Dubai Smart City Strategies for Climate Change

Abstract

The impacts of global warming are one of the most pressing issues of our day. In view of the widespread effects of climate change, international gatherings called "climate summits" have become an urgent need for nations to discuss the magnitude of the threat and work out joint solutions. This study was compiled to support Dubai's ambition to host the climate conference by demonstrating its dedication to reducing its carbon footprint and serving as an international model for effective technological implementation. Dubai, as a smart city, is making the correct moves toward its goal of being carbon neutral by 2050, as shown by a review of relevant literature on Dubai and the UAE.

Temperature increases, deteriorating air quality, and health are just a few of the potential consequences of climate change discussed in this study. Some climate forecasts are available, and future patterns may be guessed at, but the study also reveals that there are still significant data and knowledge gaps in the field of climate, necessitating more targeted investigations. Finally, in the following two years, a set of strategies are developed which must be implemented to best address the condition of climate change and to enhance climate data. Validating Dubai's smart city qualifications in the context of the climate change conference.

Total word count – 4114 words (excluding abstract, policy list, and references).

Figure 8 An overview of climate change risks in the UAE (Source: EWS-WWF and Acclimatise, 2017).............................................................................................................................................

Figure 9 UAE's annual recorded temperatures show a rise of 2 degree C from 1900-2020, with a drastic rise of temperature of 1 degree C from 2000-2020 (Source: MOCCAE, 2021)............... 11

Figure 10 explaining other consequences of rising temperature (Source: EWS-WWF and Acclimatise, 2017)........................................................................................................................

Figure 11 A look at UAE emissions by pollutant and industry in 2015 (in tons) (Source: Hobson et al., 2020).

Figure 12 Image showing a sandstorm in Dubai a leading cause for decreasing lung functions in people (Source: EWS-WWF and Acclimatise, 2017)...................................................................

Figure 13 shows the creation of a digital twin of a city for assessment. (Source: Hurtado and Gomez, 2021)................................................................................................................................

Figure 14 image showing the solar farm in Masdar city Abu Dhabi (Source: Masdar.ae, 2022).

1 Introduction

Climate change is regarded as one of the most severe environmental concerns confronting modern cities (Papa et al., 2015) UAE is listed among the categories of nations with the most significant risk of vulnerability to the possible consequences of climate change, resulting in warmer weather, less precipitation, rising sea levels, and more disasters with the onset of sustainability and the climate crisis in the area (u.ae, 2020). But first, we need to understand the concept behind a smart city. Smart city concepts might give the economic incentive to build adaptable, energy-efficient, and sustainable communities, which is essential since it can be challenging to evaluate the shortterm benefits of climate action owing to the frequently expensive solutions (Garca Fernández and Peek, 2020).

A smart city's primary objective is to enhance its residents' quality of life using innovative technology and the analysis of collected data, optimizing city operations and fostering economic development (TWI, 2022) More important than the availability of technology is how that technology is used (TWI, 2022) The manner in that cities manage policymaking and urban development is evolving because of advances in information and communication technologies. Smart cities are multifaceted, continually influenced by urban and technical advancements, and often extend beyond ICT to include people and society (Anttiroiko, 2016).

To improve their infrastructure and services, "Smart Cities" use ICT-driven strategies across sectors, including economics, environment, mobility, and government. As we know, climate change has risen to the forefront of many economic and political agendas worldwide. The planet’s environment's health and the human race's continuation are in jeopardy. Scientists agree that rising greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere due to high emissions from human activities and lifestyles are causing climate change and that this disruption of the natural system has far-reaching and more severe global repercussions (AlRustaman, 2014) In this report, we will understand how Dubai is preparing itself for bidding for the 2023 climate summit and present strategies for the ongoing and future challenges which are being faced by the city in terms of climate change. But first, we need to understand the context of the climate change summit and how Dubai has been preparing itself to fight the world’s biggest crisis using technology.

1.1 Aim

As a part of the city government planning policymaking team, we are bidding to host the Climate-Change summit in 2023 (COP28) in Dubai.

1.2 Objectives

• Understanding what the climate change summit stands for.

• What is Dubai’s approach toward climate change using its smart infrastructure

• Developing technology-based strategies to fight climate change

1.3 An understanding of United Nations Climate Action

Climate action has been a critical focus of public governments since the early 1990s, in contrast to the recent interest in the notion of smart cities. As climate change is expected to have far-reaching consequences, adaptation efforts must likewise be massive in scope (United Nations, 2022b) On 12 December 2015, world powers at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris made a breakthrough in combating climate change and its adverse consequences by signing the iconic Paris Agreement (Rhodes, 2016).

