United Arab Emirates Air Quality Inventory

The challenge

Improving air quality is a priority for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is part of the Country’s Green Agenda, one of the Key Performance Indicators in the national agenda and is also mentioned in the Vision 2021 plan. In response, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) launched the Air Emissions Monitoring Project to develop the first national level inventory for air pollutant emissions in the UAE. This project identified the key sources of air pollutants in the country so that appropriate strategies can be put in place to improve air quality.

The solution

Aether compiled air pollutant inventories for 2015 for each individual Emirate. These inventories were added together to provide data at the national level. The inventories were compiled according to the methodologies provided in the 2016 EMEP/EEA Guidebook and covered the following sectors: stationary energy combustion, transport, industrial processes and product use, agriculture and waste. Priority was given to the collection of local and national data sources, which has allowed for Emirate-specific emission calculations.

The inventory was compiled using Aether’s inventory templates. These include tailored data summaries and have been adapted for country-specific reporting needs. They also include in-built QA/QC checks which ensure time-series consistency and help to prevent errors. In addition, the customised inventory calculations were delivered to MOCCAE at the end of the project. The inventory can be improved overtime by national experts without any additional input from external experts.

Producing the AQ inventory estimates was a useful step in understanding air quality issues in the UAE. However, the most important aspect of this project was the training and engagement of national experts and stakeholders. During this project, two training workshops were provided to support the development of national expertise and to communicate the key messages surrounding air quality to stakeholders from all Emirates.

The result

This project has produced the first ever air pollutant inventory developed for all seven Emirates. Emission estimates have been compiled for the year 2015, for six pollutants. The results of the inventory have allowed the main pollution sources to be identified, so that appropriate action can be taken to improve air quality across the UAE.

The development of national expertise and the final recommendations for inventory improvement provide the basis for the UAE to improve the completeness and accuracy of the emission estimates for the next inventory cycle.

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