UAE Climate Change Risks & Resilience
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AUTHORED IN COLLABORATION WITH UAE Climate Change Risks & Resilience: An overview of climate change risks to 12 key sectors ABOUT EMIRATES WILDLIFE SOCIETY IN ASSOCIATION WITH WWF (EWS-WWF) Emirates Wildlife Society is a national (UAE) environmental non-governmental organisation established in 2001 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s representative in the western region and Chairman of Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi. Editor-in-Chief: Emirates Wildlife Society works in association with WWF, one of the world’s Nadia Rouchdy, EWS-WWF largest and most respected independent conservation organisations, with offices in 100 countries. The association is commonly known as EWS-WWF. Authors: Dr. Richenda Connell, Acclimatise Our vision is to build a future where humans live in harmony with nature. Dr. Ben Rabb, Acclimatise Our mission is to conserve nature and reduce the most pressing threats to the Dr. Sara Venturini, Acclimatise environment. We work with people and institutions in the UAE and region, to Elisa Jimenez Alonso, Acclimatise implement conservation solutions through science, research, policy, education Bob Khosa, Acclimatise and awareness. Nadine Coudel, Acclimatise For more information, please visit uae.panda.org Dr. Swenja Surminski, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London School of Economics and Political Science. Nadia Rouchdy, EWS-WWF ABOUT ACCLIMATISE Reviewers: Tanzeed Alam, EWS-WWF Acclimatise is a specialist consulting, communications and digital application Marina Antonopoulou, EWS-WWF company providing world-class expertise in climate change adaptation and Paola Ferreira, EWS-WWF resilience. Founded in 2004, our mission is to help our clients understand and Jacky Judas, EWS-WWF adapt to climate risk, and take advantage of the emerging opportunities that Oliver Kerr, EWS-WWF climate change will bring. Sandeep Chamling Rai, WWF International With offices in the UK, US, India, Barbados and mainland Europe, Acclimatise Jane Glavan, Abu Dhabi Global Environment Data Initiative (AGEDI) has worked in over 60 countries worldwide. Working with national and local William Dougherty, Climate Change Research Group governments, multilateral organisations, and major corporations, Acclimatise has been at the forefront of climate change adaptation for over a decade. Our EWS-WWF Head Office experience spans a wide range of sectors including government, finance, P.O. Box 45553, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, T: +971 2 634 7117 F: +971 2 634 1220 insurance, water, energy, transport, mining, agriculture, defence, food and beverages, and development. EWS-WWF Dubai Office P.O. Box 454891, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, T: +971 4 354 9776 F: +971 4 354 9774 Our continued success is based on successful engagement with our clients, taking the time to understand their individual needs, processes and operations. In this uae.panda.org way, we help bridge the gap between the latest climate science and the realities of [email protected] day-to-day decision-making. For more information, please visit: www.acclimatise.uk.com @ews_wwf /ews.wwf wwfuae @ews_wwf /company/ews-wwf © Text 2017 EWS-WWF Any reproduction in full or in part must mention the title and credit the above mentioned publisher as the copyright owner. All rights reserved © EWS-WWF Suggested Reference: EWS-WWF & Acclimatise (2017). UAE Climate Change Risks & Resilience: An overview of climate change risks to 12 key sectors. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS FOREWORD FROM EWS-WWF would like to acknowledge the following stakeholders for supporting and providing valuable insights to the development and completion of this report. IDA TILLISCH Firstly, we would like highlight the role of the Abu Dhabi Global Environment Data Initiative's (AGEDI) in inspiring us to develop this important summary of risks thanks to their Local, Regional and National Climate Global and regional climate change is a reality; it is occurring now and Change Programme (LNR-CCP). Secondly, we would like to thank those who have provided valuable insights is driven by increasing greenhouse gas emissions, most notably carbon dioxide, which is increasing global temperatures. 