COP28 UAE will bring together influential leaders from government, business, finance, and the broader sustainability community to highlight the bold actions needed to make further progress against the ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement and limit global temperature rise.
Ceres experts at COP28 will highlight the impact of recent U.S. climate policy wins and the work of its global initiatives in mobilizing private sector action on climate change, water scarcity, and nature loss. They will call on world governments to raise their ambition and accelerate the just transition to a stronger, more resilient economy.
The follow Ceres experts will be on the ground in Dubai:
Amit Bando, Chief Economist and Senior Advisor for Just and Inclusive Economies (Just Transition, Inclusive Economies, Developing Markets, Loss and Damage Fund) - (December 4-10)
Blair Bateson, Director, Company Network, Financial Services (banking regulations, net zero banking goals)Â - (December 5-6)
Laura Draucker, Ph.D., Director, Climate and Energy, Corporate Climate Action (Ambition 2030/Climate Disclosure/Scope 3 Reporting) - (December 4-6)
Kirsten James, Senior Program Director, Water (Valuing Water Finance Initiative) - (December 7-11)
Zach Friedman, Director, Federal Policy (Corporate Policy Engagements/Federal Policy, Inflation Reduction Act implementation) - (December 8-11)
Meryl Richards, Ph.D., Program Director, Food and Forests (Agricultural Emissions/Deforestation, Nature Action 100) -Â (December 5-9)
Ben Tabor, Director, Investor Network, Policy (Investor Policy Engagements/Advocacy/Responsible Investing) - (December 4-11)
Join us at COP28 UAE, in-person, or virtually, if available.
COP28Â Thematic Days:
November 30: Opening Day
December 1: World Climate Action Summit
December 2: World Climate Action Summit
December 3: Health / Relief, Recovery and Peace
December 4: Finance / Trade / Gender Equality / Accountability
December 5: Energy and Industry / Just Transition / Indigenous Peoples
December 6: Multilevel Action, Urbanization and Built Environment / Transport
December 7: Rest
December 8: Youth, Children, Education and Skills
December 9: Nature, Land Use, and Oceans
December 10: Food, Agriculture and Water
December 11-12: Final Negotiations
For more information on these thematic days, visit:Â cop28.com/en/thematic-program
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Featured events with Ceres experts
Ecosperity at COP28: Navigating the Frontiers of the Green Transition: Encouraging Private Sector Investment in Emerging Markets (Temasek)
December 4, 2023 | We Mean Business Coalition Business + Buildings Pavilion, Blue Zone, Dubai and Online
Temasek will be hosting several panel discussions at COP28 as part of the ongoing Ecosperity Conversation series. Emerging markets (EMs) are home to 80% of the world’s population, and financing their transition is a key piece to the world’s net zero future. However, while it is estimated that EMs will require $2 trillion annually by 2030 to achieve net zero by 2050, only one-fifth of what is required for this transition is planned. EM risks may deter investors, or deem cost of debt unaffordable for EMs, exacerbating the lack of financing.Â
In the Finance programme, we discuss innovative ways private sector capital can be crowded in to bridge the funding gap in EMs. What are some green shoot solutions that debt financing platforms have tapped on? How can concessionary capital be creatively deployed to de-risk private capital? From leveraging tailored financial instruments to fostering public-private partnerships in scaling decarbonization technologies, hear from our esteemed speakers as they outline a roadmap for unleashing the potential of the private sector in driving the green transition across diverse emerging markets—while ensuring that no communities are left behind.
Amit Bando, Ceres Chief Economist and Senior Advisor for Just and Inclusive Economics, joins the Finance programme from 08:30-09:30 GST.
Sustainable Innovation Forum 2023 (Climate Action)
December 4-5, 2023 | Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre, Climate Action Innovation Zone, Dubai and Online
Ceres is delighted to be a partner of the Climate Action Innovation Zone - an inclusive, free to attend, platform for cross-sector collaboration at COP28. From Monday December 4 through Friday December 8Â at the Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre, it will bring together thousands of leaders and practitioners from business, finance, cities, governments and civil society to drive climate action at speed and scale.
As a Climate Action Innovation Zone partner, Ceres joins the Sustainable Innovation Forum 2023, as it returns for its 15th annual edition during COP. The Sustainable Innovation Forum will bring together 1,000 global sustainability leaders across all sectors including business, government, cities, finance, and civil society to promote transformative innovation and tangible climate action to help us go further, faster together. Don’t miss out on this chance to make a real impact at COP28. Show your commitment to the global sustainability and climate agenda by joining us. With multiple networking opportunities, it is an ideal opportunity to connect with climate leaders, pioneers and practitioners at COP. Partners of Ceres get a 50% discount off registration.
