From pledge to policy: how the UAE is turning climate ambition into action

In an example of how a country can ensure it remains on the path to net-zero emissions, the UAE has implemented a first-of-its-kind framework.

November 2023 was a momentous month for the climate in more ways than one. In the halls of COP28, delegates closed the summit with the historic UAE Consensus, which, for the first time, acknowledged the need for the world to transition away from fossil fuels in a just, orderly, and equitable manner. But, as delegates left Dubai, and the world’s attention moved away from the UAE, it remained to be seen whether the country would move from being a regional climate leader to firmly establishing itself as a global one. 



In the time since then, the UAE has shown that it is committed not just to climate diplomacy but also to climate action in its domestic sphere, enacting its first piece of standalone climate change legislation in August 2024. This law mandates deep and rapid cuts in emissions and an accompanying scale-up of green technologies with the aim of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

Its plans set a compelling precedent for how similar economies might move from climate ambition to concrete climate action.

How climate law can make climate ambition a reality

The Paris Agreement, which commits its signatories to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit global warming to 1.5°C, leaves it up to each country to set their own national determined contributions (NDCs) and put in place their own mechanisms to ensure they are met. As experts have commented, the lofty goals set during climate summits have an essential flaw: there’s no way to impose or enforce them. This becomes a significant challenge when environmental goals come into conflict with shorter term financial or economic ones. Consequently, many countries have been criticized for making climate pledges without the policies to fulfil them.

Bucking this trend, the UAE has demonstrated its stalwart commitment to reaching net zero emissions by 2050 – and its Climate Law is the binding framework that will make it happen.

The law, which came into effect in May 2025, puts climate action at the heart of all government decision-making. It includes mandatory reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, climate resilience and adaptation measures (up to 85% of the popuation and 90% of the infrastructure in the UAE's coastal zones are at risk due to rising sea levels), a green innovation drive, and a strengthening of collaboration between public and private sectors on progress towards net zero.



Critically, the law emphasizes climate action through regulation. It requires companies to monitor, report, and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with both the UAE’s net-zero target and sector-specific targets. Commenting on the law, Ghiwa Nakat, Executive Director of Greenpeace MENA, said: “The UAE’s strategic action sends a powerful signal across the region and globally – that climate resilience and sustainable development are now national imperatives. With robust frameworks for emissions reduction and adaptation in place, the UAE is well-positioned to lead by example.”

Under the law, companies must provide annual reports on their Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions via a government portal managed by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE). The strictest measures apply to the ‘entities of huge carbon emissions’: those with annual emissions of 0.5 MT CO2 equivalent or above will have to use international standards and government-approved verifiers in their emissions reporting. Companies will also have to maintain their emissions records for at least five years, ensuring that they are available for government audits. Failure to comply with these requirements will result in financial penalties ranging from AED 50,000 to AED 2,000,000 and additional non-financial penalties such as restrictions on operational permits, exclusion from public procurement programs, and even public disclosure of non-compliance.
Balancing economic and environmental credibility – a case study for similar economies?

The UAE Climate Law may be taken as a case study for countries navigating similar knots of economic and climate priorities: economic diversification, energy security, and leadership in climate action and adaptation. 

Pressure is mounting on other countries to make demonstrable progress towards their climate goals – not just at COP each year, but also from trading partners, investors, and increasingly climate-conscious citizens. Only with regulatory frameworks as strict as those established in the UAE Climate Law can they show all these groups that their climate pledges are more than good intentions.

Action always speaks louder than words

There is much to celebrate about the many national commitments to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in the coming decades, but announcing a commitment is the easy part. What is much harder is transforming this into action, which is still falling short of the scale required. The UN Environment Programme’s most recent Emissions Gap Report found that “nations must deliver dramatically stronger ambition and action in the next round of [NDCs] or the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal will be gone within a few years”.

Pledges must evolve into policy, ambition into accountability. The UAE Climate Law can serve as a roadmap for countries facing similar challenges as they make this transition.