UAE Publishes World’s First National Regulation Related to Vertiports

The UAE advances the transition towards clean energy. (WAM)
The UAE advances the transition towards clean energy. (WAM)
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UAE Publishes World’s First National Regulation Related to Vertiports

The UAE advances the transition towards clean energy. (WAM)
The UAE advances the transition towards clean energy. (WAM)

The United Arab Emirates published on Tuesday the world’s first national regulation related to vertiports to support rapid developments and continued worldwide investment in the country’s highly progressive and competitive aviation industry.

This regulation covers the design and operational requirements of vertiports while ensuring a regulatory environment that supports the efficient and safe operation of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

The proposed amendments of the new draft regulation have been released for industry consultation, and it will be published later in its final version in Q1 2023.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) said that the rapid and increasing development of electrical vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft has created an imperative for new infrastructure, new networks and new regulatory approaches.

It noted that the demand for vertiports continues to accelerate as eVTOL manufacturers aim to launch their aircraft by 2024.

As a potential global network is envisaged by 2030, this novel carbon-neutral industry must be served by suitable, safe and regulated infrastructure, WAM reported.

Through safe and orderly infrastructure, the promises associated with this new mode of transportation include ensuring rapid movement of passengers within cities and reducing traffic jams, as well as rapid logistical responses to emergencies and easy access to markets across cities.

GCCA said that the new regulation strengthens the UAE’s Urban Air Mobility proposition while enhancing the level of safety within the aviation sector, and proactively providing a unique certification and regulatory oversight framework for vertiports.

This would increase the safety of the country’s critical national infrastructure and aviation system while maintaining its pioneering status within the global aviation industry.

Saif Mohammed al-Suwaidi, GCAA Director-General, said: “The proactive development of a regulatory framework for vertiports establishes a foundation within the UAE to ensure safe and seamless operation of urban air mobility.

He explained that the rapid growth of advanced air mobility presents opportunities in the reduction of carbon emissions, decreased congestion, and entry to inaccessible markets, which are achievable through vision, planning and close collaboration with stakeholders in the aviation industry.



Japan Sets New 2035 Emissions Cut Goal 

A chimney is seen at the Keihin Industrial Zone as Mount Fuji (background L), Japan's highest mountain at 3,776 meters (12,388 feet), looms in the background as viewed from the observation deck of Kawasaki Marien in Kawasaki on January 24, 2022. (AFP)
A chimney is seen at the Keihin Industrial Zone as Mount Fuji (background L), Japan's highest mountain at 3,776 meters (12,388 feet), looms in the background as viewed from the observation deck of Kawasaki Marien in Kawasaki on January 24, 2022. (AFP)
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20

Japan Sets New 2035 Emissions Cut Goal 

A chimney is seen at the Keihin Industrial Zone as Mount Fuji (background L), Japan's highest mountain at 3,776 meters (12,388 feet), looms in the background as viewed from the observation deck of Kawasaki Marien in Kawasaki on January 24, 2022. (AFP)
A chimney is seen at the Keihin Industrial Zone as Mount Fuji (background L), Japan's highest mountain at 3,776 meters (12,388 feet), looms in the background as viewed from the observation deck of Kawasaki Marien in Kawasaki on January 24, 2022. (AFP)

Japan Tuesday pledged to slash greenhouse gas emissions by 60 percent in the next decade from 2013 levels but climate campaigners said the target fell short of what was needed under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming.

Under the Paris accord, each country is supposed to provide a headline figure to the United Nations for cutting heat-trapping emissions by 2035, and a detailed blueprint for how to achieve this.

Japan is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels as the world's fifth largest single-country emitter of carbon dioxide after China, the United States, India and Russia.

On Tuesday Tokyo's environment ministry said the country would slash emissions 60 percent by the 2035 fiscal year.

The world's fourth-largest economy also aims to cut emissions by 73 percent by fiscal 2040 as part of its new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) -- a voluntary pledge to be submitted to the UN later on Tuesday.

Nearly 200 nations had been required to deliver their fresh climate plans by February 10 but just 10 did so on time, according to a UN database tracking the submissions.

The Japanese ministry said Tuesday that its "ambitious targets (are) aligned with the global 1.5 degree Celsius goal and on a straight pathway towards the achievement of net zero by 2050".

But Masayoshi Iyoda from international environmental group 350.org noted that scientists say an emissions cut of 81 percent by 2035 is needed for Japan to honor its commitments to the 1.5 degree objective.

"This is a major failure in Japan's attempt to transition to a future of renewable energy that is fair and just," he told AFP.

Kazue Suzuki of Greenpeace Japan also said the new target was "far too low", calling for a 78 percent reduction given "our responsibility as an industrially advanced country".

- Renewable future? -

UN climate chief Simon Stiell has called the latest round of national pledges "the most important policy documents of this century".

Yet just a handful of major polluters handed in upgraded targets on time, with China, India and the European Union the biggest names on a lengthy absentee list.

There is no penalty for submitting late targets, which are not legally binding but act as an accountability measure to ensure countries are taking climate change seriously and doing their fair share toward achieving the Paris goals.

In 2016, Japan committed to a 26 percent reduction in emissions by 2030. It strengthened this in 2021 to 46 percent by 2030 compared to 2013 levels.

The Japanese government also on Tuesday approved its latest Strategic Energy Plan -- which includes an intention to make renewables the country's top power source by 2040.

Nearly 14 years after the Fukushima disaster, Japan also sees a major role for nuclear power to help it meet growing energy demand from AI and microchip factories.

So a previous pledge to "reduce reliance on nuclear power as much as possible" was dropped from the new plan.

A draft plan released in December had said Japan would jointly promote renewable energy and hydrogen fuel with its ally the United States.

But after President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the Paris Agreement last month, mentions of a US-led clean economy framework were deleted.

"We've made certain tweaks" following Trump's announcements, an industry ministry official told reporters Monday.

But "it doesn't mean Japan's broader efforts towards a 'green transformation' will be changed significantly", he said.

Nearly 70 percent of Japan's power needs in 2023 were met by power plants burning coal, gas and oil -- a figure Tokyo wants to slash to 30-40 percent over the next 15 years.

Almost all these fossil fuels must be imported, at a cost of around $470 million per day according to Japanese customs.

Under the new plans, renewables such as solar and wind are expected to account for 40-50 percent of electricity generation by 2040.