The World Economic Forum will convene in Dubai, United Arab Emirates for the 28th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC-COP28) to advance climate action, a release said Tuesday.
The forum to take place at the Expo City Dubai from Nov. 24 to Nov. 29, will host heads of state, ministers, business leaders, philanthropy, and civil society, added the release.
The focus of the forum at COP28 is to address priority action areas including industry decarbonization and net zero, energy transition, food, nature, and innovative finance.
“We have to take a holistic approach to address the environment crisis, with people at the heart of the agenda,” said Gim Huay Neo, Managing Director, World Economic Forum.
Neo said the approach should focus on “restoring and protecting nature ecosystems, strengthening community resilience in the face of water stresses and extreme temperatures, while stopping the pollution of our land, sea and water,”
“Fostering a sense of inter-dependence, mutual trust and support as well as active collaboration between governments, the private sector, philanthropy, civil society and communities is needed to build a more harmonious relationship among communities and with the planet,” he added.
Neo added that “COP28 is an opportunity for the World Economic Forum to provide a platform for multistakeholders to take stock on progress, enhance partnership efforts and explore new ideas and solutions together to safeguard our global commons.”
Discussions at COP 28 will build on outcomes from the Forum’s Sustainable Development Impact Meetings 2023, which reflected on progress made on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and created momentum in addressing the climate and nature crises and advancing an inclusive energy transition.
As part of the COP28 programme, the Forum will hold several sessions aligned to the meeting’s thematic areas. Most of the sessions will take place at the COP28 Blue Zone, which is accessible to UNFCCC-accredited media.