Sustainable Development Goals in Arab Region – United Arab Emirates’ Case Study
Adam Krzymowski
Former Ambassador of Poland to the United Arab Emirates, Senior Advisor to Expo2020, Dubai and Professor (part time) at Sorbonne University, New York University (Abu Dhabi) and University of Sharjah (Poland)
Abstract
The article presents an analysis of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Arab region with particular emphasis on the example of the UAE. The initiatives of this country deserve an in-depth analysis due to their scale, innovative nature and huge ambitions to achieve the first position in the world in many areas of activity, including the achievement of the objectives of the UN 2030 program. The article analyzes projects and their implementation, including Vision 2021, the Green economy program, the National Innovation Strategy, the Energy 2050 Strategy, initiatives for tolerance and world peace, humanitarian aid, or activities related to the fight against climate change. In this context, the World Expo is shown, which will take place in Dubai from October 2020 to April 2021 and for which sustainable development is one of the main themes. This article, presenting all these visions and activities serving their implementation, also shows the context of the huge dynamics of the population development of the UAE, including Dubai, which just before the establishment of the state in 1971 had a population of 80,000 thousand to nearly 4 million today. The article shows the socio-political aspects of sustainable development and the impact of new technologies on sustainable development.
Keywords:
sustainable development, green economy, UN 2030, smart city, renewable energy, climate changesReferences
ALAM T., LUOMI M., 2018, Engaging Gulf Nonstate and Subnational Actors in Implementing the Paris Agreement, Earth Matters Consulting, in: EDA Working Paper, May 2018, Emirates Diplomatic Academy, p. 28-29.
Google Scholar
ALEVIZOS H., 2017, Renewable Sources of Energy: The Pan-Arab Prospect Energy and Environmental Policy Laboratory, in: Working Paper, 6 December 2017, University of Piraeus, p. 9, http://energypolicy.unipi.gr/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Unipi_WPAlevizos2017.pdf (1.11.2018).
Google Scholar
AL HAWI F., AL KETBI H., AL HUMAIRI M., THOMAS L., WARNER R., 2018, Realizing a Smarter City through Smarter Human Capital, in: Policy Brief, No. 53, Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, December 2018, p. 2, https://www.mbrsg.ae/getattachment/a791e3f1-ffbc-4fb5-89dc-d783ecd1ded1/Realizing-a-Smarter-City-through-Smarter-Human-Cap (1.11.2018).
Google Scholar
BURTON G., OSMAN E., 2018, Thinking about Sustainability and Sustainable Development with Public Private Partnerships, in: Sustainable Development, Session No. 11, January 2018, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, Policy Council on PPPs, p. 4-5, https://www.mbrsg.ae/getattachment/f6801325-608c-41f8-b990-feff44d29f95/ (1.11.2018).
Google Scholar
CLARK H., 2018, Time for Strong Partnerships for the SDGs, in: EDA Reflection, November 2018, Emirates Diplomatic Academy, http://www.eda.ac.ae/docs/default-source/Publications/eda-reflection_sdg-partnerships_en_final.pdf?sfvrsn=2 (1.11.2018).
Google Scholar
GULF NEWS, 2019, Contribute to UAE Water Aid campaign: Mohammad Bin Rashid Global Initiatives, Report, May 01, 2019, https://gulfnews.com/uae/contribute-to-uae-water-aid-campaign-mohammad-binrashid-global-initiatives-1.1556708064435 (1.11.2018).