TheParisAgreement's objectives needasignificant increasein climatechangeaction, yet theyears since its implementation have spawned low-carbon solutions and new sectors. Carbon neutrality goals are being set by an increasing number of nations, regions, towns, and businesses (UNFCCC, 2016). The economic sectors responsible for 25% of emissions are beginning to see zero-carbon solutions as a viable alternative (UNFCCC, 2016). This development has opened several new avenues of commerce, particularly in the energy and transportation sectors.

The primary agreement of the last climate change summit, COP 27, held in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh, was to give loss and damage assistance to vulnerable nations struck severely by climatic catastrophes (UN Climate Change, 2022). Importantly, it ushered in new tech-focused objectives, including climate early warning systems and supporting climate technology solutions in underdeveloped nations. Since time is running out to accomplish the long-term objectives of the Paris accord, limiting the global temperature rise and building resilience to climate change need the quick scaling up and effective implementation of climate technologies (UN Climate Change, 2022).

Figure 1 Three key elements of the Paris Agreement on climate change (Source: United Nations, 2015)

2 Dubai’s approach towards climate change

The United Arab Emirates' Net Zero by 2050 strategic program is an ambitious goal for the next xthree decades, building on the country's previous three decades of climate work (u.ae, 2022) Rather than viewing the future (especially climate change) as a sequence of dangers, Dubai is adopting the required changes and integrating them in the future by demonstrating them with real initiatives for the attraction it has become. (Anthonisz and Heap, 2018, pp.181-190). Considering its achievements and displaying them via its infrastructure, Dubai has set its sights on being one of the leading digital economies. The UAE's first and most important initiative is the NET Zero program, which has created roadmaps that pave the way to reach net zero by 2050 Let us take a glimpse at what Dubai has been doing to respond to the crisis of climate change and why they are the top contender for the bid.

2.1 UAE’s commitment towards Net Zero 2050

2.1..1 Green hydrogen project

Green hydrogen production is expected to grow from its current level of 2.7 million tonnes per year to 5.7 million tons per year by 2030, thanks to the fast development and continuous improvement of technological innovations that use renewable and clean energy to create green hydrogen (Ismail et al., 2022). As the first facility of its sort in the Middle East and North Africa, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park helps bring down the cost of creating environmentally friendly hydrogen to market levels. Electrolysis, fueled by renewable resources, is the primary method for producing green hydrogen (Ismail et al., 2022). Five years in a row, DEWA obtained the world's lowest solar energy pricing (Levelised Cost of Energy), establishing Dubai as a leader in the renewable energy sector (Ismail et al., 2022). Based on the independent power producer paradigm, the Solar Park is the biggest single-site solar park in existence (Siemens Energy, 2021). By delivering 75% of Dubai's total power capacity by 2050, the 5,000 MW plant is expected to contribute to the city's evolution into a worldwide center for clean energy and green industry (Siemens Energy, 2021)

Today it is seen that converting electricity from green sources into hydrogen offers a way to accelerate the energy transition necessary to avert catastrophic climate change

Figure 2 The goals and achievements of the developed pilot project by government and private collaborations (source: Siemens Energy, 2021).

2.1..2 DEWA's High-Water Usage Alert service

This is one of the simplest yet effective examples of how Dubai uses smart strategies to reduce carbon emissions within the city. Since its inception three years back and until 30th June 2022, the High-Water Usage Alert service from the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has helped to prevent 217,370 tons of carbon emissions (Alghoul and Ismail, 2022).

Figure 3 showcases the conversion of green power into green hydrogen and its potential usage sectors (source: Siemens Energy, 2021).

Figure 4 the image shows the different services provided by the app for keeping water usage in check (source: Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, n.d.)

These savings resulted from eliminating 23,199 flaws, 11,566 incidents of increased load, and 1,062,781 complaints of water leaks. Customers get immediate alerts so they may do critical repairs as soon as possible, cutting down on water consumption (Alghoul and Ismail, 2022)

2.1..3 Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant

Cities are expanding in size at double the pace of their populations. Increased energy consumption is a natural byproduct of rapid population expansion. The UAE is tackling this issue head-on and forging a new age of renewable power. The country provides an energy production system that will continue to fulfill energy needs to power our contemporary lifestyles while decreasing carbon emissions by investing in nuclear and renewables as clean dispatchable energy sources (Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, 2022). This moves us closer to fulfilling our carbon reduction pledges under the Paris Climate Agreement. Up to 25 percent of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) energy needs will be met by the emission-free power generated by the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. 574 thousand homes in the UAE may be supplied with clean energy for a whole year thanks to this 5,600 MW production (Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, 2022)

This project prevents the emission of 21 million tons of carbon dioxide annually, equivalent to the amount of carbon dioxide that 350 million trees could absorb in a decade (Nashar and Aamir, 2022). A total of four APR1400 reactors, representing the third generation, are in the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant (Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, 2022). The APR1400 is one of the world's most cutting-edge nuclear reactor designs, and it is fully compliant with all applicable international safety and performance regulations showcasing the use of one of the most advanced technologies and integrating them within the urban context.

