The evolving climate conditions pose a significant global economic challenge. Dubai, a leader in the global sustainability drive, seized a remarkable opportunity. In the previous year, we concluded the Future Sustainability Forum, held at the Ritz Carlton DIFC on October 4th-5th, 2023, highlighting Dubai’s pivotal role in shaping global sustainability efforts. The event successfully brought together global tech leaders, policymakers, and innovators, emphasising Dubai’s crucial position in this endeavour.
The Future Sustainability Forum exceeded expectations with an incredible turnout, boasting over 1500 industry leaders and more than 50 speakers representing over 30 countries. This two-day event not only underscored Dubai’s commitment to mobilising the regional innovation and financial sector toward a just transition to a sustainable future but also left a significant impact on its attendees.
The forum featured a series of engaging panel discussions, keynote addresses, fireside chats, and engaging discussions that are reshaping the sustainable financing landscape in the region. Topics of deliberations ranged from navigating the landscape of sustainable and Islamic finance to integrating ESG into decision-making empowering sustainability through digital transformation and more.
One such session was the fireside chat on ‘The Path to Making Dubai a Global Sustainable Finance Hub. Moderated by Amal Larhlid, Partner Sustainability, PwC focused on the scope of sustainable finance driving Dubai as a global player in the sustainable financing sector. The panellists, Satya Tripathi, Secretary-General, of Global Alliance For A Sustainable Planet, and Dr Bernd Van Linder, CEO, of Commercial Bank of Dubai, presented interesting insights and highlighted the initiatives taken by Dubai to unlock its sustainable financing capabilities.
Another significant debate was on understanding Environmental, Social and Corporate governance (ESG) regulations and avoiding greenwashing. The panel discussion moderated by Nameer Khan, Founder of FILS and Chairman, of the MENA FinTech Association, examined the latest trends in ESG regulations and the tips and tricks to avoid greenwashing. The panellists, Dr Ashraf Gamal El Din, CEO, Hawkamah, Peter Smith, Managing Director, Head of Strategy, Policy, and Risk, DFSA, Ghiwa Nakat, Executive Director, Greenpeace MENA, Faisal Al Shimmari, Head of ESG and Corporate Strategy, Mashreq, provided interesting insights and deliberated on how enterprises can avoid greenwashing and foster greater transparency.
A key discussion that generated a lot of attention was the panel on ‘Setting Credible Net-Zero Targets.’ The discussion moderated by Steve Lutes, Vice President, US Chamber of Commerce spoke at length about the present challenges while enterprises set up their net-zero targets. The panellists, Matt Brown, Chief-Sustainability, Expo City Dubai, Gordon Gill, Partner Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill Architecture, Nicolas Soucaille, General Manager, Blacklane ME, and Florence Bulte, Chief Sustainability Officer, Chalhoub Group, discussed in detail presented interesting views and tricks to how enterprises can bridge the existing gaps and create plans based on action to help them achieve their net-zero aspirations.
During the course of the event, H.E Mariam Bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, spoke at length about UAE’s efforts to cover 25 per cent of its electricity demands through solar energy by 2030. She emphasised the importance of finance being accessible and affordable to the vulnerable community. During her fireside chat, moderated by Dan Murphy, Anchor and Correspondent, CNBC International, she also mentioned that political will is necessary to bring about change while discussing the UAE’s commitment to sustainability.
After the resounding success of the inaugural edition of the Future Sustainability Forum, we are hosting its 2nd edition on December 4th and 5th in Dubai at the Madinat Jumeirah Hotel.
In our journey towards a greener and sustainable future, we are deeply grateful for the invaluable support of our esteemed partners. As a beacon of strength, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to our Supporting Partner, Raiven Capital. Alongside them, our Association Partners – the US Chamber of Commerce, Goumbook, and Global Youth Coalition – form the pillars of our collaborative efforts. We are further enriched by the expertise and vision of our Strategic Partners, which include the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, Global Ethical Finance Initiatives, Dubai AI and Web3 Campus, Dubai Sustainable Finance Working Group, MENA Fintech Association, and MENA Sustainable Fintech Alliance. Together, with these remarkable partners, we forge the path towards a sustainable and eco-conscious future.
