COP28 programming

04 December 2023 | Monday, 16:00 – 18:00 GST

Session description: 

Driving tangible and impactful progress on sustainability imperatives — from accelerating decarbonization to improving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) — is a collective responsibility of both the private and public sectors.  

This session will gather a group of sustainability leaders and industry professionals as part of an action-focused event to share success stories and lessons learned around four key areas, including access to capital, talent, data, and sustainability regulations. As champions driving action and quantifiable progress toward a sustainable future, we are eager to meet you at COP28 to discuss how we can collectively protect and create value through sustainability.

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09 December 2023 | Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 GST

Session description: 

The Latin American and Caribbean region is home to 23% of the world's forests. These forests are biodiversity superpowers and represent more than just the species that dwell in them and more than the carbon they contain. They are the basis for important economic activities, providing many ecosystem goods and services, such as maintaining water supply and soil quality. Understanding the complex interactions within the Amazon Ecosystem, the world’s largest tropical forest, presents a great opportunity to bridge knowledge gaps, develop collaborations and unlock innovative co-designed solutions. At this event, EY teams will bring together a panel of climate and biodiversity professionals on the Amazon to discuss opportunities to bridge these gaps and unlock the potential for co-developed solutions and actions to help mitigate deforestation, reducing emissions and promoting sustainable development. The panel will include reps from the private sector and public sector, sustainability policy experts and renowned experts to leverage the expertise from companies and promote private sector leadership in developing innovative solutions. EY's experience includes guiding companies to make a positive impact through sustainable supply chain management, zero-deforestation commitments, contributing to scientific research and conservation projects, engaging and collaborating with stakeholders.

Key topics:

• How widespread is the impact of large-scale ecosystem degradation and how can we convey the economic impact to engage the private and public sectors?
• How can the private sector advance progress on this increasingly urgent issue? 
• What mechanisms, including policy instruments and financing, can support deeper public-private cooperation on Amazon restoration?
• How can this action best address the needs of vulnerable groups that will be affected by these policies?

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08 December 2023 | Friday, 08:00 – 09:30 GST

Location: Andaz Dubai the Palm, The Palm Jumeirah

Session description:

Participants will join EY’s exclusive breakfast discussion with industry leaders and special guests on a journey into what the next 12 months could hold for global mobility and global immigration leaders, and to discuss the pathways that policymakers are choosing today to shape tomorrow

Key topics:

• Explore EY’s new Global Immigration Futures Index 2024 on the leading innovators and policies on international talent strategy  
• What climate change and the outcomes of COP28 mean for the future of global mobility
• How climate change is disrupting access to global talent, immigration and borders
• Taking practical steps now to drive better business resilience and better employee experience
• What we can learn from the future, and how to apply that to the actions we take now

03 December 2023 | Sunday, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. GST

Session description:

In this panel discussion, we will examine how climate change impacts human health — exacerbating existing health challenges and giving rise to new ones. We will also discuss actionable solutions. The panel will be moderated by an EY team, with a diverse range of industry professionals and NGO representatives as panelists.

Key topics:

• Extreme weather events and natural disasters
• Air quality and respiratory health
• Food security and nutrition
• Existing health challenges faced by marginalized communities in accessing quality healthcare and the disparities that persist in health outcomes
• Potential solutions and safeguards including the role equal access to health care and the use of technology

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03 December 2023 | Sunday, 14:00 - 15:00 GST

Session Description:

Amidst the conflict or more broadly understood crisis, some areas stand at the crossroads of reconstruction. This panel discussion focuses on the actionable strategies that can infuse sustainability into the recovery process. By aligning its efforts with ambitious global climate goals, discussed regions can not only rebuild their foundations but also emerge as leaders in the transition toward sustainability locally and internationally. This session will offer concrete insights into attracting investments for a greener future.

Key topics:

• Tangible green strategies: in-depth exploration of practical measures to integrate climate resilience and sustainability into post-crisis reconstruction, spanning policies, infrastructure and industry initiatives, with a special focus on decarbonization.
• Potential role model: in-depth analysis of how countries and regions’ green recovery can position them as frontrunners in the global and regional pursuit of carbon-neutrality, with lessons to inspire and guide other countries affected by conflict or crisis in general.
• Resilience drives investments: in-depth discussion of how investing in climate-ready solutions can safeguard the future of discussed countries, attract sustainable investments and foster economic stability. The event will feature key factors that enable green recovery.