Figure 5 live tracking of clean electricity production and prevented CO2 consumption (Source: Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, n.d.)

2.2 EXPO 2020

Expo 2020 Dubai has made sustainability a central focus to highlight the global environmental conservation movement and create a vibrant platform for displaying solutions, drawing interest, and encouraging collaboration. To act as the district's central focus, it has created Terra, the Sustainability Pavilion. With a total capacity of 5.5 MW, the renewable energy sources installed in the Expo's permanent structures are adequate to power nearly 18,000 round journeys from downtown Dubai to Corniche in Abu Dhabi (one round trip = 290 km) (Expo 2020 Dubai, n.d.). The sustainability pavilion is a pilot project and a leading example of how Dubai will incorporate technology to achieve its sustainability and climate goals The Sustainability Pavilion is built to useno more energy or waterthan it produces, earningit aprestigious LEED Platinum certification. The building's signature design features include a 120-meter-wide canopy and 18 Energy Trees, which help produce 4GWh of renewable energy annually (Expo City Dubai, n.d.).

The expo2020 site has been transformed into a human-centered smart city that showcases how cities of the future may unite people from all over the world in their enthusiasm for technological and digital innovation. It will convey its key ideas by engaging audiences in digital experiences and using cutting-edge technology like robots, AI, and AR (Expo City Dubai, n.d.) Smart metering and sensors that monitor energy consumption and the efficiencies of power, light, water, and climate control systems are just a few examples of the smart technology and building management systems incorporated into most Expo-built permanent buildings that contribute to the achievement of Expo 2020's sustainability goals. Expo 2020 uses smart irrigation systems to control water use, collect and monitor water consumption data, and connect data from climate and soil sensors to optimize water use and pump performance (Expo 2020 Dubai, 2020). More

Figure 6 shows the terra pavilion containing the wide canopy and 18 energy trees fitted with photovoltaic panels (Source: Expo City Dubai, n.d.)

than 150 of Terminus Group's newest versions of programmable bots will be used at Expo 2020 displaying the use of autonomous technology.

The expo has become a global icon for demonstrating the capacity of Dubai in terms of sustainability and the use of technology, and this site has been chosen as a possible location to host the climate summit (COP 28) next year.

3 Current challenges and future projections of climate change in Dubai.

Even though Dubai seems to be on par with reaching its goals of net zero, it still needs to address and highlight certain issues which are still prevalent and seem to cause a problem in the daily life of the people and the city

Figure 7 image showing different types of robots used in the expo city (Source: Expo 2020 Dubai, 2020)

Figure 8 An overview of climate change risks in the UAE (Source: EWS-WWF and Acclimatise, 2017)

3.1 Rising temperature

There will likely be a 2–3-degree Celsius rise in summertime temperatures by the years 2060

1979. (MOCCAE, 2021). If this isn't stopped, it will cause a 1°C to 2°C increase in global sea surface temperatures by the turn of the century. According to the United Arab Emirates' meteorological service, the year's maximum temperature was 51.5 degrees Celsius (MOCCAE, 2019). As temperatures rise, a greater proportion of the energy used for cooling would be required, exceeding existing projections. According to DEWA statistics, office buildings in Dubai contributed 47% of total power consumption in 2014, while residential structures contributed 28.2% (EWS-WWF and Acclimatise, 2017). The chart below shows the annual recorded temperature of the UAE until the year 2020, where it is seen that there has been a drastic rise in temperature due to the rapid urbanization in Dubai since 2000 and has been increasing ever since.

Damage to health and rising sea levels are only the tip of the iceberg; increased energy consumption and longer processing times also contribute to the overall problem of increasing temperatures, which has far-reaching consequences for the environment.

Figure 9 UAE's annual recorded temperatures show a rise of 2 degree C from 1900-2020, with a drastic rise of temperature of 1 degree C from 2000-2020 (Source: MOCCAE, 2021)

Figure 10 explaining other consequences of rising temperature (Source: EWS-WWF and Acclimatise, 2017).

