UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

This award recognises the United Arab Emirates for demonstrating that ambitious national climate pledges can be translated into measurable, on-the-ground action. By mid-2025, the UAE had already planted over 30 million mangroves as part of its commitment to 100 million trees by 2030, using innovative methods such as AI‑powered drones and tissue‑culture propagation to scale restoration.

At COP30 in Belém, the Minister of Climate Change and Environment confirmed that half of the national target had already been achieved, while the Mangrove Alliance for Climate, co‑launched with Indonesia and now comprising more than 45 member states, became a flagship international partnership for blue‑carbon finance. In 2025, the UAE also co‑hosted the IUCN World Conservation Congress, mobilising global policy alignment around nature‑based solutions.

Beyond national borders, the UAE’s leadership was instrumental in establishing the Mohamed bin Zayed – Joko Widodo International Mangrove Research Centre in Bali, a permanent scientific hub for blue‑carbon innovation that opened in 2025 and is expected to unlock significant resources for ecosystem restoration and carbon sequestration. By combining high‑level political commitment, cross‑border collaboration, and verifiable restoration milestones, the UAE has proven that mangroves are not a niche conservation interest but a core pillar of global decarbonisation. For turning a bold 100‑million‑tree pledge into an operational reality that inspires international cooperation, the United Arab Emirates receives this recognition.

Score: 87

Reference: https://www.thenationalnews.com/climate/2025/07/26/uae-strengthens-mangrove-protection-as-global-climate-solution/