#UAE Eyes First Net Zero by 2050 Goal Among Major Petrostates - Bloomberg

UAE Eyes First Net Zero by 2050 Goal Among Major Petrostates - Bloomberg

The United Arab Emirates could become the first nation among the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to set a net-zero goal, a move that would please Western countries pushing for stronger climate commitments but likely have little impact on its massive oil industry.

The country is considering a 2050 target to align with a global push to keep temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels, according to people familiar with the discussions. They asked not to be named because talks are private and ongoing. The aim is to make an announcement before the UN climate summit in Glasgow in November, the people said.

If the UAE decides on a 2050 target, it would be the first major petrostate to set such an ambitious climate goal. Emissions from burning fossil fuels after they're shipped abroad aren’t included in such country-level climate goals, meaning the UAE could technically reach net zero while continuing with plans to invest billions in oil extraction.

Oil exports from the region that became the UAE began in the 1960s, and growing revenues have made the country among the wealthiest in the world. Consumption of fossil fuels and generation of planet-warming emissions have risen in tandem. Home to nearly 10 million people, the UAE generated 190 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2019, according to the Global Carbon Project. It has among the highest per capita emissions in the world, beating Australia and the U.S.