UAE launches EARTH platform at COP28 to monitor net-zero activities

Suhail Bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, unveiled the EARTH platform that will serve as a powerful 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.

The announcement was made at a ceremony organised by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) at the 28th United Nations Conference of the Parties (COP28) at Expo City Dubai.

In his speech, Al Mazrouei said, "MoEI is delighted to introduce the UAE's EARTH Platform. We wanted to have a tool that would be accessible by the leadership and would reflect the status quo of how we were performing against net zero targets within the various sectors of the ministry, it being energy, transportation or built environment - a tool that would give us insights on how to react, when to react, and how quick to react.

"The platform can support decision-making by providing reliable, accurate, real-time data that help shape future trends and strategies. The domains are strategically designed to align with the UAE's competitive advantages, future-oriented vision, and circular economy goals. We have high hopes for this initiative to grow exponentially, with future phases potentially integrating all federal and local government entities, each with its respective mandates and contributions towards driving the sustainability agenda and making net-zero a reality.”

For his part, Sharif Al Olama, Under-Secretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at MoEI, said, "The EARTH Platform leverages advanced technologies, including AI and Big Data, to run comprehensive analysis of the data to expedite the decision-making process. It is not merely a digital database, but a platform to showcase the UAE's significant strides toward achieving its 2050 net-zero emissions target.”

He added, "Through the EARTH platform, we seek to mobilise national efforts to shift toward a knowledge-based, green economy to drive a comprehensive sustainable development. EARTH is an invitation to the world to celebrate innovation as we pave the way for a sustainable future. It is a testament to the UAE’s commitment to being a positive driving force and a leader in the sustainability landscape.”

The platform will measure performance against the future objectives in the five domains. In Economy, the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 targets an investment of Dhs150 to Dhs200 billion in renewable energy by 2030, the creation of 50,000 new green jobs by 2030, pushing Dhs55 billion to advance an array of decarbonisation projects across its diversified value chain by 2030, and an increase of the clean energy capacity from 14.2 GW to 19.8 GW by 2030.

In adaptation, MoEI aims to reduce total water demand by 21 percent and increase the reuse of treated water to 95 percent, develop the capability to provide 91 litres of water per person per day in emergency situations, achieve a 73 percent reuse rate of treated wastewater, increase EV sales by 10 per cent, and save Dhs65 million per year through energy efficiency and resource management for federal buildings.

In reduction, the Ministry aims for net-zero emissions in the water and energy sectors by 2050 through increasing individual and institutional energy consumption efficiency by 42-45 percent compared to 2019. The country also aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 100 million metric tonnes from the water desalination process and reduce 120-tonne CO2 per year to align with global climate action goals.

The Ministry’s objectives in respect to the transition domain include tripling the share of renewable energy by 2030, increasing clean energy generation to 32 percent by 2030, producing 1.4 million tonnes of hydrogen per year by 2031, establishing five hydrogen oases by 2050, incorporating Reverse Osmosis to expand the UAE's transition to more efficient desalination methods, and expanding the public charging network and increasing EV sales.

In health, the MoEI aims to ensure all UAE population has access to safely managed drinking water and sanitation services, invest in sewer systems to match the population growth, increase the green ecosystem as there are currently 60 million mangrove trees growing across the coasts of the emirates with an area of up to 183 square kilometres. These mangroves are natural sinks for about 43 thousand tons of carbon dioxide.

WAM