Google Scholar
DEWA, 2019 https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/aboutdewa/news-and-media/press-and-news/latest-news/2019/03/mohammed-bin-rashid-al-maktoum-solarpark (11.07.2019)
Google Scholar
GOVERNMENT.AE CLIMATE ACTION, 2018, https://www.government.ae/en/about-the-uae/leaving-no-one-behind/13climateaction (23.12.2018)
Google Scholar
GOVERNMENT.AE, 2018, Efforts towards sustainability, https://government.ae/en/information-and-services/environment-and-energy/environmental-protection/efforts-towards-sustainability (01.11.2018)
Google Scholar
GOVERNMENT.AE, 2018, Green Economy for Sustainable Development, https://www.government.ae/en/about-the-uae/economy/green-economy-for-sustainable-development (16 Oct 2018)
Google Scholar
GOVERNMENT.AE, 2018, Dubai Clean Energy Strategy, https://government.ae/en/about-the-uae/strategies-initiatives-and-awards/local-governments-strategies-and-plans/dubai-clean-energy-strategy (12.11.2018)
Google Scholar
GOVERNMENT.AE, 2019, Gender Equality, https: //www.government.ae/en/about-the-uae/leaving-noone-behind/5genderequality (07.05.2019)
Google Scholar
GRIFFITHS S., 2018, Bilateral Energy Diplomacy in a Time of Energy Transition, in: EDA Insight, December 2018, Emirates Diplomatic Academy, p. 9-10, http://www.eda.ac.ae/docs/default-source/Publications/eda-insight_fret-ii_bilateral-diplomacy_en.pdf?sfvrsn=2 (07.05.2019)
Google Scholar
GULFNEWS, 2016, https://gulfnews.com/uae/government/worlds-first-3d-printed-building-in-dubai-1.1833450 (11.07.2019).
Google Scholar
IBRAHIM M.A., MORSY D.M., 2016, Smart Cities and Sustainability: A Set of Vertical Solutions for Managing Resources, in: International Journal of Environment and Sustainability, Vol. 5 No. 3, p. 13.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24102/ijes.v5i3.706
Google Scholar
LOOTAH A.N., 2019, ‘Excellence in Implementation’: The UAE Model in Reaching the Global Agenda 2030, in: EDA Reflection, May 2019, Emirates Diplomatic Academy.
Google Scholar
LUOMI M., 2015, The International Relations of the Green Economy in the Gulf: Lessons from the UAE’s State-led Energy Transition, in: OIES PAPER, MEP 12, May 2015, p. 16, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, University of Oxford.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26889/9781784670313
Google Scholar
LUOMI M., 2018, The Foreign Relations of Energy Transition – Framing the Issue for the UAE, in: EDA Insight, December 2018, The Foreign Relations of Energy Transitions Series, p. 9.
Google Scholar
LUOMI M., 2015, The Paris Agreement on Climate Change – Implications for the UAE, in: EDA Insight, December 2015, Emirates Diplomatic Academy, p. 3, http://www.eda.ac.ae/docs/default-source/Publications/eda-insight_paris-agreement_en.pdf?sfvrsn=2 (07.05.2019)
Google Scholar
MAZUMDER L.K., 2016, Restructuring the economy through sustainability initiatives in UAE – a case study analysis, in: The Business and Management Review, 7(5), June 2016, Al Khawarizmi International College, Abu Dhabi, UAE, http://www.abrmr.com/myfile/conference_proceedings/Con_Pro_20588/coonference_96944.pdf (07.05.2019)
Google Scholar
MADAKAM S. , RAMASWAMY R., 2016, Sustainable Smart City: Masdar, UAE (A City: Ecologically Balanced), in: Indian Journal of Science and Technology, 9(6), National Institute of Industrial Engineering (NITIE), February 2016, p. 5 and 6.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.17485/ijst/2016/v9i6/87669
Google Scholar
MILLS R., 2017, Global Governance of Carbon Capture and Storage: Role for the GCC?, in: EDA Insight, December 2017, Emirates Diplomatic Academy, p. 8.