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04 December 2023 | Monday, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. GST

Session description:

Alongside the funding of climate solutions, to make progress on emissions reductions, there is a need for finance to support companies with credible net-zero transition plans, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors.

In collaboration with Foresight Climate and The City of London Corporation, an in-person session and podcast will examine approaches, challenges and proposed solutions for success, in the space of transition finance. We will hear viewpoints from different financial institutions, the agricultural sector, as well as perspectives from those involved in policy. The panelists will share their progress on transition finance, followed by EY teams recommendations to financial services firms. 

Key topics:

• The global state of play of transition finance. 
• Policy frameworks across jurisdictions, including the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and some common responses to this.
• The ambitions of financial institutions, the challenges they face when it comes to decarbonization, and examples of exceptional solutions. 

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04 December 2023 | Monday, 14:00 – 15:00 GST

Session description:

By valuing and integrating diverse perspectives, driving greater social equity and allowing a voice for all, we can:

• Build resilient communities
• Promote environmental stewardship
• Foster a just and prosperous future for all

Embracing these principles is not only a moral imperative but also vital for the effectiveness and long-term viability of sustainability efforts.

Moderated by Amy Brachio, EY Global Vice Chair - Sustainability, this interactive panel session will focus on the importance of embedding inclusion and equity across all aspects of sustainability initiatives to ensure long-term change.

Key sports figures, climate action entrepreneurs and private sector leaders, who are all raising their voices and mobilizing their networks for inclusive climate action, will bring different perspectives to the conversation.

Key topics:

• Creating environment or processes that are equitable
• Developing skills or training needed
• Building equity into entrepreneurship
• Developing inclusive business framework
• Enabling inclusion (gender, disability)

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05 December 2023 | Tuesday, 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. GST

Session description:

The current pace of the energy transition falls short of what is necessary to meet climate goals in time. The energy and resources industry is foundational to mitigating carbon emissions and accelerating the energy transition. More collaboration is required.

Serge Colle, EY Global Energy & Resources Leader, will introduce EY’s new global energy transition acceleration insight, which deep-dives into the critical interactions in the energy system, the impact of technology advancement, commodity demand and supply chain impacts, and the rise in consumer engagement.

The session, in collaboration with Foresight Climate, features five influential energy players – chosen to demonstrate diversity and inclusivity and the different stakeholder perspectives within the energy ecosystem.

Key topics:

• Particular focus will be placed on energy transition strategies and the resulting risks and opportunities for players within the energy ecosystem, enabling participants to consider what their “no regret” actions should be.

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05 December 2023 | Tuesday, 13:30 – 14:30 GST

Session description:

The panel will discuss concerns around cost of energy, energy security and accelerating sustainability, and how many organizations are looking to decentralized energy systems as the answer to their complex energy challenges. 

Governments are recognizing the challenges posed by EV adoption and the electrification of heat, especially in areas with constrained centralized grids or inadequate infrastructure, which can lead to energy poverty.

This comes at a time when new energy technologies and the utilization of AI mean that distributed systems will have the potential to be more predictive and effective than ever, with the potential of attracting better and more cost-effective capital. 

The panel will cover how decentralized distributed energy can play a major role in delivering the energy transition while creating a secure, sustainable, and cost-effective alternative solution.

Key topics:

• We will be addressing some of the most important questions, including:
• Are decentralized solutions expected to accelerate?
• Which markets need these solutions most and why?
• Which technologies work best together?
• How much will the solutions vary across sectors – are the drivers different?
• How much of GenAI’s design, operation, and cost of capital will be improved?
• What models are we expecting to emerge, and do we expect the ESCO model to re-emerge?
• What funding models are going to be best suited, and do we expect the source of capital to be more dynamic?

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06 December 2023 | Wednesday, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. GST

Session description:

Even before the disruption of the pandemic, there was consensus that many cities in their current forms were flawed. However, there is far less agreement on what a more equitable, sustainable, and resilient version should look like.

Amid a rolling wave of change – climatic, demographic, and economic – what is the emerging blueprint for a sustainable and equitable city?

In collaboration with Foresight Climate, this panel session will discuss the findings from interviews with 20 leaders and 6,000 citizens across 12 cities, together with mayoral insights from the EY City Citizen Podcast. The session will have up to three prominent thought leaders representing different stakeholder and regional perspectives within the cities ecosystem, e.g., a minister of environment, a mayor, and a city leader.

