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AE4RIA's Involvement in COP28

By SDSN Global Climate Hub

This press release highlights AE4RIA's involvement in multiple panel sessions at the upcoming 28th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP28) in Dubai, UAE, taking place from November 30 to December 12, 2023.

COP28 UAE will be a milestone moment when the world will take stock of its progress on the Paris Agreement. COP28 UAE serves as a crucial moment for global climate action, with a commitment to inclusivity, transparency, pragmatism, and tangible results to drive its ambitious agenda.

Explore more details on the official website.

Panel: "UN SDSN Global Climate Hub: Systemic Pathways to Sustainability, Climate Neutrality, and Resilience"

Date and Time: Friday, 1st December, 9:30 – 11:00 UAE time

UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub Pavilion, Blue Zone

This event will be livestreamed on the UNFCCC website and YouTube.

Session Description: The session presents sustainable pathways covering the energy, land-use and food sector utilizing up-to-date modelling solutions including insights from top experts in the field. A comprehensive approach to harness the synergies across Integrated Assessment Models is at the epicentre of the UN SDSN Global Climate Hub, the workings and output of which will also be discussed the session. The experts will analyze the trade-offs and complementarities underpinning economic and social policies using tangible results from Integrated Assessment Models and engage in fruitful dialogue towards leveraging results from distinct sectors of economic activity to develop science-driven human-centric pathways to sustainability which promote transformative solutions and foster just transitions.

Agenda:

  • María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Defense of Ecuador; Former President of the UN General Assembly, Executive Director, GWL Voices for Change and Inclusion (8 min.)
  • Jeffrey Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and University Professor at Columbia University - Welcoming- UN SDSN Climate Hub, results and way forward (8 min)
  • Phoebe Koundouri, Professor Athens University of Economics and Business & Technical University of Denmark, President EAERE, Chair SDSN Global Climate Hub, Co-chair SDSN Europe - Hub presentation, Session overview (8 min)
  • Christos Stylianides, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy of Greece (5 min) Pre-recorded VIDEO
  • Dogan Keles, Professor Technical University of Denmark, Head of Section, Energy Economics and Modelling (EEM)Sustainable energy systems for EU and the Balkans (8 min) online
  • Aline Mosnier, Scientific Director FABLE Consortium, UN SDSN: Sustainable Pathways for Food, Land-use and Energy Systems using the FABLE Calculator (8 min) online
  • Yannis Ioannidis, Professor at the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, President of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM): Climate Data Platforms and Digital Applications (8 min)
  • Ebun Akinsete, Senior Researcher, Sustainable Development Unit Athena Research and Innovation Center; Head of Unit, UN SDSN Global Climate Hub; Founding Partner, GEN Sustainable Solutions (8 min)
  • Yuen Yoong Leong, Director, Sustainability Studies, SDSN; Professor, Sunway University, Malaysia - The ASEAN Green Future project (8 min)
  • Philippe Tulkens, Head of Unit, climate and planetary boundaries, DG Research and Innovation at European Commission (8 min.) online

Wrap up and closing (10min)

Moderator: Professor Phoebe Koundouri

Saturday, December 2

Panel: "UN SDSN Global Climate Hub: Systemic Pathways to Sustainability, Climate Neutrality, and Resilience"

Date and Time: Saturday, 2nd December - time 2:30 – 3:30pm UAE

Greek Pavilion, Blue Zone

Watch the livestream at https://greeceincop.gr/

Session Description: The session will present sustainable pathways covering the energy, land-use and food sector utilizing up-to-date modelling solutions including insights from top experts in the field. A comprehensive approach to harness the synergies across Integrated Assessment Models is at the epicentre of the UN Global Climate Hub, the workings and output of which will be communicated in the session. The experts will analyse the trade-offs and complementarities underpinning economic and social policies using tangible results from Integrated Assessment Models and engage in fruitful dialogue towards leveraging results from distinct sectors of economic activity to develop science-driven human-centric pathways to sustainability which promote transformative solutions and foster just transitions.

Agenda:

  • Jeffrey Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and University Professor at Columbia University - Welcoming- UN SDSN Climate Hub, results and way forward
  • Phoebe Koundouri, Professor Athens University of Economics and Business & Technical University of Denmark, President EAERE, Chair SDSN Global Climate Hub, Co-chair SDSN Europe - Hub presentation, Session overview
  • Dogan Keles, Professor Technical University of Denmark, Head of Section, Energy Economics and Modelling (EEM)Sustainable energy systems for EU and the Balkans online
  • Aline Mosnier, Scientific Director FABLE Consortium, UN SDSN: Sustainable Pathways for Food, Land-use and Energy Systems using the FABLE Calculator online
  • Yannis Ioannidis, Professor at the Department of Informatics and Telecommunications of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, President of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM): Climate Data Platforms and Digital Applications (8 min)
  • Ebun Akinsete, Senior Researcher, Sustainable Development Unit Athena Research and Innovation Center; Head of Unit, UN SDSN Global Climate Hub; Founding Partner, GEN Sustainable Solutions (8 min)
  • Yuen Yoong Leong, Director, Sustainability Studies, SDSN; Professor, Sunway University, Malaysia - The ASEAN Green Future project (8 min)

Panel: “Green digital skills, digitalization and AI for climate action”

Date and Time: Saturday, 2nd December - time 18:00 - 19:30pm UAE time

Greek Pavilion, Blue Zone

Watch the livestream at https://greeceincop.gr/

Session Description: With climate change and the energy transition on top of global agendas, the EU is set to lead the race on carbon neutrality, while addressing industrial challenges. Public opinion wants COP28 to deliver on global promises. This roundtable discussion will analyse the white paper on Green Digital Skills that to be officially released at COP28 and measure the taxonomy and recommendations against existing initiatives and programs to reduce the skill gaps. It will discuss the great potential that lies in the effort to develop green and digital skills. The session also examines the promise of digital technologies at the global level and as enablers of developing country climate action by presenting the UNFCCC’s work on digitalisation, including the Technology Mechanism’s major new initiative on AI for Climate Action and collaboration with financial entities.