Amit Bando, Ceres Chief Economist and Senior Advisor for Just and Inclusive Economics, joins the December 5, 15:30-16:10 GST panel: Financing climate action in the global south.
REGISTER: FREE SIF PASSÂ |Â REGISTER:Â FREE INNOVATION ZONEÂ PASSÂ
Accelerating and Scaling Up Investor Climate Action to Achieve the Paris Agreement’s Goals (The Investor Agenda)
December 5, 2023, 15:00-16:30 GST | SE Room 2 Blue Zone, Dubai, UAE
To achieve the Paris Agreement’s goals, investors are setting net zero targets, laying out Investor Climate Action Plans (ICAPs), and engaging with companies and governments. This event focuses on the policies and frameworks needed for investors to drive a just transition to a net zero economy.
Bertrand Millot, Head of Sustainability, CDPQ & Ceres Board Member, joined the speaker line-up for this official COP28 side event.
Business Leadership on Climate Innovation in the Food and Agriculture Sector (Ceres and We Mean Business)
December 5, 2023, 15:30-16:30 GST | Nature Positive Pavilion, Blue Zone, Dubai, UAE
As more companies publicly commit to reducing their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in line with a 1.5°C scenario, a key question remains: how will companies achieve these ambitious targets? In the food sector, the linchpin to this transition is addressing scope 3 emissions from companies’ supply chains. Globally, roughly 39% to 59% of emissions from the food sector come from agricultural activities, including methane emissions from livestock and rice production, nitrous oxide from fertilizer use on crop fields, and fossil fuel use for on-farm equipment.
Though these emissions are often considered hard-to-abate, many innovators are coming up with solutions to reduce agricultural emissions at the source. Join this session to learn how global food companies are helping accelerate innovation in the agricultural sector and the levers available to companies to incentivize the development and adoption of novel technologies. Anyone with a pass to Blue Zone can attend.
Meryl Richards, Ph.D., Program Director, Food and Forests, Ceres, leads this panel.
GET MORE INFOÂ |Â WATCH THE LIVESTREAMÂ
Sustainable Finance Forum 2023 (Climate Action)
December 6, 2023 | Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre, Climate Action Innovation Zone, Dubai and Online
Ceres is delighted to be a partner of the Climate Action Innovation Zone—an inclusive, free to attend platform for cross-sector collaboration at COP28. From Monday, December 4, through Friday, December 8, at the Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre, it will bring together thousands of leaders and practitioners from business, finance, cities, governments and civil society to drive climate action at speed and scale.
As a Climate Action Innovation Zone partner, Ceres joins the Sustainable Finance Forum 2023, hosted by Climate Action, the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) and UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI). The event will be one of the biggest finance sector events held alongside COP28. As a key platform for open dialogue with the finance sector, the event will provide 400 participants the opportunity to enhance collaboration, foster dialogue, promote clear standards, and drive sustainable practices across assets classes and portfolios.
REGISTER: FREE SFF PASSÂ |Â REGISTER:Â FREE INNOVATION ZONEÂ PASSÂ
Regional Approaches to Financing Just Transition (Ceres and Barclays)
December 6, 2023, 10:30-11:30 GST | Chez International Chamber of Commerce Pavillon, (B6, Building #76), Blue Zone, Dubai, UAE
This panel will explore the regional aspects of a just transition and tailor financial strategies to diverse geographical needs. Global banks must account for local nuances to ensure an equitable shift towards a sustainable economy and this panel hopes to understand what dialogues banks should engage in with clients concerning regional just transition aspects, including the influence of local communities on banks and their portfolio companies, and evaluate the just transition metrics financial institutions can utilize to incorporate regional considerations into their clean energy transition product and service offerings. RSVP is encouraged though anyone with a pass to Blue Zone can attend.
Amit Bando, Ceres Chief Economist and Senior Advisor for Just and Inclusive Economics, joined this event.