Key topics:

• Innovative ecosystems
• Inclusive technology
• New financing models
• Citizen engagement and people-centered urban design
• Infrastructure as catalyzers of sustainable and equitable change

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06 December 2023 | Wednesday, 14:00 - 15:00 GST

Session description:

In this panel discussion on AI and sustainable infrastructure, industry professionals will come together to explore the transformative potential of artificial intelligence in building a greener and more resilient future.

Key topics:

• Intersection of artificial intelligence and its potential contribution to creating more environmentally-friendly and resilient infrastructure
• Changing customer patterns and its impact on green infrastructure
• Optimization benefits from AI in the fields of energy, transport and waste that impact infrastructure

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8 December 2023 | Friday, 10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. GST

Session description:

This session will be an opportunity to showcase cutting-edge thought leadership and technology capabilities accelerating climate action. The panel will be led by Nicola Morini Bianzino, EY AI Leader, to provide insights on how AI can be leveraged to enable climate change required solutions:

• Geospatial data and climate science used for critical climate mitigation and adaptation efforts 
• Role of AI in supply chain optimization 
• Just and sustainable energy transition driven by AI
• Consideration of trade-offs when using humans vs using AI, given the latter’s impact on emissions
• Factors involved in estimating carbon dioxide emissions from AI models
• Space technology demo and latest report presentation 
• AI foundational model technology
• NASA Earth observation satellite data and/or
• Reduction levers AI uses to address decarbonization

Key topics:

• Climate insights and natural disaster prevention 
• Satellite imagery recognition technology for waste and water management
• Supply chain optimization 
• Equitable and just transition 
• Emissions disclosures and transparency
• Optimizing ML training for sustainable outcomes

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08 December 2023 | Friday, 14:00-15:00 GST

Session description:

As family businesses all around the world go through the greatest generational transition in history, the new generation of owners take the lead in transforming their businesses to meet the demands of tomorrow in a rapidly changing world.

During this panel session, we will discuss how the most visionary family businesses go beyond what’s forced by legislation, recognizing the need to innovate and thus invest in ESG as something fundamental to their existence.

This panel session will convene:

• Visionary world-class next generation leaders
• Transformers of industry at the leading edge of technological transformation
•  Companies with international recognition

Key topics:

• What’s next for family businesses to become true champions in sustainability?
• What is the role of R&D, and how can corporate entrepreneurship be used as a pathway to sustainable ventures?
• Can the adaptation of climate-linked disruptive technologies build competitive advantage?
• How can family businesses successfully align their wealth, governance, philanthropy, and investment strategy to ESG-principles and subsequently deploy capital toward green technologies and innovations?
• What’s the ideal role governments should play in incentivizing green transformation?
• How can positive societal impact be achieved? 

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09 December 2023 | Saturday, 14:00-15:00 GST

Session description:

Biodiversity loss challenges humanity and the planet, similar to climate change and its impact. Addressing this challenge will require all the innovation and capital the private sector can bring.

EY teams will host a diverse panel of TNFD, UNEP and private sector representatives, regulators, and independent professionals to discuss how the TNFD framework works and how it can drive corporate strategies focused on preventing biodiversity loss and accelerating its conservation.

Key topics:

• TNFD framework and its implications
• Progress made so far by the private sector when it comes to developing biodiversity-focused strategies
• How these biodiversity-focused strategies feed into their analysis of long-term environmental risks (including climate risk)
• How can the TNFD frameworks accelerate these efforts
• Tangible actions the private sector can take going forward

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09 December 2023 | Saturday, 16:30 – 17:30 GST

Session description:

Hydrogen could be a crucial missing piece of the climate puzzle — offering mitigation solutions in industrial and transportation applications. However, building the infrastructure needed for green hydrogen to take off requires massive investment and innovation. 

Given there have been a number of developments in the Arabian Peninsula when it comes to hydrogen, this panel session will bring a diverse set of speakers to discuss and share the progress made in developing power to a number of projects in the Arabian Peninsula, the challenges faced and the economic benefits

Key topics:

• The potential role of hydrogen in accelerating the Arabian Peninsula’s sustainability ambitions
• Challenges to large-scale implementation
• Technologies needed to drive green hydrogen production

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10 December 2023 | Sunday, 10:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. GST

Session description:

This session will showcase pioneering companies and how they are leveraging agricultural technologies to revolutionize farming practices and enhance productivity while combating climate change and reducing environmental impact. They will highlight how the future of food systems is shaped by data-driven solutions and digital innovations, offering useful insights into the potential of agricultural technologies.

