The Abu Dhabi Global Environmental Data Initiative (AGEDI) was inaugurated in 2002 by H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates.

The UAE expressed concern about the results of the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) produced by the World Economic Forum in February 2002, and AGEDI is, to some extent, an expression of this concern. The index had shown the UAE to rank 141 out of 142 countries, with an ESI of 25.7. AGEDI was launched at the World Summit on Sustainable Development, which was held on 2 September 2002.
AGEDI is intended to address the need for accurate, easily accessible environmental data; it seems to facilitate and enhance the exchange of information between developed and developing countries. This permits more effective and accurate environmental decision-making.

AGEDI cooperates closely with UNEP, established in 1972, which is the main voice for the environment within the United Nations at the global and regional levels.

The Abu Dhabi Blue Carbon Demonstration Project

Initiated in 2012, this project focuses on coastal ecosystems, aiming to increase the knowledge of how these contribute to the sequestering of carbon and how they can benefit coastal communities.

The project has five components which, together, achieve a common objective: to allow Abu Dhabi to make more sustainable decisions in the future due to increased knowledge and monitoring of the local coastal ecosystems.

It also works at an international level with other Blue Carbon initiatives in developing science and data management tools.