Why Do We Need to Reduce the Carbon Footprint in UAE?

Abstract

Today, the term “carbon footprint” is often used as shorthand for carbon (usually in tones) being emitted by an activity or organization. The carbon component of the ecological footprint, which we call the carbon footprint, takes a slightly differing approach. Our carbon footprint measurement translates the amount of carbon dioxide emissions into the amount of productive land and sea area required to sequester those carbon dioxide emissions. UAE enjoys a high level of human development but at the cost of a large ecological footprint. A quick action to overcome the raise of carbon footprint is therefore required. The paper explores all issues that affect the environment in UAE and the associated consequences. CO₂ emission trends are analyzed and showed the country has a high percentages compared with other worlds’ emissions. Carbon cycle is presented to explain the real causes for these emissions. UAE enabling strategies, policies, and activities are surveyed to show how the country is acting and what are the existing practices followed in order to reduce the carbon footprint. The paper introduces extra practices that if followed will have a large impact on the carbon footprint. Green buildings and the deployment of renewable energy systems are some of the solutions that could insure a considerable amount of carbon emission. Energy efficiency assessment for buildings is an important tool that controls the right implication of the proposed practices. It has been concluded that UAE is developing a good policies and implementing the right practices to achieve their 2030 target. However, more is needed as emphasized by this work.