COP28 DG leads discussion on leveraging technology for climate action

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: Leveraging Technology and Defining the Climate Technology Future’, Al-Suwaidi said: “Technology and innovation are a cross-cutting theme in the COP28 agenda, and for good reason. Climate technologies can improve 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 technology innovations and scale them up quickly. There is so much we can achieve together on the convergence of climate, technology and policy. Through dedicated spaces and curated programs, COP28 will also highlight the diverse contributions of entrepreneurs and technology, especially those coming from the South,” added the COP28 Director General.

The panel discussion explored the evolving climate technology landscape and the need for contributions and partnerships from diverse stakeholders to drive innovation and commitment to address the climate challenge.

Panelists for the discussion included David Livingston, senior advisor and managing director for energy of the US 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 1. The forum will bring together leaders from government, business and technology to showcase the cutting-edge technologies shaping the future of the climate, with a curated selection of forward-looking innovations. on themes such as artificial intelligence, satellite technology, big data, clean energy, industrial decarbonization and more. There will also be several exhibitions and events at COP28’s Technology and Innovation Hub in the Green Zone, including the Startup Village, a dedicated space in the Technology and Innovation Hub aimed at showcasing 150 of the most innovative startups in the field climate technology.

COP28’s participation in the Dubai Future Forum, which represents the world’s largest gathering of futurists, also included a COP28 Changemakers Majlis that explored the role of AI in climate mitigation. The COP28 Changemakers Majlis has three tracks: a stream advancing the agenda of the COP28 Presidency, a domestic stream across the UAE, and a series of meetings during COP28.

The series is an ambitious, high-level, action-oriented conversation aimed at realizing the UAE’s bold ambitions to advance innovative climate solutions. Hosting a curated group of influential leaders, the COP28 Change Makers Majilis events provide an opportunity to discuss specific climate change challenges and co-design clear, actionable solutions.

The Dubai Future Forum majlis brought together a diverse group of climate campaigners to explore the challenges associated with realizing the potential of AI in climate action. While AI is widely regarded as an important asset in tackling climate change, technology is typically developed by a limited audience, which can impact who does and does not benefit from it.

The majlis looked at how governments and societies can push for more inclusive design to ensure that AI’s role in climate mitigation and adaptation strategies is fulfilled by all, for all. The discussion highlighted the need for inclusivity from the very earliest design stages to implementation, to ensure that 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 under the Dubai Future Forum’s Empowering Generations programme. 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 surrounding the future of sustainability and the role technology can play.