2016 was confirmed as the warmest year during and outside of the stakeholder roundtable sessions hosted in March 2016: © EWS-WWF on record globally since 1880, beating previous records set in 2015 and 2014. Abu Dhabi Farmers Services Centre (ADFSC) Etihad Energy Service Company (Etihad ESCO) But even powerful global headlines of record breaking extreme weather Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority (ADFCA) Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) events, coastal flooding and heat-waves often fail to resonate with Abu Dhabi Global Environment Data Initiative (AGEDI) Food Security Centre - Abu Dhabi policy makers and the public. The reason is these headlines usually don’t Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Company (ADWEC) HSBC Bank Middle East Limited highlight the tangible risks or the opportunities that a changing climate poses to Agriprocity Insurance Authority UAE our society, environment and economy. Baringa Partners LLP International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) The UAE has always endured harsh environmental conditions, Department of Transport - Abu Dhabi (DoT) Jumeirah Group successfully thriving in the face of scarce water supplies and intense Diamond Developers Ministry of Climate Change & Environment - UAE heat. However, the scale of impacts that are expected from climate change may Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) Ministry of Energy - UAE exceed the coping capacities of many sectors. Consequences will be felt across the The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation - UAE Ida Tillisch, country including the national economy, ecosystems, biodiversity, and society. For Director General Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) example, desalination costs are likely to rise due to warmer and more saline intake water; an energy demand-supply gap associated with increased demand for cooling Emirates Diplomatic Academy (EDA) Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) is likely to occur due to increased temperatures and humidity; the simple act of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) Urban Planning Council - Abu Dhabi (UPC) cleaning up after extreme weather patterns will be costlier as their occurrences and Emirates Green Building Council (EGBC) Emirates Group intensities increase; and finally our coral reefs’ ability to prevent coastal erosion Energetics Incorporated Masdar Institute and inundation will be severely impacted under future climate change conditions. Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) Regulatory & Supervision Bureau - Dubai (RSB) Essentially, the UAE’s continuing efforts towards achieving economic EWS-WWF would also like to thank the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment for co-hosting the diversification and overall wellbeing of the population will be slowed roundtable sessions in March 2016 and in supporting raising awareness about climate change risks in the down by climate change impacts if left unmanaged. The country therefore UAE. We are also very grateful to AGEDI and the International Centre for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) has an important stake in seeing the rapid and successful implementation of the for hosting our roundtables in their venues and being tremendously supportive of our initiative and in Paris Agreement. Without deep cuts in emissions, the severity and occurrence of stakeholder consultations. climate change impacts are set to increase. At the same time, adaptation actions will be needed to cope with the unavoidable impacts of climate change. We would also like to thank Rehana Jiffrey, from Taka Solutions for providing insightful case studies on climate change impacts on UAE buildings, our volunteers Laura Keeley and Laura Fitzpatrick for their support A golden opportunity now exists for the country to take a leading role in on research highlighting key climatic events in the region and to Sultan Mollov, from EWS-WWF for supporting the region to make the goals of the Paris Agreement truly meaningful. the development of this final report. This report distills the increasing wealth of scientific research carried out in the UAE and the region in order to paint a compelling picture of how climate change has, and will, impact the country. These critical insights aim to encourage increased action toward achieving the Paris Agreement, boost momentum in identifying robust adaptation solutions and support in taking advantage of opportunities presented by climate change. Ida Tillisch Director General EWS-WWF aNASA, 2017 CALL FOR SUPPORT REPORT SPONSOR We are grateful for the organizations who support our mission to work with people WITH STRONG PARTNERS, WE CAN SCALE UP and institutions within the UAE and the region, to conserve biodiversity, tackle climate change and reduce the ecological footprint through education, awareness, OUR IMPACT policy, and science-based conservation initiatives. These types of partnerships, support in driving ambition and progressive thinking, EWS-WWF wants to see the UAE economy embrace in order to rise to the challenge of ensuring a sustainable future for generations low-carbon development and resilience to climate change. to come. Our five-year Climate Change & Energy Programme focuses on the following: OBJECTIVE 1 Strong expansion of energy efficiency As a leading facilities management company, Farnek is committed