The Clean Energy Business Council (CEBC) has recently hosted the 10th CEBC Annual Summit with a main focus on the highly anticipated 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) which will take place in the United Arab Emirates between November and December 2023 at Expo City Dubai.
A well-curated audience of 150+ energy efficiency, sustainable finance, future mobility, and clean hydrogen professionals, representing 100+ CEBC stakeholders, attended the summit for networking, knowledge sharing, and engaging in discussions with over 34 speakers and panelists who are experts in their fields, from diverse sectors and perspectives on clean energy. The purpose of this year’s discussions was to lay the groundwork for an action oriented COP28 in the UAE.
Standard Chartered, Enova, Johnsons Controls, and ACWA Power sponsored the summit, demonstrating the significant role the CEBC members play in the development and deployment of clean energy in the MENA region. Alongside the summit’s sponsors, major leading companies and organisations such as the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Abu Dhabi Energy Services (ADES), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), TotalEnergies, Schneider Electric, Dentons, ABB, Cummins Arabia, Pinsent Masons, Honeywell, and HSBC were represented during the summit.
Dr. Nasser Saidi, Founder & Chairman of the CEBC, commenced the summit with an opening keynote titled “A New Global Energy Map,” in which he stated that despite the MENA region being the most vulnerable to climate change, the region is anticipated to be at the core of a new transformed global energy map.
Dr. Rabia Ferroukhi, Director of the Knowledge, Policy, and Finance Center (KPFC) at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), also presented an outstanding keynote presentation under the theme of “The New Energy Paradigm,” which emphasised the importance of a holistic policy framework for dealing with the energy transition. This framework incorporates not only the environmental, but also the economic and societal aspects.
The event featured five panel discussions tackling climate finance, energy efficiency, future mobility, clean hydrogen, and the Road to COP28.