Google Scholar
MOEI, 2019, Vice President unveils UAE energy strategy for next three decades, January 10, 2017, https://www.moei.gov.ae/en/media-centre/news/10/1/2017/) (07.05.2019)
Google Scholar
MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM GLOBAL INITIATIVES, 2019, http://www.almaktouminitiatives.org/en/spreading-knowledge (11.07.2019)
Google Scholar
MOCCAE (Ministry of Climate Change and Environment), 2019, National Climate Change Plan of the United Arab Emirates 2017-2050, 30 May 2019, https://www.moccae.gov.ae/assets/30e58e2e/national-climate-change-plan-for-the-united-arab-emirates2017-2050.aspx (17.05.2019)
Google Scholar
POLICY COUNCIL ON PPPS, 2018, Future Transport Scenarios for Dubai: Potential for Service Innovation through Public Private Partnership, in: Sustainable Development, Session No. 8, Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, January 2018, p. 9, https://www.mbrsg.ae/getattachment/7218850a-ed96-47d0-ae71-34c72e20512b/Future-Transport-Scenarios-for-Dubai (17.05.2019)
Google Scholar
MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION, 2019, Putting Innovation First, Flashes, March 2019, Issue 51, https://mbrf.ae/en/pdf-section-view/exploring-the-worldof-literature/read_file_10/Innovation (11.07.2019)
Google Scholar
SACHS J.D., 2019, Universities and Sustainable Development in the Arab Region, in: EDA Reflection, January 2019, Emirates Diplomatic Academy.
Google Scholar
SALEM F., 2016, A Smart City for Public Value. Digital Transformation through Agile Governance – The case of ‘Smart Dubai’, Dubai: Governance and Innovation Program, Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government, World Government Summit, February 2016, p. 5 and 44, https://www.mbrsg.ae/getattachment/6f151e2b-0c5f-407f-ae35-ab70934c2d58/ASmart-City-for-Public-Value (07.07.2019)
Google Scholar
TRA, 2019, ICT Fund Introduction, https://www.tra.gov.ae/ictfund/en/about-us/ict-fund-introduction.aspx (05.05.2019).
Google Scholar
UAECABINTET, 2019, The National Strategy for Innovation, https://uaecabinet.ae/en/the-national-strategy-for-innovation (08.05.2019).
Google Scholar
UAE GOVERNMENT, 2019, Vision 2021, United in Ambition and Determination, http://fgccc.org/wpcontent/uploads/2016/08/UAE_Vision_2021.pdf (07.05.2019).
Google Scholar
UAESDGS.ae, 2019, http://uaesdgs.ae/en/goals (07.07.2019).
Google Scholar
UNDP, 2014, State of Report, Supreme Council of Energy, 1st Edition, Dubai 2014, p. 28-29, https://www.undp.org/content/dam/rbas/doc/Energy%20and%20Environment/The%20State%20of%20Dubai's%20Energy%20and%20Its%20Path%20to%20Green%20Economy.pdf (07. 07.2019).
Google Scholar
URPELAINEN J., 2018, International Cooperation on 7 SDG on Affordable and Clean Energy for All, in: EDA Insight, December 2018, Emirates Diplomatic Academy, p. 4, http://www.eda.ac.ae/docs/default-source/Publications/eda-insight_fret-iv_cooperation-on-sdg7_en.pdf?sfvrsn=2, (07. 07.2019).
Google Scholar
WAM, 2016, http://wam.ae/en/details/13952946141 27 (05.05.2019).
Google Scholar
WAM, 2015, Mohammed bin Rashid announces plans for major new Museum of the Future, http://wam.ae/en/details/1395277461878 (07.05.2019).
Google Scholar
WARNER R., BURTON G., 2017, A Fertile Oasis: The Current State of Education in the UAE, UAE Public Policy Forum, MBRSG, March 2017, p. 30, https://www.mbrsg.ae/getattachment/658fdafb-673d-4864-9ce1-881aaccd08e2/A-Fertile-OASIS-The-current-tate-of-Education-in-the-UAE (07. 07.2019).
Google Scholar
Authors
Adam KrzymowskiFormer Ambassador of Poland to the United Arab Emirates, Senior Advisor to Expo2020, Dubai and Professor (part time) at Sorbonne University, New York University (Abu Dhabi) and University of Sharjah Poland
Statistics
Abstract views: 1150PDF downloads: 695
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
