UAE deepens commitment to hard-to-abate sector decarbonisation under IDDI Green Public Procurement Pledge

Under the Clean Energy Ministerial Industrial Deep Decarbonisation Initiative (IDDI), the UAE endorsed the Green Public Procurement Statement of Intent. The initiative reflects a collective effort among participating governments to boost demand for low and near-zero-emission steel, cement, and concrete through public procurement.

Propelled by the significant role of public procurement in the hard-to-abate steel and concrete sectors, the initiative aims to tackle the challenges associated with reducing emissions from these materials, which contribute to approximately 16 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. According to the IDDI, carbon emissions from steel, cement and concrete need to decrease by more than 90 percent by 2050 to achieve global climate goals.

Abdullah Al Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for Industry Growth at the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology (MoIAT), said, “The UAE is furthering its regional and global leadership in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors through a holistic approach comprising various strategic initiatives. For instance, the pledge complements the UAE’s Industrial Decarbonisation Roadmap, which represents a concrete pathway for decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors.

“In addition, it reflects the ministry’s commitment to incentivising greener industry, which we already do through the Green ICV within the National In-Country Value (ICV) Programme. These criteria provide companies with a competitive advantage in procurement to encourage sustainability practices across supply chains. Today, we are taking our efforts one step further through impactful, on-the-ground action in line with the UAE’s net-zero targets.”

The Green Public Procurement initiative focuses on transparent, harmonised standards and definitions recognised as foundational for effective green public procurement. The pledge is aimed at driving inter- and intra-governmental collaboration and cross-sectoral dialogue to expedite public procurement commitments and implementation.

As part of the endorsement, signatory governments will develop a timebound plan for the procurement of low- and near-zero-emission steel, cement, and concrete. The framework includes lifecycle assessments to achieve net-zero emissions in all public construction projects, supported by transparent reporting as well as sharing best practices to advance green public procurement.