3.2 Air Quality

As of 2021, Dubai had the highest average PM 2.5 concentration in the United Arab Emirates, at 7.2 times the World Health Organization's air quality guideline value (IQAir, 2022). The sandstorms caused by the weather in the UAE contribute to the already bad air quality in the country's major cities. However, most NO emissions come from power plants, which use fossil fuels to provide electricity and desalinate seawater for use in oil and gas extraction (Hobson et al., 2020). The second largest source of CO emissions comes from oil-fueled passenger cars and lightduty vehicles (Hobson et al., 2020). As the city has expanded outward, more people have had to rely on cars, and public transportation has become more difficult to use in areas far from the core. Exposure to poor air quality, combined with behavioral variables, has been demonstrated in researchconductedintheUnitedArabEmiratesto beamajordriverofteenagers'respiratoryhealth within this country (Hobson et al., 2020).

Figure 11 A look at UAE emissions by pollutant and industry in 2015 (in tons) (Source: Hobson et al., 2020)

3.3 Health and well being

Polluted air, contaminated water, insufficient food, and unsafe housing are just a few of the many social and environmental determinants of health that climate change will threaten. Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of extreme weather events, burdening healthcare systems, driving healthcare costs, and lowering economic production in Arab countries (MOCCAE, 2021) Flash floods, droughts, storms, and sandstorms are common in Dubai, and their occurrence is expected to rise in the future. In hot, dry places, the frequency of very high temperatures significantly contributes to the decline of the general population's health. Between May and July of 2018, 13 employees were reportedly hospitalized due to heat exhaustion, which may progress to life-threatening heat stroke if not addressed.

Figure 12 Image showing a sandstorm in Dubai a leading cause for decreasing lung functions in people (Source: EWS-WWF and Acclimatise, 2017).

4 Strategies

4.1 Smart Mobility -

4.1..1 Smart parking spaces

One of the most significant issues living in Dubai is the availability of parking spaces. It is a big challenge to find a parking spot in dense areas where one must go many rounds in search of parking, leading to excessive consumption and emissions The strategy here is to develop an app where each parking space must be fixed with a sensor, and it reflects the same availability on the app or a website, making it convenient for users to find their space. The same app can also be used to allocate slots for taxi pickups which makes it very convenient as it is a big issue to find taxis in Dubai and helps keep the stopping of taxis organized and not obstruct other vehicles. This small step will help reduce emissions due to more extended waiting periods

In Valencia,where this concept was piloted,1,060 "smartparking" spots havebeen made available for those with limited mobility to use while parking their vehicles (Modijefsky, 2020). Taxis are welcome to utilize the spots as well. The technology enables smart administration of these limiteduse parking spaces by clearly displaying which spots are available at any given time (Modijefsky, 2020). There are 1,060 parking spots in the city, but 27%, or 695 locations, will be set aside for those with limited mobility (PMR). Extra software will be employed to limit who may park in the reserved spots (Modijefsky, 2020). The so-called Narrow Band-IoT (NB-IoT) communication technology is used, and the sensors are installed immediately in the parking bay without needing cables or streetscapes (Modijefsky, 2020).

Dubai’s RTA must introduce carpooling along with the taxi app as public transport is inefficient in places away from the city, leading to longer waiting times and crowding in buses. This carpooling system can be integrated with smart parking spaces where there are designated areas for pickup, and these locations are shown on the app. This will significantly help Dubai reduce emissions and progress towards its goal of net zero in 2050.

4.1..2 Smart buses

Heat and air quality have been a primary concern in Dubai owing to its climate and pollution affecting people’s health conditions. Dubai needs to introduce electric/hybrid buses and solar panels, and a few of them must be fitted with sensors to help collect constant data on air quality levels.This data should bemade availableonthe RTA’s publictransportapp so that the airquality, temperature, and humidity of each area can be monitored, which will help warn the people if required.

The bus transit system in Barcelona is notable for its use of hybrid buses to reduce emissions and promote environmentally responsible modes of transportation (Zigurat Global Institute of Technology, 2019). Smart bus shelters powered by solar panels display waiting times in this system. Furthermore, in Valencia,40 sensorshavebeeninstalledon several lines ofbuses operated by the Council Transportation Company of Valencia to assess air quality, as well as track temperature and humidity levels across the city (Valencia Smart City, 2022). In Dubai, where the

air quality index (AQI) looks deficient, this will provide much-needed additional data for the AQI calculation.

4.2 Smart Environment

4.2..1 Scenario Planning -

We have consistently recognized the importance of scenario planning in today's world, where developers of anything from apps to food items entirely use testing (Hurtado and Gomez, 2021). A digital twin is a virtual representation of a real-world item facilitated using artificial intelligence and the IoT (Internet of Things). As we see it, Dubai faces the challenge of rapid development, and the projects are developing rather quickly, changing the urban fabric within smaller spans with lesser regard for the impact it is creating on the climate.