How Can Financial Institutions Ensure Just Transition Through Cleantech Financing and Green Jobs? (BCG, Ceres, and Barclays)
December 6, 2023, 16:30-18:30 GST | The Address Dubai Marina Hotel, Al Marsa Street, 66 Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE
During COP28, BCG, Ceres, and Barclays are bringing together banks, investors, and civil society organizations for the workshop and networking event followed by a networking reception. Cleantech and Just Transition are intertwined. Cleantech solutions address climate and sustainability challenges to move towards transition. Financial Institutions can gain from investing in cleantech and supporting a Just Transition simultaneously and ensure building a more sustainable and equitable future for all. Given how high the topic of Just Energy Transition is on this year’s COP agenda, the discussion is timely, and we want to bring together key stakeholders to discuss how to take actionable steps on this topic.
Amit Bando, Ceres Chief Economist and Senior Advisor for Just and Inclusive Economics, and Blair Bateson, Director, Ceres Company Network, both join this event.
World Climate Summit - The Investment COP 2023 (World Climate Foundation)
December 7-8, 2023 | Conrad, Dubai, UAE and Online
World Climate Summit – The Investment COP is the key platform accelerating climate action across sectors and is a leading C-level business and investment forum alongside the annual international climate negotiations. The 2023 edition of World Climate Summit will deliver key outcomes aligned with the Foundations’ impact framework for COP28. It will thus actively contribute to the UAE COP Presidency priority areas to foster a successful COP28 that keeps the world on track for a 1.5°C pathway. Returning for its 14th year, the Summit is an internationally recognized forum with close ties to the Foundations’ impact initiatives such as the Climate Investment Coalition, World Biodiversity Network and World Health Network.
Ben Tabor, Director, Ceres Investor Network, Policy, will moderate December 8, 10:30-11:45 GST panel: The Future of Investor Engagement - Stewardship to Drive Net-Zero.
REGISTER:Â WORLD CLIMATE SUMMIT
Agri-Food Systems Summit (Climate Action and UN Food and Agriculture Organization)
December 8, 2023 | Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre, Climate Action Innovation Zone, Dubai and Online
Ceres is delighted to be a partner of the Climate Action Innovation Zone - an inclusive, free to attend, platform for cross-sector collaboration at COP28. From Monday December 4 through Friday December 8Â at the Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre, it will bring together thousands of leaders and practitioners from business, finance, cities, governments and civil society to drive climate action at speed and scale.
As a Climate Action Innovation Zone partner, Ceres joins the Agri-Food Systems Summit, returning to COP28 in technical collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. Convening 400 global stakeholders from across the value chain, the Summit will identify key pathways and innovations transforming our Agri-Food Systems. With 50 world-class speakers and 30 partners, the full day of content will delve into how we can build holistic, sustainable food systems, use innovation to optimize input efficiency into our agricultural systems, connect the value chain and finance this transformation. Partners of Ceres get a 50% discount off registration.
Meryl Richards, Ph.D., Program Director, Food and Forests, Ceres, will join the 14:30–15:10 GST panel 4: Connecting the value chain: farm to fork.
REGISTER: FREE FOOD SUMMIT PASSÂ |Â REGISTER:Â FREE INNOVATION ZONE PASSÂ
Sustainable water management in agriculture (Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge of the Government of Spain)
December 10, 2023, 15:00-16:00 GST | Spain Pavilion, Blue Zone, Dubai and Online
Agriculture is a significant water user, and the sustainable management of this resource is vital. It impacts crop yields, ecosystem health, and global water security. This event underscores the importance of implementing sustainable water practices in agriculture to ensure long-term productivity, reduce environmental degradation, and support resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
Current trends highlight a growing focus on sustainable water management within the agricultural sector. There is an increasing recognition of the need to optimize water use, reduce waste, and protect water quality. The event explores these trends, emphasizing the evolution of water-efficient agricultural practices and innovative technologies designed to promote sustainability in water management.
“Sustainable Water Management in Agriculture” provides a platform for farmers, water experts, and policymakers to discuss and explore sustainable water practices in agriculture. It serves as a space for sharing insights into successful water management strategies, the challenges faced, and solutions for integrating sustainability into farming practices. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the significance of sustainable water management in agriculture and the importance of implementing these practices to enhance food security, protect ecosystems, and address climate change. This event is a crucial step toward promoting sustainable water practices in agriculture and fostering a more resilient and water-secure future.
Kirsten James, Senior Water Program Director, Ceres, will join this panel.
Bridging the investment gap: fetching financing sources (Water for Climate)
December 11, 2023, 10:45-12:30 GST | Water Pavilion, Blue Zone, Dubai
The objective of this workshop is to enhance the understanding of potential sources of financing for water solutions, identify required support and discuss the way forward to tap into these sources.
Kirsten James, Senior Water Program Director, Ceres, will join sub-session 2.