UAE-US Initiatives
The UAE and US together are spearheading the Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate), a joint initiative with a growing coalition of support from over 500 partners, including 50 countries. AIM for Climate is advancing sustainable methods to produce food, with investments exceeding $13 billion.
In November 2022, the UAE and US launched the Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE), which will mobilize $100 billion and deploy 100 new gigawatts (GW) of clean energy in the US, UAE and emerging economies around the world by 2035. The initiative represents a shared commitment by two major energy producers to a responsible and ambitious energy transition. In January 2023, UAE and US officials announced that $20 billion will be allocated to fund 15 GW of clean and renewable energy projects in the US before 2035.
In addition, UAE company Masdar has invested in 11 renewable energy projects in the United States totaling nearly 2GW across Texas, New Mexico, Nebraska, and California. Most recently, in April 2023, Masdar announced its acquisition of a 50% stake in the Big Beau solar and battery storage project in California.
Alongside these initiatives, regular government-to-government coordination advances shared priorities on climate action. US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry worked with COP28 President Dr. Sultan Al Jaber to deliver on climate goals at COP28. The two countries coordinate regularly on policies to lead a well-managed energy transition that delivers enhanced climate action alongside energy security and affordability.
Click here to learn about the UAE’s actions and initiatives to address the climate crisis.
“The US and the UAE are cooperating on a number of initiatives and we’ve had a real partnership on this whole issue of the climate crisis.”
– US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, October 2022
UAE Adoption of Clean Energy
The UAE is rapidly expanding its use of renewable energy to reach net-zero by 2050.
The UAE is home to three of the largest and lowest-cost solar plants in the world, holding the second position worldwide for solar energy use from 2021-2022, according to the Statistical Review of World Energy. The country’s solar energy capacity is only growing.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is working with GE to build the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai, the world’s largest single-site solar project. At its planned total capacity, it will power up to 1.3 million homes. The solar park will use GE’s liquid-cooled solar inverters to convert solar panel output to grid-ready electrical currents.
With the support of US partners, the UAE also successfully integrated peaceful nuclear power into its energy grid. The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant will save up to 21 million tons of carbon emissions each year once fully operational. Once all four reactors are operational, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant will supply 25 percent of the UAE’s electricity.
