Abu Dhabi’s environmental journey, from the conservation vision of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to its growing role in global climate action, is the focus of a new book unveiled at ADIHEX 2026.
The Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) hosted the signing of A Climate of Hope: The Rise of Abu Dhabi as a 21st Century Environmental Superpower at the Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition. Written by British author Graeme H. Wilson, the book explores six decades of environmental leadership in the emirate.
The book was conceived with the support of His Excellency Mohamed Ahmed Al Bowardi, Vice Chairman of EAD’s Board of Directors, who also wrote its preface. Drawing on three decades of archival research and more than 100 interviews, Wilson examines how Abu Dhabi developed an environmental agenda that extended well beyond its own borders.
At the centre of the book is the environmental legacy of Sheikh Zayed and its continuation under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE.
Reflecting on the Founding Father’s approach to environmental leadership, Al Bowardi wrote: “Sheikh Zayed taught us to use the power of our example, rather than the example of our power.”
From local conservation to global action
The book traces the roots of Abu Dhabi’s environmental outlook to the early years of the UAE. In 1972, Sheikh Zayed sent the country’s first environmental delegation to international forums, reflecting an approach that viewed environmental responsibility as a global rather than purely national concern.
Wilson’s research also explores Sheikh Zayed’s conservation efforts beyond the species most closely associated with him in the UAE. His international environmental interests included support for efforts to ban the ivory trade and establish a moratorium on commercial whaling, alongside an early interest in renewable energy.
The book examines the development of renewable technologies including solar, wind, hydro and geothermal power, positioning these efforts within the UAE’s longer environmental story.
A legacy that continues
The story moves from the conservation initiatives of the UAE’s early decades to institutions and projects that continue to shape Abu Dhabi’s environmental agenda today.
Among those highlighted are the International Fund for Houbara Conservation, the Mohamed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund and Masdar, as well as the UAE’s hosting of COP28, the UN climate conference held in Dubai in 2023.
For Wilson, the research offered an opportunity to explore an aspect of Sheikh Zayed’s legacy that he believes deserves greater attention.
“The late Sheikh Zayed is not only history’s greatest philanthropist, touching the lives of billions of people, but our work has uncovered his deep convictions as a conservationist,” Wilson said. “His impact on our planet remains powerfully present to this day.”
He also credited Al Bowardi’s decades of environmental advocacy and support for helping bring the book to fruition.
A Climate of Hope ultimately presents Abu Dhabi’s environmental story as one that has evolved from a commitment to protecting its own natural heritage into a broader ambition to contribute to global conservation and climate action.