Dubai needs to start integrating from a smaller scale, that is, the grid level, where a digital twin of each upcoming or existing grid (high risk) must be created,andeverydeveloperhastoaddtheirprojects using BIM (building information modeling) onto the twin to assess the impacts such as emissions, resources & waste management, transportation demand, and the energy consumption so that they can run the possible outcomes to solve complex issues of climate resilience. These criteria should be mandatory for larger developments impacting the city Each gridwill haveits own assessmentand help policymakers and planners make critical decisions This tool can be incorporated by ESTIDAMA, a sustainability tool used in UAE as a mandatory requirement for development. There may be a central repository for information on the city's environment, resources, zoning laws, the number of homes, and transit routes in the digital twin (Hurtado and Gomez, 2021). Another perk of municipal digital twin platforms is that they may help improve communication and coordination between planning groups and other city authorities (Hurtado and Gomez, 2021).

Figure 13 shows the creation of a digital twin of a city for assessment (Source: Hurtado and Gomez, 2021).

4.2..2 Energy Retro FittingsEnergy Pockets for neighborhoods

Dubai city limits are constantly increasing, and the development is growing outwards rather than within the city, creating more pressure on energy consumption. However, we can use this for our strategy as there is plenty of land availability around the neighborhood A certain amount of land can be dedicated for solar panels/farms and for renewable energy storage As we have already seen thattheUAEgovernment hasheavilyinvested ingreenhydrogenandsolarpower,wecanfacilitate pockets within each neighborhood to store energy and supply it to the grid during peak overs to help reduce greenhouse gases helping each neighborhood reach its goal towards net zero.

Masdar City in Abu Dhabi was one of the first to develop solar farms for its neighborhood in UAE. The facility produces about 17,500 megawatt-hours of clean electricity annually. It offsets 15,000 tons of carbon emissions per year and is one of the best live examples of generating renewable energyin thecontextofthemiddleeast(Masdar.ae,2022).Thisstrategyofintegratingsolarpower and storage plants will help create in-house energy for each city within Dubai.

Figure 14 image showing the solar farm in Masdar city Abu Dhabi (Source: Masdar.ae, 2022).

Solar parking

Parking spaces in the grids of Dubai hold the maximum land use, and these spaces can be used. The car parking spots with maximum efficiency for the solar panels can be picked using the digital twin and retrofittedwithphotovoltaicpanels. Multiplefactors, including solarpanel material, kind, position, shading, etc., will affect the amount of energy produced by a given solar carport. Even by the most cautious of estimations, a standard carport for a residential property that can provide shade for four vehicles may produce as much as 10 kW, which is more than enough to meet most of the energy demands of a typical villa (Stout Shades, 2022).

This energy produced can be fed back to the grid to help reduce overall consumption. These retrofits should also accommodate charging ports offered to electric cars to help improve and promote the use of electric vehicles and their infrastructure. This can be integrated into the smart grid system, where all the consumption and production levels are monitored. Fast-evolving solar integration technology is on display in Barcelona, where 50 square meters of non-slip solar panels in a tiny park in the Glories neighborhood will produce 7,560kWh annually, sufficient to power three homes (Burgen, 2021)

Figure 16 shows a parking lot in france (Source: Reid, 2022)

Figure 15 shows solar energy pavements in Barcelona (Source: Burgen, 2021).

5 Policy list

Policy 1 – Smart parking spaces

Smart parking spaces must be launched along with the app in places with higher density, which will locateempty parking spaces, create pickup areas for taxis and carpooling, andhavedesignated parking spaces for people with determination.

Benefits – Helps reduce waiting transit waiting period, reduces unnecessary emissions from vehicles due to waiting, reduces congestion, and helps people with determination.

Policy 2 – Carpooling

Dubai RTA must introduce a carpooling network within the national taxi app and incorporate it with smart parking spaces to create convenient pick-up locations without disrupting the flowing traffic.

Benefits – It helps minimize taxi costs, lowers private car emissions and congestion, and increases public transit choices, lowering trip time.

Policy 3 – Smart buses

RTA must introduce electric buses by the year 2023 and launch a series of buses fixed with sensors to monitor the air quality, temperature, and humidity of the area.

Benefits – helps reduce CO emissions and increase precise & live tracking of air quality data of the region

Policy 4 – Scenario planning

The planning authority should implement the use of digital twin for planning, which should be a criterion for developers to use to access their projects before construction

Benefits – helps predict possible threats and challenges, helps mitigate the effect of development in theearly stages so thattheplanners and policydevelopers can takenecessary steps to curb it, and finally keeps a check on the use of resources, energy, and waste management.

