304 M. LUOMI
Al Saud opined the country had developed ‘a case of oil addiction’ but
could live without it by 2020. 12
Gulf oil exporters’ development plans demonstrate some degree of
aspiration with regard to a more systematic transition to more sustainable economies. The most ambitious ones, in this regard, have been
the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. They all have in place detailed and
dynamic longer-term visions, which in most cases are carried forward
through shorter-term strategic plans. What is common in these strategies,
however, is that they largely represent an intensification of policies the
countries have considered or had in place for years, if not decades, which
have so far not yielded transformative change. 13 In addition to accelerating the implementation of incremental policies that have a proven track
record (such as fossil fuel pricing reform and stricter emission standards
and laws), transformative policies (such as carbon pricing and ambitious
policy targets and implementation plans) will be crucial for the Gulf/Arab
oil exporters if they wish to maintain socioeconomic development in an
era of intensifying climate change impacts and global energy transitions.
A further question this chapter therefore will explore is whether a beneficial convergence of domestic rhetoric, domestic policy and international
policy positions is on the horizon for the oil exporters as well as the Arab
countries as a negotiating bloc.
Climate Change Policy
in the United Arab Emirates
This section examines climate change policy in the UAE as follows: it
starts with an examination of the UAE’s role in international climate
change negotiations, followed by a description of the evolution and main
elements of the country’s current climate change policy and institutional
framework. The section concludes with an analysis that speaks to the three
questions outlined at the beginning of the chapter, namely: is the country’s domestic policy aligned with the international level positions and, if
not, why? What are the main drivers of the country’s approach to climate
change? And are there signs of transformative policies to come? The three
other country case studies in this chapter follow the same structure.
Al Saud opined the country had developed ‘a case of oil addiction’ but
could live without it by 2020. 12
Gulf oil exporters’ development plans demonstrate some degree of
aspiration with regard to a more systematic transition to more sustainable economies. The most ambitious ones, in this regard, have been
the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar. They all have in place detailed and
dynamic longer-term visions, which in most cases are carried forward
through shorter-term strategic plans. What is common in these strategies,
however, is that they largely represent an intensification of policies the
countries have considered or had in place for years, if not decades, which
have so far not yielded transformative change. 13 In addition to accelerating the implementation of incremental policies that have a proven track
record (such as fossil fuel pricing reform and stricter emission standards
and laws), transformative policies (such as carbon pricing and ambitious
policy targets and implementation plans) will be crucial for the Gulf/Arab
oil exporters if they wish to maintain socioeconomic development in an
era of intensifying climate change impacts and global energy transitions.
A further question this chapter therefore will explore is whether a beneficial convergence of domestic rhetoric, domestic policy and international
policy positions is on the horizon for the oil exporters as well as the Arab
countries as a negotiating bloc.
Climate Change Policy
in the United Arab Emirates
This section examines climate change policy in the UAE as follows: it
starts with an examination of the UAE’s role in international climate
change negotiations, followed by a description of the evolution and main
elements of the country’s current climate change policy and institutional
framework. The section concludes with an analysis that speaks to the three
questions outlined at the beginning of the chapter, namely: is the country’s domestic policy aligned with the international level positions and, if
not, why? What are the main drivers of the country’s approach to climate
change? And are there signs of transformative policies to come? The three
other country case studies in this chapter follow the same structure.