The United Arab Emirates set stricter target for reducing carbon emissions as it prepares to host a major climate conference later this year.

The UAE will cut emissions by 40% by 2030, compared with an earlier plan for a 31% reduction. The country already has a net zero goal by the middle of the century, the first Middle Eastern state to announce such as an ambition.

The latest target come as the UAE is set to hold the COP28 climate summit later this year. The country has faced some criticism about hosting the event while it keep pumping vast amounts of oil that feed its economy.

Earlier this month, it unveiled plans to invest as much as $54 billion on renewables over the next seven years, targeting a threefold increase in the share of clean energy in the overall mix over the period.

Author: Leen Al-Rashdan