised by major energy and climate bodies as essential for decarbonisation goals as it has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from industrial processes and power generation.

The UAE has a strong and growing portfolio of carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) projects with the aim of reducing its carbon footprint. We are currently developing several CCUS projects, built on our experience with the Al Reyadah project, which is one of the first commercial-scale CCUS projects in the Middle East. We are planning to increase the UAE’s carbon capture capacity 10-fold by 2030.

In addition, the UAE continues to capitalize on all available diverse technologies, such as setting targets for electrifying transportation and introducing hydrogen fuel cells.

Que: The UAE has made significant investments in various renewable energy projects over the past decade. Could you share some insights into these projects and their contributions to the country's energy transition and economic growth?

Ans: Renewable energy presents numerous benefits, including significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, bolstering energy security through source diversification, and fostering job creation and economic prosperity. Investments in renewables also drive technological innovation, particularly in energy storage and grid integration, leading to broader societal gains.

The UAE has made substantial investments in renewables. Between 2019 and 2022, we successfully doubled our renewables capacity, and by 2030, we will triple it. Today, the UAE operates three of the world’s largest solar plants.

These achievements were made possible through the translation of our national net-zero goal into actionable policies, the development of the National Hydrogen Strategy, and the adaptation of our Energy Strategy 2050 to align with our new objectives.

We believe that our projects can inspire others to take bold steps towards just and equitable energy transitions, including the expansion of global renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency by 2030.

Que: How do you envision the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in revolutionizing the energy landscape and enhancing energy security?

Ans: Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands out as a revolutionary force that has the potential to reshape the future of energy. AI applications are already making grids smarter by predicting peaks and dips in usage so that excess power can be transferred to where the system needs it. Predictive maintenance is extending battery life and improving storage capacity. And AI is also playing an increasingly essential role in integrating renewable and baseload power to maximize efficiency and energy security at the same time. The faster we invest in and apply AI to the energy sector, the faster its benefits can be scaled.

At the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, we leverage AI to contribute to charting a course towards a more efficient, eco-friendly, and technologically advanced energy future. During COP28, we launched the EARTH Platform, which serves as a powerful AI-enabled tool in advancing five critical domains: Economy, Adaptation, Reduction, Transition, and Health. Its primary objective is to enable a comprehensive assessment and monitoring of net-zero activities through a UAE-wide integrated digital dashboard.

Que: The UAE has implemented regulatory frameworks to support the energy transition, including the Energy Strategy 2050 and the National Hydrogen Strategy 2050. How do these strategies align with the country's vision for a sustainable energy future?

Ans: Through both strategies, we aim to shape a prosperous, climate-safe, energy-secure future for our nation, while contributing to the global agenda for environmental sustainability.

The UAE presents an exemplary model for adopting policies and strategies that contribute to shaping a more sustainable future at home and globally. In 2023, we took on the task of updating the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 to accelerate the energy transition and increase the share of clean energy in our energy mix to become climate-neutral by 2050. The strategy outlines a national program to balance meeting the rising energy demand and sustaining natural resources for generations to come. It aims to spur a clean energy boom and achieve a robust energy transition as a lever for the national economy and a key contributor to the country’s GDP.

In line with the updated objectives of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, the country will invest up to USD 54 billion by 2030 to ensure energy demand is met while sustaining economic growth in the UAE. The strategy aims to improve individual and institutional energy consumption efficiency rates to reduce carbon emissions and enhance environmental sustainability. This will contribute to achieving financial savings of USD 27 billion and creating 50,000 new green jobs by 2030.

Moreover, the National Hydrogen Strategy 2050 is a long-term plan to turn the UAE into a leading and reliable producer and supplier of low-carbon hydrogen by 2031. The strategy serves as a crucial tool to help the UAE achieve its commitment to net zero by 2050 and accelerate the global hydrogen economy. It will facilitate the production of 1.4 million tons of low-carbon hydrogen per annum by 2031 and increasing production to 15 million tons of low-carbon hydrogen per annum by 2050.

Que: Could you discuss some examples of successful collaborations between governments, the private sector, and communities that have facilitated clean energy transition, both within the UAE and on a broader scale?

Ans: The UAE-US Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE) is a shining example of effective collaboration that can spur large-scale investments in clean energy projects around the world.

In November 2022, the UAE and the US joined forces to launch PACE, which is working to mobilize USD 100 billion and deploy 100 new GW of clean energy by 2035. The initiative represents a shared commitment by two major energy producers to a responsible and ambitious energy transition. In January 2023, the UAE and the US announced that USD 20 billion would be allocated to fund 15 GW of clean and renewable energy projects in the US before 2035.

Que: Finally, Your Excellency, what message would you like to convey to global leaders, policymakers, and citizens regarding the urgency of addressing climate change and embracing clean energy solutions?

Ans: My message to government leaders is ‘Aspire for more, Act now.’ Global leaders must show a steadfast commitment and send a clear signal by setting bolder climate targets and putting climate action at the center of their countries’ development plans.

My message to citizens is ‘Every contribution matters’. We all live on one planet that is under a grave threat from climate change, and it is everyone’s responsibility to join the global movement to achieve net zero and everyone has a role to play so that we can secure a sustainable future for generations to come.