Abu dhabi: The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) hosted the launch of a national assessment of private-sector climate ambition and readiness, undertaken by the UAE Alliance for Climate Action (UACA) at an event during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026.
According to Emirates News Agency, the assessment results have been captured by UACA in a report entitled 'Navigating Decarbonisation: Assessing the UAE Non-State Actor Landscape and Potential'. The first-of-its-kind report provides a comprehensive review of the non-state actor climate landscape in the UAE.
Drawing on insights from businesses, financial institutions, academia, and civil society, the report provides practical, evidence-based guidance for both private and public sectors as the UAE advances towards NDC3.0 targets (the country's updated emissions-reduction pathway), and a unified national MRV system to standardise emissions measurement and reporting.
The launch took place at an event hosted by MOCCAE and UACA on January 15 during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026, bringing together private and public stakeholders to deliberate on the role of non-state actors in the UAE's net-zero emissions journey.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Alanoud Alhaj Al Ali, Acting Assistant Undersecretary of Green Development and Climate Change Sector at MOCCAE, commented on the importance of collaboration across all sectors of society to achieve the UAE's climate goals. The report, she noted, offers a timely and comprehensive assessment of how non-state actors in the UAE are progressing on climate action and where momentum can be accelerated.
While more than 75% of surveyed organisations have long-term (2050) and mid-term (2030) climate targets, only 55% have science-aligned net-zero commitments. Addressing Scope 3 emissions remains the biggest barrier for many, with 40% citing supply-chain emissions as their top challenge. Access to finance is identified as a critical enabler, with respondents highlighting the need for more fit-for-purpose financial solutions and enhanced awareness of financing options.
Convened by Emirates Nature-WWF and supported by HSBC Bank Middle East as a founding donor, UACA is a multi-stakeholder coalition that brings together non-state actors to advance climate ambition and action. Mohamed Al Marzooqi, CEO, UAE, HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, emphasized the importance of collaboration in translating policy direction and private-sector commitment into on-the-ground delivery.
Laila Mostafa Abdullatif, Director General of Emirates Nature-WWF, highlighted the growing momentum among non-state actors and the persistent implementation gap, particularly across supply chains, climate finance, and technical capacity. She stressed the need to close the gap, unlock climate finance at scale, and create an enabling environment for faster emissions reductions in 2026.