The United Arab Emirates, one of the world's biggest oil exporters, launched a "strategic initiative" targeting carbon neutrality by 2050, ahead of a UN climate conference late this month.
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Carbon neutrality, defined as achieving a balance between emitting and absorbing carbon from the atmosphere, is high on the agenda of the UN's 26th Climate Change Conference.
The UAE in recent years verbally backed the battle against climate change, but – along with fellow Gulf hydrocarbon producers – remains one of the biggest emitters of carbon dioxide per capita.
"We have launched a strategic initiative of the Emirates targeting the achievement of climate neutrality here by 2050," Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and UAE de facto ruler Mohammed bin Zayed announced Thursday.
"We are keen to support the efforts of the international community to achieve sustainable development, promote economic and social growth and contribute to the good of humanity," he said, quoted by the Emirates News Agency.
The UAE's announcement is "an open invitation to the world to cooperate in finding practical solutions to climate change impacts," said Sultan al-Jaber, minister of industry and advanced technology.
