Global carbon emissions could lead to a resurgence in coal usage, warns industry analyst
In a recent address at The Journey to Net Zero event hosted by KT Events, Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, the former UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, expressed concerns over the world's slow progress in addressing climate change.
Al Nuaimi, who served as minister from 2020 to 2021, highlighted that the world is still heavily reliant on fossil fuels, with approximately 85-90% of its energy coming from these sources. Since the adoption of the Paris Agreement in 2015, the world has managed to generate only 10% of its energy from clean sources.
The Paris Agreement, an international treaty to combat climate change, was signed on December 12, 2015. The UAE, under Al Nuaimi's leadership, has been a signatory to this agreement and has implemented the Net Zero 2050 Strategy, aiming to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The strategy includes plans to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030.
Al Nuaimi also emphasised that fossil fuels, like gas and oil, are finite resources. He stated that the UAE's efforts, while significant, are not 'a fraction of enough' to address the global issue of climate change.
In addition to these efforts, the UAE is planning to build the largest mangrove farm and the biggest solar park. These initiatives are part of the UAE's leadership in climate action within the Mena region.
Ted Kemp, Chief Content Officer of Khaleej Times, was also present at the event. Al Nuaimi expressed his concern that if the usage of fossil fuels is not rationalized, the world might end up going back to coal in the future. He also stated that fossil fuels will not be available in the next 50 years.
Net zero, as defined by the United Nations, means reducing carbon emissions to a small amount that can be absorbed and durably stored by nature and other carbon dioxide removal measures, leaving zero in the atmosphere. Al Nuaimi's warnings serve as a reminder of the urgent need for global action to transition away from fossil fuels and towards clean, renewable energy sources.
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