Ambassador Majid Al-Suwaidi, Director General Special Representative of the COP28 Presidency, led a session at the Dubai Future Forum on harnessing the power of technology to support climate action.
Opening the panel discussion titled “Uniting for COP28: Harnessing Technology and Defining the Future of Climate Technologies,” Al-Suwaidi said: “Technology and innovation is a cross-cutting theme in the COP28 agenda and for good reason. Climate technologies can significantly enhance our ability to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, but they must be accessible and affordable.
“To achieve our climate goals and drive the green transition, we must invest in climate technological innovations and develop them quickly. There is so much we can achieve together at the convergence of climate, technology and policy. Through dedicated spaces and curated programs, COP28 will also highlight the diverse contributions of entrepreneurs and technology, particularly those from the Global South,” added the COP28 Director General.
The roundtable explored the evolving landscape of climate technology and the need for contributions and partnerships from diverse stakeholders to drive innovation and deployment to address the climate challenge.
Speakers at the discussion included David Livingston, senior advisor and managing director for energy to the U.S. special presidential envoy for climate; Sabrin Rahman, director of partnerships, COP28; and Asya Al Shehhi, negotiator, technology, scientific innovation, COP28.
In partnership with Breakthrough Energy, COP28 will host the Climate Innovation Forum on December 1st. The forum will bring together government, business and technology leaders, to highlight the cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of climate, with a curated selection of future-focused innovations. covering topics such as artificial intelligence, satellite technology, big data, clean energy, industrial decarbonization, etc. There will also be various exhibitions and events at the COP28 Technology and Innovation Hub in the Green Zone, including the Startup Village, a dedicated space in the Technology and Innovation Hub focused on showcasing 150 of the most innovative climate technology startups .
COP28’s participation in the Dubai Future Forum, which represents the world’s largest gathering of futurists, also included a COP28 Changemakers Majlis exploring the role of AI in mitigating climate change. The COP28 Changemakers Majlis has three components: a component advancing the agenda of the COP28 presidency, a national component across the UAE, and a series of gatherings during COP28.
The series is a high-level, ambitious and action-oriented conversation focused on realizing the UAE’s bold ambitions in promoting innovative climate solutions. Hosting a group of influential leaders, the COP28 Change Makers Majilis events represent an opportunity to discuss specific climate change challenges and co-design clear and actionable solutions.
The Dubai Future Forum Majlis brought together a diverse group of climate actionists to explore the challenges of realizing the potential of AI in climate action. While AI is widely seen as an important asset in the fight against climate change, the technology is typically developed by a narrow demographic, which can impact those who benefit from it – or not.
The Majlis examined how governments and societies can promote more inclusive design to ensure that the role of AI in climate mitigation and adaptation strategies is played by all, for all. The discussion highlighted the need for inclusiveness from the earliest stages of design through deployment, to ensure the climate-AI nexus works for everyone, everywhere. Participants included AI experts, futurists, climate experts, policy makers, youth representatives and industry leaders.
The session took place as part of the Empowering Generations component of the Dubai Future Forum. The Forum brings together 2,500 futurists, experts, government representatives, entrepreneurs and innovators. Taking place just days before COP28, the forum focuses heavily on key questions regarding the future of sustainability and the role technology can play.
(Only the title and image of this report may have been reworked by Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
