The World Green Economy Summit (WGES) has revealed the list of speakers participating in its ninth edition organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) on 28-29 November 2023, at Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre in Dubai.

WGES brings together renowned local and international officials, decision-makers, experts, and speakers in addition to representatives from government organisations, the media, and academia. They will discuss forward-looking solutions for a swift and equitable transition to an integrated global green economy and make tangible progress towards reaching Net-Zero.

By convening relevant stakeholders from around the world, WGES will pave the way for the UAE to host the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) at Expo City Dubai from Nov.30 to Dec.12, 2023. WGES will focus on the UAE’s priority areas for COP28 through the following thematic pillars: green policy, green finance, green technology and innovation, green energy and green partnerships.

“The summit supports the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to consolidate the UAE’s role in aligning global actions for a green economy. This is achieved by fostering dialogue in a global environment that is full of challenges, empowering developing regions, and encouraging international collaboration and partnerships between the public and private sectors. Since a green economy is one of the most significant opportunities to ensure comprehensive economic growth, accelerating the shift towards a green economy has become one of the key priorities to develop the global economy and reach Net-Zero by 2050. This ensures a brighter and more sustainable future for all,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, MD&CEO of DEWA, and Chairman of WGEO.

The renowned speakers at the 9th edition of WGES include HE Felipe Calderón, Former President of Mexico; HE Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy; Mariam Bint Mohammed Saeed Hareb Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment; Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade; Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, MD&CEO of DEWA, and Chairman of WGEO; Ambassador Patricia Espinosa, CEO and Founding partner of Onepoint5; Dr James Bacchus, Distinguished University Professor of Global Affairs at the University of Central Florida; Ellen Jackowski, Chief Sustainability Officer and Executive Vice President at Mastercard; and Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Glada Lahn, Senior Research Fellow at Chatham House’s Environment and Society Program; Jevanic Henry, Member of the UN Secretary-General’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change and AOSIS Fellow; Mahamadou Tounkara, Director of Strategy, Partnerships, RM, Governance, and Memberships & Communications at the Global Green Growth Initiative; Dr Patrick Allman-Ward, CEO of Dana Gas; Roberta Danilon Leonhart, Partner at Machado Meyer; Dr Roberta Rabellotti, Professor of Economics at the University of Pavia; Robin Mills, CEO of Qamar Energy; Dr Stelios Grafakos, Global LEDS and Principal Economist at Global Green Growth; Timucin Engin, Senior Director at S&P Global Ratings, and Dr Ute Collier, Deputy Director of the Knowledge, Policy, and Finance Centre at IRENA.

Furthermore, the summit will witness the active participation of speakers including Fredrik Reinfeldt, Former Swedish Prime Minister; Claire O’Neill, Global Decarbonisation Advisor, Former UK Climate and Energy Minister, Former COP26 President-Designate; Dr Samir Hamrouni, Chief Sustainability officer at the World Free Zones Organisation; Dr James Fletcher, Founder and Managing Director at Soloricon;; Dr Rigoberto Ariel Yépez-García, Manager of Infrastructure and Energy Sector at the Inter-American Development Bank(IADB); Per Einar Ellefsen, CEO at Amundsen Investments Management, Dr Isabella Bunn, Research Fellow in Governance and Global Ethics at the University of Oxford; Dr Shamika Sirimanne, Director of Technology and Logistics Division at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); Dr Brent Loken, Global Food Scientist at WWF; Christian Deseglise, Managing Director and Group Head of Sustainable Infrastructure and Innovation at HSBC Bank; Carly Leung, Hong Kong Climate Advocate for COP 27 at the United Nations, Dr Christina Voigt, Chair of the Governing Board at IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL); Ingvild Solvang, Deputy Director and Head of Climate Action and Inclusive Development at the Global Green Growth Initiative; Dr James Bacchus, Distinguished University Professor of Global Affairs at the University of Central Florida; Dr Ralph Blumenthal, Senior Vice President, Head of Grid Software in the Middle East at Siemens; Gurmeet Kaur, Board Member of the Middle East Solar Industry Association.

Global leaders will discuss forward-looking solutions for a swift and equitable transition to an integrated global green economy and make tangible progress towards reaching Net-Zero