EAD announces results of Abu Dhabi's 2nd Greenhouse Gas Inventory

ABU DHABI, 26th September, 2016 (WAM) -- The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, EAD, has released the results of its 2nd Greenhouse Gas, GHG, Inventory Project for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi for 2016, giving a comprehensive data set for the largest contributing sectors including energy (electricity and water production, oil and gas, manufacturing and transport), industrial processes, agriculture, land use change and forestry and waste.

According to the results the total direct emissions increased from 99 million tonne CO2 equivalent to 115 million tonne broadly reflecting economic and population growth between 2010 and 2012. The energy sector represented 74.1 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions followed by industrial processes 16.9 percent, waste 7.3 percent and agriculture 1.7 percent.

The report revealed that natural carbon sequestration via mangroves, forests and palm trees is important and therefore must be protected and maintained.

Dr. Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: "Climate change is a global issue that requires all parties to exert more concerted efforts on all local and international levels. In the UAE, we are committed to fulfil our part in supporting international efforts to address the effects of climate change. We are preparing a comprehensive national plan for climate change to reduce carbon emissions and promote national measures to mitigate climate change in accordance with the vision of our leadership in advancing sustainable development in the country's economic, social and environmental aspects."

Razan Khalifa Al Mubarak, Secretary-General of the EAD, the lead author of the inventory, said, "In order to develop an effective emissions reduction programme we have to understand the sources of emissions. Greenhouse Gas inventories are important not only because they provide the scientific understanding of the sources of emissions of which policy formulation is based on. They also allow for the monitoring of progress of emission reduction schemes in an open and transparent manner. The EAD is committed to embracing best practices in its methodology of data collection as well as its responsibility to engage its stakeholders making the findings of the report credible and accessible."

"The inventory is the first step in the development of a low carbon future as it identifies key emission sources. For Abu Dhabi Emirate, the key emission sources come from three sectors; energy (including electricity and water production and oil and gas) 48.8 percent, industry 25 percent as well as transport 16.8 percent," she noted.

Addressing climate change and enhancing air quality is a key programme in the Abu Dhabi plan 2020, she noted. "The GHG inventory project is a key to implementing the programme and could not be implemented without the close collaboration of the 18 key stakeholder entities in the emirate."

"The authority is committed to minimising the greenhouse gas emissions from water and electricity generation and we will continue to improve efficiency of our existing power plants and implementing ambitious plans to increase the contribution of renewables, in particular solar," said Faris Obaid Al Dhaheri, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority.

"Our peaceful nuclear energy programme will provide safe, clean, efficient, and reliable nuclear energy to the economy of Abu Dhabi and the UAE, producing almost no greenhouse gas emissions and saving up to 12 million tons of carbon emissions every year. We are determined to contribute to the UAE";s climate change strategy for decades to come and look forward to playing a key role in a diversified energy sector," said Mohamed Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation.

Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman of Department of Municipal Affairs and Transport, welcomed the publication of the GHG inventory, and vowed to use it as a baseline to monitor the impact of the master plan as we implement it.

Saeed Eisa Mohammed Al Khyeli, Director-General of the Higher Corporation for Specialized Economic Zones (ZonesCorp), said, "ZonesCorp has implemented a strategy of targeting companies for its industrial clusters, particularly those in heavy industry, that use modern technology to reduce the levels of potentially harmful gas emissions without affecting productivity."

"Establishing a comprehensive industrial database to all the industrial facilities operating in accordance with the international standards will enhance the accuracy of the data collected. It also improves monitoring, reporting and investigating the information in the emirate, which will support the concerned entities including EAD to implement their future projects such as GHG Emissions Inventory in Abu Dhabi," said Ayman Al-Makkawy, Director-General of the Industrial Development Bureau.

Shaikha Ahmed Al Hosani, Deputy Executive Director of Environment Quality at EAD, said, "Two GHG emission scenarios were developed for the year 2030 - the Business As Usual (BAU) model that assumes future anthropogenic emissions will proceed without additional legislation or control as in the base year, and the Extended Emission Control (BAU-EXEC) scenario that considers the improvement in production technologies and the emission control measures in various sectors."

"The BAU-EXEC scenario showed that Abu Dhabi has the potential to reduce about 40% emissions compared to its historical trajectory by the year 2030. The largest potential for emission reduction is in combined electricity and water production 22 percent, followed by transport 12percent and waste 6 percent," Al Hosani added.