News: Dubai set to double its green spaces by 2033

A newly established authority is taking the emirate’s sustainability goals to the next level in a bid to become a top 10 ranked city.

It’s no secret that Dubai has been ramping up its sustainability credentials in recent years to be part of the global movement to combat climate change – that’s one of the reasons why the emirate was chosen to host the COP28 conference back in November.

And in this spirit of creating a greener, happier world Dubai has just established the new Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority. The mission? To double the amount of green spaces and make Dubai a top 10 ranked city in leading sustainability indices by 2033.

According to media reports, the new authority will “...promote sustainable practices across sectors, preserve biodiversity, and expand natural reserves and green spaces in Dubai. This is aligned with the UAE’s objective to achieve climate neutrality by 2050.”
 

Conservation to the fore

So, what does this mean for the city in real terms?

It means a major boost to plans to increase Dubai’s green cover by 100%, upping the area of protected areas and natural reserves by 60% by 2040. It also means a strong focus on the conservation of water resources and the adoption of sustainable waste management policies.

The authority will also introduce resilient plans for the emirate’s infrastructure and services that integrate eco-friendliness and sustainability. These initiatives aim to safeguard the community against the adverse effects of accidents, disasters, and natural calamities – an issue at the forefront of everyone’s mind this month.

Promoting the green economy

The new Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority also aims to increase the contribution of the circular and green economy to the emirate’s GDP – in line with Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33.

Additionally, the authority will promote green finance initiatives and incentivise the financial sector and banks to back green projects in collaboration with key financial and economic organisations.