Blitz Bureau
Getting global leaders and experts together to address pressing environmental challenges, a World Green Economy Forum took shape on October 2 in Dubai.
Launched under the patronage of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, the forum’s theme, ‘Empowering Global Action: Unlocking Opportunities and Advancing Progress’, set the stage for discussions on international cooperation and innovative solutions for climate change and sustainability.
The first plenary focused on international cooperation for climate mitigation, where LumaSaqqaf, Director for the Middle East, Africa, and India at the Principles for Responsible Investment, stressed the importance of integrated approaches to achieving sustainable development goals.
A key session, titled ‘Decarbonising Energy-Intensive and Hard-to-Abate Industries’, explored strategies to reduce carbon emissions in heavy transport, construction, energy, and chemicals sectors. Another session, ‘4Ps: Adding Another ‘P’ to PPP (Public-Private Partnerships + Philanthropists)’” highlighted the importance of collaboration between philanthropists and the public and private sectors to drive effective climate solutions.
The potential applications of artificial intelligence in fostering a sustainable future were discussed in the session ‘How Can We Use AI to Help Create a Sustainable Future?’
There were discussions on power grid integration challenges, measuring and reporting carbon footprints, and various aspects of decarbonisation across industries.
Energy networks
Juan Diego Gómez Zuluaga, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Colombia, and Ralf Blumenthal, Senior VicePresident and Head of Siemens Grid Software for the Middle East and Africa, emphasised the critical role of energy networks in the decarbonisation process and the need for aligning the sector’s efforts with global plans and targets to achieve net zero.
Zuluaga emphasised the financial challenges of integrating hybrid energy technologies, particularly in developing countries, while highlighting the rapid growth of solar systems and the need for advanced technology to meet rising energy demands and achieve net-zero goals.
Blumenthal stressed the importance of substantial Government and private sector collaboration, alongside trillions of dollars in investments needed over the next decades to secure the energy transition.
