The WEF cited, among other things, that UAE was No.1 globally in “Environmental Health”, which determines the presence of air and water pollution, sanitation, and risk of infectious disease; ranked 2nd globally in “Water Resources” and 10th in “Climate & Energy”. It also ranks 5th globally in terms of greenhouse gas emissions per capita.
This high rank reflects how COP28 is taking place in an environment that is very conducive to COP 28. As a result, there will be less discomfort and inconvenience for delegates attending COP 28, translating into better COP28 outcomes.
Some of the reasons why COP28 is taking place at such a high level of readiness include:
- UAE has pledged to generate 24% of its total electrical energy from clean sources by 2021; this means that more than 1,160MW of solar and wind power will be installed by 2021, which is by far the largest renewable energy target in the region. This presents COP 28 with a unique opportunity to harness and promote UAE’s green initiatives while also encouraging other countries to follow suit.
- UAE prioritized sustainability in planning the infrastructure for Expo 2020 Dubai, which is set to be one of the largest sustainable events in the world. COP 28 can help promote UAE’s model and how COP28 can integrate Expo 2020 Dubai into COP28 outcomes.
- UAE has a very progressive climate action strategy that includes a carbon-neutral footprint by 2050, targeting to reduce per capita CO2 emissions from 49t per person today to 23t per person by 2050. COP 28 has an opportunity to endorse this goal for COP28 itself and encourage emerging economies such as emerging markets in Africa and Southeast Asia where low carbon development goals are still at an early stage.
- COP 28 offers an ideal platform that can highlight UAE’s best practices in sustainability while encouraging others to follow suit; COP 28 should take advantage of UAE’s momentum as it continues its rise up the WEF rankings.
Drones, Sustainability and the United Nations Climate Change Conference
Environmental scientists are increasingly using drones to monitor the ever-changing landscape. The value of drones is the ability to deliver precise data on demand- and this process can even be automated. Drones have been successfully implemented in areas such as documenting melting glaciers and monitoring patterns of wildlife movement.
Previous Climate Change Conferences like COP 21 in Paris and others used drones to help cut down the conference’s carbon footprint. Drones helped map out the area or venue, which enabled contractors to use resources sparingly and efficiently while ensuring the final build’s reliability. Since COP 21, drones have gone through numerous improvements, and their awesome power stands to benefit the ecosystem at large rather than just helping cut down the carbon footprint of a singular build.
Drones can greatly improve the world’s ability to measure and combat climate change by providing needed data on how different species respond. Drones offer a cost-effective solution for collecting large amounts of data over long periods of time as well as covering inaccessible terrain. These aerial vehicles also reduce the amount of time scientists spend on collecting data by hand, allowing them to concentrate their efforts on more pressing issues. Drones are also more efficient than crewed flights as they can provide thorough coverage of an area at a fraction of the cost.
Drones are much more efficient in terms of time and finances. Drones can help us map our world, understand the implications of climate change and make the right changes to protect our planet.
The road to sustainability is undoubtedly led by drone technology. Most of them are battery-powered and hence can be powered by sustainable energy sources. The data they capture can help environmental scientists understand and create a roadmap to fighting climate change. Drones surveys and mapping offer a cost-effective solution for collecting large amounts of data over long periods of time as well as covering inaccessible terrain. But the more significant benefit is the accuracy and efficiency of drone data— this enables researchers to concentrate their efforts on the pressing issue of climate change and how to best use the data to combat it.
If you’d like to explore how drone data is used to combat climate change and promote sustainability through Analysis, Reducing and Offsetting— Read our previous article on it here.