Key topics:

• How these technologies are being adopted by farmers, industry and other stakeholders
• How are partnerships driving the scaling of these transformative agricultural technologies
• Role of data analytics in optimizing agricultural processes

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10 December 2023 | Sunday, 14:00-15:00 GST

Session description: 

The COP28 Water Agenda identifies three priority areas: conserving and restoring freshwater ecosystems, enhancing urban water resilience and bolstering water-resilience food systems.

Today, climate change is felt primarily through a change in water and is considered by the World Economic Forum Global Risks Report as one of the top five risks in all of reports since 2015.  Most SDGs involve having access to adequate and safe water. The IPCC AR6 report has assessed observed impacts on different sectors and concluded that without adequate adaptation, future water-related impacts of climate change on various sectors of the economy are projected to lower the global GDP by mid-century, with higher projected losses expected in low- and middle-income countries.  

In this session, we will discuss perceived impacts, successful adaptation, and mitigation strategies. Speakers include the CEO of Sabesp, the world's 4th largest water and waste management company and only UNFCCC official partner from Latin America.

Key topics: 

• New models of water governance
• Digital transformation and sharing data points
• Empowering women
• Innovation in water finance 

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11 December 2023 | Monday 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. GST                          

Session description:

In this discussion, we will focus on sustainability traceability for businesses in MENA. The output of the session will be a consolidation of common issues, areas for collaboration and a roadmap highlighting key actions.

Key topics:

• What is sustainability traceability?
• What is the relationship between traceability of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the competitiveness of businesses operating within the MENA region?
• How can collaborative efforts among businesses, governments, and other stakeholders support the implementation and advancement of traceability of GHG emissions in the MENA region?
• What is the role of technology?

Hypotheses for traceability will be explored through:

• A sector agnostic, value chain view for the MENA region
• Understanding the common challenges and opportunities in traceability globally
• Exploring the role of c-suite
• Understanding the commercial and value levers

Speaker:

• Michael Wood, MENA Sustainability Partner, Business Consulting, EY Consulting LLC, QFC

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11 December 2023 | Monday 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. GST                          

Session description:

In this panel discussion, we will explore both the challenges as well as the opportunities faced in scaling up transition finance in MENA. In doing so, we will delve into the complexities and nuances specific to the region, as well as the strategies required to enable MENA’s financial industry to drive credible transition plans. In particular, we will look in depth at important regional dynamics, including the ambitions of the Middle East Green Initiative (MGI) as well as the emphasis given to supporting the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE).

Key topics: 

• Transition finance as defined in the context of MENA, such as aligning strategies and investments that address economic diversification, energy security and energy affordability
• Understanding the role of the Circular Carbon Economy (CCE) framework and how this requires partnerships with the financial industry to drive finance at scale
• The potential for MENA to evolve as the global hub for carbon markets and what this would entail to get there
• The role of MENA’s financial institutions in driving a just and fair transition to address specific regional challenges, and the extent to which regulators are pushing this forward
• Understanding the need for MENA-focused climate data analytics and how this could be potentially the missing piece of the jigsaw in MENA for accelerating financing transition

Speakers

• Jessica Robinson, EY MENA Sustainable Finance Leader
• Dr Miray Zaki, Managing Director, Gulf Capital
• Nili Gilbert, Chair, Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) Advisory Panel of Technical Experts
• Jennifer Chammas, Regional Head of Sustainability and Sustainable Finance, CMB MENAT HSBC

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EY Four Futures is a climate expert-guided, AI-generated, immersive experience that takes visitors on a journey into radically altered futures, each the outcome of the different sustainability pathways open to businesses and policymakers today. What can we learn from the future, and how can it drive us to just action?

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Urban Mobility for Regenerative Cities' is an EY experience, inviting visitors into a future where cities are designed for more life, services drive mobility sharing, and vehicles are crafted for longevity and circularity. By illustrating critical shifts, the experience demonstrates what’s possible and invites us all to act.

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At EY wavespace™, we combine design, technology and business to reimagine what’s possible and reframe your thinking to help address problems together. At COP28, we offer one-hour-long interactive EY wavespace workshops, designed to help accelerate your sustainability aspirations. The workshops will provide you with the opportunity to:

• Explore value creation opportunities for a successful net-zero transformation journey in your sector
• Co-create ideas to drive change at scale   
• Transform opportunities into actionable steps toward your sustainability goals

Each workshop will be tailored to your specific requirements which we will discuss with you in advance. 

Register here