Informing the UAE’s climate change policy development through cross-country comparative analysis of the UAE, the UK, and Malaysia policy frameworks

Abstract

Coordinated climate action depends on integrated and inclusive policy frameworks and institutional structures, which require constant research and development to cope with the complexity of economic, environmental, social and political systems. The research stems from the concepts policy/community and policy/network. It delves into a cross-country comparative analysis between the UAE, the UK, and Malaysia, looking into how contexts, geographies, and climate-induced risks shape priorities and policies on the national level, the integration of climate change policy into urban development practice, and the role of community engagement in climate policy development and action. The UAE and the UK have a distinct and ambitious vision of climate change action regionally and globally, while Malaysia focuses on addressing climate-induced risk due to its vulnerability. Regarding climate change and urban development, the UAE, the UK, and Malaysia address mitigation and adaptation as essential requirements in urban development practices. In the UAE, Community engagement prioritizes raising awareness, while in the UK, it is a legal requirement, and Malaysia is working on enhancing community engagement in climate action. Throughout the analysis, the UAE appears to have a strong drive for climate policy and action on federal and local levels. On a federal level, the UAE is vibrant with initiatives and strives for innovation; however, it is autonomous regarding institutional structure and initiatives. A better approach for the UAE is to promote institutional, spatial, operational, and policy integration across the nested hierarchies of governance structures under the national policy framework and vision for integrated, comprehensive, and coordinated climate change policy and action.