The National Strategy, which is the first of its kind in the region, seeks to integrate existing environmental policies and measures in accordance with the country's economic development plans. The strategy aims to develop a comprehensive national plan to address challenges posed by climate change, including work on the reduction of carbon emissions, and preparation to confront the effects of climate change, as well as data management and raising community awareness.

In this context, His Excellency Dr. Thani Ahmed Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: "Climate change is a global issue that requires all parties to exert more concerted efforts on all local and international levels. In the UAE, we are committed to fulfil our part in supporting international efforts to address the effects of climate change and we'll prepare a comprehensive national plan for climate change to reduce carbon emissions and promote national adaptation measures in accordance with the vision of our leadership in advancing sustainable development in the country's economic, social and environmental aspects."

The strategy will build on extensive work already under way in the UAE. Underpinning the strategy is the UAE Vision 2021, which contains as one of its pillars the sustainability of the environment and infrastructure. It will also build on the National Green Growth Strategy and Green Agenda, the UAE’s plan to transition to a green and diversified economy by 2030. Many current projects and programs around the country provide a solid base for climate action. Chief among these are the great strides taken to increase the share of renewables and clean energy in the UAE’s energy mix, improve efficiencies in the energy and water sector, and encourage research and innovation in green technologies.

MOCCAE will draft the strategy in collaboration with various stakeholders including federal ministries, emirate-level authorities and civil society, and with technical support from the Global Green Growth Institute, whose Middle East and North African regional headquarters has been hosted by the UAE since 2011. The strategy is expected to be completed during October this year.

Climate change is one of the most significant challenges facing the world today. Scientific consensus has been established around the fact that human activity is causing the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere to rise, leading to increases in temperatures and changes to weather patterns across the globe.

In December 2015, over 190 countries reached a historic agreement in Paris to limit global temperature rise due to climate change this century to well below 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels. The UAE officially signed the agreement, along with 174 other countries, in a ceremony at the United Nations’ headquarters in New York on 22 April 2016.