It also helps keep track of the city’s climate based on development.

Policy 5 – Energy pockets

The planning authority and the energy corporation of Dubai must allocate spaces for solar farms and storage units for green hydrogen in neighborhoods that are away from the city (such as academic city, silicon oasis) to mitigate the use of energy from conventional to renewable.

Benefits – Creates an alternative renewable source of energy that can be used during peak hours to reduce carbon emissions; this will help improve the air quality of Dubai.

Policy 6 – Solar parking

The RTA and energy corporation of Dubai shouldincorporate solar car parks within high-density areas of the city along with EV charging stations to help generate renewable energy and promote the use of electric vehicles in the city

Benefits – integration of solar car park will help produce renewable energy, which can be supplied back to the grid to reduce the use of conventional energy; this will help reduce the emissions and help benefit the goal of net zero Dubai. Also, by adding EV charging stations, it will become more accessible for people to start using electric cars, which will create awareness and promote the use of renewable energy.

6 Summary

The UAE's culture and economy have historically weathered difficult climates, but if the effects of climate change are allowed to worsen, the country's progress toward economic diversification and thegeneral well-beingofthepeoplewouldbe delayed. The researchoutlinedthemanyreasons why Dubai could host the climate change summit. Dubai is making great strides toward its netzero energy consumption target of 2050 because to its innovative use of technology in the energy production sector, particularly at the green hydrogen and barakah nuclear plant. Dubai's Department of Electricity and Water Authority's (DEWA) excessive water use app is a great illustration of how the city has utilized ICT into resource management and emission reduction measures.

Expo 2020 is a landmark initiative being transformed into a technological showcase and a model for other cities to utilise in the form of a "smart district." Although Dubai's infrastructure is firstrate,it isn't good enough whenit comes to tacklingclimate change's effects on thecity's airquality, temperature increases, and citizens' health. Emissions from a variety of urban sources are mostly to blame for these problems. Strategies have been developed to address these issues, with a particular emphasis on mobility measures like smarter parking lots, carpooling, and smart buses, all of which may cut down on pollution and increase the number of people who use public transportation.

The report concludes with a discussion of scenario planning, which will aid the city in evaluating the situation and mitigating the repercussions prior to development. We also developed strategies for integrating emerging energy technology into our everyday systems. In conclusion, the research demonstrates why Dubai deserves to host the summit, and the strategies established will assist the city in addressing current and future climate change challenges.

7 References

Alghoul, R. and Ismail, E. (2022). DEWA’s High-Water Usage Alert Service Helps to Reduce 217,370 Tons of Carbon Emissions. [online] Emirates News Agency - WAM. Available at: https://wam.ae/en/details/1395303074855 [Accessed 16 Dec. 2022].

AlRustaman, Z. (2014). Impacts of Climate Change on Urban Development in the UAE: the Case of Dubai. [MSc Dissertation] Available at: https://scholarworks.uaeu.ac.ae/all_theses/29/ [Accessed 14 Dec. 2022].

Anthonisz, A. and Heap, T. (2018). Case Study Dubai: a Theme Park Approach to Climate Change. [online] CABI Wallingford UK, pp.181 190. Available at: https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1079/9781780648439.0181 [Accessed 14 Dec. 2022].

Anttiroiko, A.-V. (2016). City-as-a-Platform: the Rise of Participatory Innovation Platforms in Finnish Cities. Sustainability, [online] 8(9), p.922. doi:10.3390/su8090922.

Burgen, S. (2021). BarcelonainstallsSpain’sfirstsolar energypavement. [online] The Guardian. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/apr/29/barcelona-installsspains-first-solar-energy-pavement [Accessed 19 Dec. 2022].

Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (n.d.). Smart Living. [Online] Government of Dubai. Available at: https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/consumer/consumption-management/smartliving [Accessed 16 Dec. 2022].

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (n.d.). Barakah Is a Proven Solution to Climate Change. [Online] Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation. Available at: https://www.enec.gov.ae/ [Accessed 16 Dec. 2022].

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (2022). The Barakah Plant and Climate Change. [online] www.enec.gov.ae. Available at: https://www.enec.gov.ae/barakah-plant/climate-change/.

EWS-WWF and Acclimatise (2017). UAE Climate Change Risks & Resilience: an Overview of Climate Change Risks to 12 Key Sectors. [online] Available at: https://preparecenter.org/wpcontent/sites/default/files/uae_climate_change_risk_and_resilience.pdf [Accessed 15 Dec. 2022].

