Greenhouse gas emissions from energy sector in the United Arab Emirates – An overview

Abstract

The largest contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the energy sector. More than 90% of the total GHG is emitted from this sector. The rapid rise of population, high rate of urbanization, rapid economic growth, and low energy cost increase the demand for energy. The consistently increasing trend of energy consumption and GHG emissions pose a challenge for the country. This study has (i) investigated the major sources of energy consumption and GHG emissions, (ii) analyzed the growth pattern of the source categories, (iii) forecasted the GHG emissions under the business-as-usual and the reformed scenarios, (iv) synthesized widely varied initiatives of the UAE in GHG emission mitigation, (v) highlighted the challenges in deploying renewable energy resources, and (vi) discussed on the possible GHG mitigation approaches. The findings of this study will contribute in preparing national GHG emissions inventory, investigating the dynamics of national GHG emissions with particular reference to the energy sector, developing possible future energy outlook scenarios, and selecting appropriate policy measures to mitigate GHG emissions.