The second day of the 11th World Green Economy Summit (WGES) took place in Dubai, focusing on climate finance, environmental justice, and youth empowerment. The event is organised by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) under the theme “Innovating for Impact: Accelerating the Future of the Green Economy.”
The day began with a plenary session titled “Loss, Damage and Recovery: Navigating the Complexities of Climate Change Impact.” Speakers included HE Dr Muaviyath Mohamed, Minister of State for Tourism and Environment in the Maldives; Dr Samira Barzin from the University of Oxford’s Environmental Change Institute; Prof Nazia Habib from the University of Cambridge; and Naila Farouky, CEO of the Arab Foundations Forum. The panel discussed rising climate risks such as sea-level rise and ecosystem loss that threaten low-lying areas. They emphasized the need for resilient infrastructure, coastal protection, ecosystem restoration, and an energy transition supported by accessible finance. Panellists called for “replacing voluntary pledges with mandatory, transparent flows tied to parametric triggers and community-level payouts,” along with governance reforms to streamline bureaucracy and standardize eligibility. They also highlighted the importance of data capacity using geospatial/AI tools for real-time monitoring and accountability.
A high-level session on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) implementation followed. Ministers from Jordan, Armenia, Mozambique, Comoros, and Maldives discussed accelerating third-generation NDCs through practical ambition and partnerships. Comoros aims for a 23% reduction in greenhouse gases and a 47% increase in CO₂ sequestration by 2030 at a cost of EUR 767 million. Mozambique is updating laws to balance adaptation with mitigation amid recurring floods and droughts. The Maldives committed to achieving 33% renewable electricity by 2028 while calling for scaled-up predictable financing.
Another session addressed climate finance alignment between private sector initiatives and international commitments. Mohammad Junaid Essa from the Securities and Commodities Authority; HE Lucie Berger, EU Ambassador to the UAE; and Rahul Ghosh from Moody’s Ratings noted an annual investment gap of USD 2.4 trillion in climate finance globally. They advocated blended public–private financing models alongside enabling frameworks like green bonds and risk-sharing tools.
Breakout discussions explored water scarcity challenges linked to climate change. Adri Pols of Desolenator; Rhana Kurdi of Skydrops Sustainable Water Technologies; and Dr Tarifa Al Zaabi from the International Center of Biosaline Agriculture pointed out that traditional desalination methods worsen environmental stress due to emissions and toxic brine production. They suggested sustainable alternatives using renewable heat or atmospheric water generation.
Youth engagement was highlighted during a plenary session featuring Beniamin Strzelecki from the Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change and Hoor Ahli from New York University Abu Dhabi. Speakers said Gen Z is increasingly involved in climate action but faces barriers related to green finance access in emerging markets.
HE Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade delivered a keynote address on trade’s role in driving green economy growth: “Green solutions are powerful catalysts for the growth that not only make sense environmentally and socially, but that the technology improves and efficiencies scale financially as well… While trade can empower the green economy, it must also evolve to become a sustainable sector itself.”
Leadership’s role in energy transition was discussed by Craig Preston from Ducis Advisors: “Energy transition wins aren’t born from announcements—they’re earned through disciplined leadership… Use AI to inform, not replace, the human duty to serve people.”
A business-focused plenary examined renewables adoption amid national net-zero targets with speakers including Samir Oumer (TotalEnergies), Dr Waleed Alnuaimi (Etihad Energy Services), Hakan Ozdemir (Siemens Middle East), and Mario Saab (Cundall). They addressed challenges such as high upfront costs but noted solutions like performance-based financing combined with advanced grid software.
A panel on voluntary carbon markets featured Garrett Boudinot (Vycarb), Neeshad Shafi (Offset8 Capital), and Sonia Battikh (Citi Group). The speakers said voluntary carbon markets should complement decarbonisation efforts rather than replace them.
Other sessions covered adapting business strategies to shifting climate policies across global markets; leveraging artificial intelligence for sustainability reporting; scope 3 emissions tracking; predictive risk assessments; digital twins; predictive maintenance; knowledge transfer for aging workforces; as well as lowering barriers for SMEs.
The day closed with Jérôme Auchèr from Global Compact Network UAE stating: “The UAE has set clear targets, net zero by 2050… Businesses play a central role in making this goal achieved… By working together, sharing insights, and learning from each other we can move faster and smarter.”
The summit concluded after multiple sessions aimed at promoting international cooperation on sustainable development issues while harnessing youth potential and technological innovation.