Expo 2020 Dubai (2020). Expo 2020 Dubai - Sustainability Report 2020 Connecting minds, Creating the Future. [online] Expo 2020 Dubai UAE. Dubai, UAE. Available at: https://www.expo2020dubai.com/-/media/expo2020/sustainability/expo-designed-reportdigital-version-v12.pdf [Accessed 17 Dec. 2022].

Expo 2020 Dubai. (n.d.). Sustainability: Water Conservation, Clean Energy | Expo 2020 Dubai [online] Available at: https://www.expo2020dubai.com/en/understanding-expo/expoinitiatives/sustainability-at-expo [Accessed 17 Dec. 2022].

Expo City Dubai (n.d.). Terra - The Sustainability Pavilion - Expo City Dubai. [online] www.expocitydubai.com. Available at: https://www.expocitydubai.com/en/things-todo/attractions/Terra [Accessed 17 Dec. 2022].

García Fernández, C. and Peek, D. (2020). Smart and Sustainable? Positioning Adaptation to Climate Change in the European Smart City. Smart Cities, [online] 3(2), pp.511

526. doi:10.3390/smartcities3020027.

Hobson, M., May, K., German, R., Brook, R., Claxton, R., Mansell, G., Pridmore, A. and MOCCAE (2020). UAE National Air Emissions Inventory Project. [online] United Arab Emirates Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. Dubai: Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. Available at: https://www.moccae.gov.ae/en/reportslisting/30/1/2020/uae-national-air-emissions-inventory-project-final-results.aspx [Accessed 20 Dec. 2022].

Hunt, A. and Watkiss, P. (2010). Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation in cities: a Review of the Literature. Climatic Change, [online] 104(1), pp.13–49. doi:10.1007/s10584-0109975-6.

Hurtado,P.andGomez, A.(2021). Smart City Digital Twins Are a New, Hi-Tech Tool for Scenario Planning. [online] American Planning Association. Available at: https://www.planning.org/planning/2021/spring/smart-city-digital-twins-are-a-new-toolfor-scenario-planning/ [Accessed 19 Dec. 2022].

IQair. (2022). United Arab Emirates Air Quality Index (AQI) and Air Pollution Information | AirVisual.[online]Availableat: https://www.iqair.com/united-arab-emirates [Accessed20 Dec. 2022].

Ismail, E., ibrahim, L., Nashar, K. and WAM (2022). Green Hydrogen project at Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park supports UAE’s competitiveness in green hydrogen markets. [online] The Emirates News Agency - WAM. Available at: https://wam.ae/en/details/1395303080491 [Accessed 16 Dec. 2022].

Khan, M.Sajid., Woo, M., Nam, K. and Chathoth, P. (2017). Smart City and Smart Tourism: a Case of Dubai. Sustainability, [online] 9(12), p.2279. doi:10.3390/su9122279.

Masdar.ae. (2022). Masdar City Solar Photovoltaic Plant. [online] Available at:

https://masdar.ae/Masdar-Clean-Energy/Projects/Masdar-City-Solar-Photovoltaic-Plant.

McElroy, D. (2021). UAE to host cop28 in 2023 after UN approval in glasgow. [online] The National. Available at: https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2021/11/11/uaeto-host-cop28-in-2023-after-un-approval-in-glasgow/.

MOCCAE (2019). National Climate Change Adaptation Program UAE Climate Risk Assessment & Adaptation Measures in Key Sectors. [online] Global Green Growth Institute 2022

Dubai, UAE: UAE MOCCAE 2019. Available at: https://gggi.org/wpcontent/uploads/2019/03/uae-climate-risk-assessment-and-adaptation-measures-in-keysectors.pdf [Accessed 18 Dec. 2022].

MOCCAE (2021). TheUAEstateofclimatereport:AReviewGulfoftheArabiangulf’sRegions Changing Climate & Its Impacts. [online] moccae.gov.ae. Dubai, UAE: UAE MOCCAE 2021. Available at: https://www.moccae.gov.ae/assets/download/8fb9d5bb/61a79c31.pdf.aspx [Accessed 18 Dec. 2022].

Modijefsky, M. (2020). Valencia creates 1,060 smart parking spaces in a pilot scheme | Eltis. [online] www.eltis.org. Available at: https://www.eltis.org/in-brief/news/valencia-creates1060-smart-parking-spaces-pilot-scheme [Accessed 19 Dec. 2022].

Nadeau, K.C., Agache, I., Jutel, M., Annesi Maesano, I., Akdis, M., Sampath, V., D’Amato, G., Cecchi, L., Traidl‐Hoffmann, C. and Akdis, C.A. (2021). Climate change: a Call to Action for the United Nations. Allergy, [online] 77(4), pp.1087 1090. doi:10.1111/all.15079.

