The World Green Economy Summit (WGES) 2025 is set to focus on green finance as a key driver in the global transition towards sustainability. The summit, now in its 11th edition, will take place on October 1-2, 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Organised by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), WGES aims to bring together leaders, investors, and experts to address pressing environmental challenges and explore financial solutions for advancing renewable energy.
The event is held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. This year’s theme is ‘Innovating for Impact: Accelerating the Future of the Green Economy’, aligning with ongoing efforts to meet United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, MD and CEO of DEWA and Chairman of WGEO, highlighted global investment trends: “Global investments in clean technologies – including renewable energy, grids and storage – are projected to exceed USD 2.2 trillion in 2025, double the investment in fossil fuels, within a total global investment of USD 3.3 trillion. However, developing countries continue to face a significant financing gap, requiring an increase in annual clean energy investments from USD 270 billion to approximately USD 1.6 trillion by the early 2030s. This underscores the need for innovative international co-ordination to reduce capital costs and mitigate investment risks. The World Green Economy Summit reflects our commitment to supporting global efforts to achieve the transition to a comprehensive and sustainable green economy, based on innovation and effective partnerships, supporting Dubai’s position as a global hub for climate action.”
Jaison John, Founder of Avia & Co., pointed out growth patterns: “As the IMF projects 3% global growth in 2025, the USD 7.9 trillion green economy is surging ahead. It is growing by 15% a year and drawing USD 2.2 trillion in clean energy investment. The Middle East’s USD 3.8 trillion sovereign wealth funds are leading the charge, and the UAE is reaching nearly 28% in renewables, showcasing what ambitious commitments can achieve. The race towards a sustainable future is on, yet 31% of investors remain held back by policy uncertainty. Our real task is not choosing between energy security and climate action; it is building bold, integrated policies that successfully unlock both.”
Rahul Ghosh from Moody’s Ratings addressed regional funding needs: “The Middle East faces an annual energy transition investment gap of USD 168 billion by 2030. The debt capital markets will play an important role in bridging the gap and we expect greater issuance from governments and companies across the region to fund transition assets and activities.”
Jessica Cheam from Eco-Business commented on her participation: “I’m delighted to be heading to Dubai on 1-2 October to participate in the World Green Economy Summit – a timely platform initiated by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, DEWA and the World Green Economy Organization. It is one of the leading global forums on the green economy, bringing together world-class experts in critical sectors from around the world to directly focus on advancing the global green economy and sustainability agenda, achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. I look forward to participating in this high-level forum Specifically I’ll be speaking at a discussion on ‘Navigating Shifting Climate Policy Across Markets’.”
Summit sessions will address barriers faced by green projects seeking investment as well as mechanisms like risk-sharing guarantees provided by international financial institutions intended to attract more capital into sustainable initiatives.
Discussions will also examine voluntary carbon markets which saw trading volumes fall by about one-quarter during 2024 alongside declines in credit prices—an indication that market participants are prioritizing quality credits with strong accountability measures.
Sustainable bonds have continued their rise as financing tools for climate-related projects; estimates show that this market reached around $1.1 trillion globally during 2024—an increase over previous years—which signals growing investor interest.
Other topics include regulatory approaches aimed at improving transparency within carbon markets; development of disclosure standards; alignment between private sector investments with international climate targets; public-private partnership models; and frameworks designed for activating tools such as green bonds or risk-sharing guarantees—all intended toward establishing robust systems for sustainable finance worldwide.
