The United Arab Emirates is a Party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Convention's goal is to help stabilize atmospheric greenhouse gas emission concentration to mitigate negative effects on the climate system. In 1997, the Parties adopted the Kyoto Protocol, which is commits developed country Parties to reducing greenhouse gas emissions approximately 5.2% below 1990 levels by the end of 2012.

The United Arab Emirates Designated National Authority (DNA) helps to promote the development of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects and provide host country approval for the UNFCCC project registration procedures.