Nashar, K. and Aamir, M. (2022). Start-up of Unit 3 of Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant Accelerates Achievement of UAE Net Zero 2050. [online] The Emirates News Agency - WAM. Available at: https://wam.ae/en/details/1395303085881 [Accessed 16 Dec. 2022].

Papa, R., Galderisi, A., Majello, V., Cristina, M. and Saretta, E. (2015). Smart and Resilient cities. a Systemic Approach for Developing cross-sectoral Strategies in the Face of Climate Change. TeMA Journal of Land Use, Mobility and Environment, 8(1), pp.19–49.

Reid, C. (2022). Solar Panels Must Cover Large Parking Lots, Rules French Senate. [Online Image] Forbes. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2022/11/09/solarpanels-must-cover-large-parking-lots-rules-french-senate/?sh=5ab9874c4c5b [Accessed 20 Dec. 2022].

Rhodes, C.J. (2016). The 2015 Paris Climate Change Conference: COP21. Science Progress, [online] 99(1), pp.97

104. doi:10.3184/003685016x14528569315192.

Siemens Energy (2021). Green Hydrogen: Cornerstone of Sustainable Energy Future. [online] Siemens Energy. Dubai, UAE: Siemens Energy LLC. Available at: https://www.siemensenergy.com/mea/en/company/megaprojects/dewa-green-hydrogenproject.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAy_CcBhBeEiwAcoMRHEQXOeoNUItzp8flWhuJ81UqvRW0AxRYhl1DnIayz6_EbLIQk2BxBoC5ZgQAvD_BwE#Downl oad [Accessed 16 Dec. 2022].

Stout Shades. (2022). Solar Car Parking Shades-Benefits. [online] Available at: https://www.stoutshades.com/journal/hwj81i4ozod396z1c6y1ss0d2vetv7 [Accessed 19 Dec. 2022].

TWI (2022). What Is a Smart City? – Definition and Examples. [online] www.twi-global.com. Available at: https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/faqs/what-is-a-smart-city [Accessed 15 Dec. 2022].

u.ae. (2020). Climate change and the UAE’s response. [online] Available at: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/environment-and-energy/climatechange/climate-change#:~:text=The%20UAE%20is%20classified%20among.

u.ae.(2022). TheUAE’sResponsetoClimateChange - the Official Portal of the UAE Government. [online] Available at: https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/environment-andenergy/climate-change/theuaesresponsetoclimatechange [Accessed 14 Dec. 2022].

UN Climate Change. (2022). COP27 Reaches Breakthrough Agreement on New ‘Loss and Damage’ Fund for Vulnerable Countries. [online] Available at: https://unfccc.int/news/joint-work-programme-of-the-unfccc-technology-mechanismlaunched-at-cop27 [Accessed 15 Dec. 2022].

UNFCCC (2016). The paris agreement. [online] United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Available at: https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-parisagreement/the-paris-agreement [Accessed 26 Nov. 2022].

United Nations (2015). The Paris Agreement. [online] United Nations. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/paris-agreement [Accessed 15 Dec. 2022].

United Nations (2021). COP26: Together for our planet. [online] United Nations: Climate Action. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/cop26 [Accessed 26 Nov. 2022].

United Nations (2022a). COP27: Delivering for people and the planet. [online] United Nations Climate Action. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/cop27 [Accessed 26 Nov. 2022].

United Nations. (2022b). Climate Adaptation. [online] Available at: https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/climate-adaptation [Accessed 15 Dec. 2022].

València Smart City. (2022). Enviromental sensors onboard city buses. [online] Available at: https://smartcity.valencia.es/vlci/enviromental-sensors-onboard-city-buses/ [Accessed 19 Dec. 2022].

Zigurat Global Institute of Technology (2019). Smart City Series: the Barcelona Experience [online] Engineers & Architects. Available at: https://www.e-zigurat.com/blog/en/smartcity-barcelona-experience/ [Accessed 20 Dec. 2022].

8 Appendix

Question picked – 3

In UAE, there are five cities with a population of more than 500,000. With a key focus on the upcoming Climate-Change meeting in 2023, imagine one of these cities will be bidding to host the summit. You are part of the city government planning policymaking team, which is devising its strategies to showcase during the summit in 2023. Your team is very keen on focusing on how technology can address a range of issues around climate change. You must write a report for the city authority detailing the strategies to be implemented over the next two years. This may include but is not limited to improvements in mobility, energy, buildings, and health. In preparing the report and devising the proposals, you are required to provide examples of best practices through case studies around the world.

Total word count – 4114 words (excluding abstract, policy list, and references).