In 1992, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan AI Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, visited India and planted a golden shower tree at the Rajghat. The gesture honoured Mahatma Gandhi's legacy, while symbolising the UAE's commitment to environmental sustainability and its enduring partnership with India. Continuing this tradition, Sheikh Zayed's son Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed AI Nahyan, now president of the UAE, planted a molshri sapling at the same site in 2016. Last September, Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed AI Nahyan carried forward the legacy by planting another golden shower tree at the Rajghat, reaffirming the shared values of environmental stewardship and strengthening the deep bond between the two nations.
The UAE has set ambitious sustainability goals, firmly establishing itself as a regional leader in environmental action. Importantly, the Indian diaspora, along with Indian tech and business leaders, plays a pivotal role in turning these aspirations into tangible achievements.
The UAE is the first country in the Middle East to pledge net-zero emissions by 2050 and is targeting a 40 per cent reduction in emissions by 2030. The Mohammed bin Rashid AI Maktoum Solar Park, located in Saih Al-Dahal, approximately 50km south of Dubai, is the world's largest renewable energy project based on an independent power producer (IPP) model. With a mission to produce 5,000 MW by 2030 entirely from renewable energy sources, this project aims to reduce more than 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
This story is from the January 05, 2025 edition of THE WEEK India.
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This story is from the January 05, 2025 edition of THE WEEK India.
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