MUSCAT: The Sultanate of Oman has revised its target for reducing planet-warming greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to 21% by 2030, up from 7% pledged in 2021.
The upward revision is a key highlight of the updated Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) report – a non-binding climate action plan that Paris Agreement signatories must publish every five years – issued recently by Oman against the backdrop of the COP28 Summit underway in Dubai.
According to the Environment Authority (EA), the updated NDC “builds upon a foundation of economy-wide targets and a revised base year, encompassing all domestic sectors, including land use, land use changes, and forestry”.
Writing in the foreword, Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority, stated: “The updated Second Nationally Determined Contribution provides a comprehensive outlook on Oman's aspirations to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and move towards a sustainable low-carbon economy. Notably, the country is taking proactive steps during this decade to reduce emissions by 21%, compared to their expected emissions based on business-as-usual projections by 2030. This is a commendable and essential step toward addressing the global climate crisis.”
The updated NDC however cautions that the revised target is contingent upon a number of factors, notably international climate financing, technology transfers, activation of Article 6 of the Paris Agreement (providing a framework for countries to cooperate towards the implementation of their NDCs), and support for capacity-building programmes.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that the average annual temperature in Oman could increase by 2.6°C (4.7°F) by 2100 under a high emissions scenario.
Given its location in a region highly vulnerable to climate change, Oman also faces multiple risks in the form of rising temperatures, prolonged periods of high humidity, sea-level rise and an increased likelihood of extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones, heatwaves, intense rainfall and extended droughts, it has pointed out.
Moreover, the consequences are particularly significant, given that the majority of Oman's population, infrastructure, and economic activities, are spread out in coastal zones that are vulnerable to any rise in sea levels, saltwater intrusion and extreme weather events.
Importantly, the updated NDC identifies the following six key objectives, underpinned by the most advanced decarbonisation technologies, to facilitate the country’s transition to Net Zero: Energy and Resource Efficiency, Electrification and Renewables, Battery Electric Technology, Sustainable Hydrogen, Carbon capture an storage, and Negative emission solutions.
Also targeted for mitigation are emissions from domestic aviation and shipping, according to the Environment Authority. Strategies being weighed in this regard include the promotion of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs), establishment of green shipping corridors for ships powered by low-emission shipping fuels and technologies – initiatives that underscore Oman’s commitment to global emissions reduction goals, it added.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