Agenda:

Panel 1: (30 minutes)

  • Phoebe Koundouri, Athens University of Economics and Business & Technical University of Denmark, President EAERE, Chair SDSN Global Climate Hub, Co–chair SDSN Europe
  • Ketan Patel, Co-founder and CEO of Greater Pacific Capital
  • Giorgia Epicoco, Senior EU Public Affairs Manager Huawei
  • Dimitris Sakipis, Director ESG, Sustainability and Climate Change Services, PwC Greece online
  • Conrad Landis, Post-Doc Researcher at the Research Laboratory on Socio-Economic and Environmental Sustainability (RESEES)

Moderator: Phoebe Koundouri

Panel 2: (30 minutes)

  • Erwin Rose, Chair, Advisory Board, Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN) (TBC)
  • Ariesta Ningrum, Manager, Technology Subdivision, UNFCCC (TBC)
  • Bill Wright, Chair, Enterprise Neurosystem (TBC)
  • Alyssa Gomes, Adaptation Fund (TBC)

Moderator: Sigrid Persson, CTCN Advisory Board member and EU negotiator (TBC)

Summary: Prof. Stephen Minas, Technology Executive Committee member (5 minutes)

Sunday, December 3

Side event “Ensuring access to essential services to all for a just transition”

Date and time: Sunday, 3 December 2023, UAE local time

Just Transition Pavilion co-operated by ILO and the Commission - DG EMPL

This event will be livestreamed on the International Labour Organization Website

Session Description: COP28 marks a critical moment of intensifying a triple planetary crisis, which is interlinked and cascading effects of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. In the context of the negotiations of the Just Transition Work Programme, this high-level opening event of the Just Transition Pavilion (financed by ILO and the Commission - DG EMPL) will highlight the lessons learned from governments, workers and employers who have helped advance the work towards a just transition that leaves nobody behind within countries, while considering the different just transition pathways of countries.

Agenda

Moderator: Francesca Rosso - Human Capital Development Expert - Coordinator for Skills Demand Analysis, European Training Foundation

Panellists:

  • Dr. Menghestab Haile, Regional Director for South-Africa, UN World Food Programme (tbc) - Access to food, water and alternative livelihoods,
  • Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business & Technical University of Denmark, President, EAERE, Chair, SDSN Global Climate Hub, Co-chair, SDSN Europe
  • Mr Stefano Signore (tbc), DG INTPA, European Commission (setting the scene)

Panel: “Accelerating Green Innovation”

Date and Time: Sunday, 3rd December, 13:00 – 14:00 UAE time

UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub Pavilion, Blue Zone

This event will be livestreamed on the UNFCCC website and YouTube

Session Description: In line with the objectives of the UGIH, this session will focus on leveraging innovation to drive practical action towards the implementation of the SDGs and the attainment of global CO2 reduction targets. The session will see the launch of a white paper that defines a new set of skills to achieve the Twin Transition: Green Digital Skills and present the different accelerator frameworks, and how their work supports innovation across different scales and different regions within the EU and globally. Presentations will showcase findings from the white paper developed in collaboration between AE4RIA, PwC, and Huawei, as well as 3 different accelerators that focus on various aspects of the Green Transition, namely: MENA Maritime ClimAccelerator (Green Shipping); BRIGAID Connect (Climate Change Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation); and The Black Sea Accelerator (Sustainable Blue Economy). Presentations will cover case studies that demonstrate how the work of these structures supports innovators and their innovations from incubation to market.

KEYNOTE SPEECHES

  • EU Keynote: Accelerating Green Innovation through International Cooperation (5 min) by Barbara Botos, Ambassador at Large for Climate, Hungary
  • Huawei keynote: Accelerating Green Innovation through Education (5 min) by Vicky Zhang, Vice President of Corporate Communications, Chief of Editoral Department

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

  • Phoebe Koundouri, Professor Athens University of Economics and Business & Technical University of Denmark, President EAERE, Chair SDSN Global Climate Hub, Co-chair SDSN Europe – Presenting the findings of the white paper and welcoming the AE4RIA Accelerators for a blue-green transition - MENA BRIGAID Black Sea Accelerator (15 min)

PANEL DISCUSSION

Moderator: Giorgia Epicoco, Senior EU Public Affairs Manager Huawei (2 min) – Introduction

  • Garry Jacobs, President & CEO, World Academy of Art & Science - Human Security for All (HS4A)
  • Christos S. Zerefos, Secretary General of the Academy of Athens; Head, Research Center for Atmospheric Physics & Climatology, Professor Emeritus Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment University of Athens - Climate Change effects on Cultural Heritage project
  • Yogesh Kochhar, President of the Board - YOL HAPPINESS FOUNDATION
  • Arvea Marieni, Technical Director, Regenerative Society Foundation and Strategy and Innovation Advisor and Manager specializing in EU-China environmental cooperation
  • Cecil Haverkamp, Director, FELD programme at the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

CLOSING (5 min)

  • Huawei closing – Accelerating Green Innovation through Digitalization (5 min) by Dr. Cao Hui, Vice President for European Affairs, Huawe

Panel: “Innovation in Climate Action”

Date and Time: Sunday, 3rd December, 16:30 – 18:30 UAE time

Arizona State University Pavilion, Blue Zone

This event will be livestreamed on YouTube

A discussion with the World Academy of Arts and Sciences to address global social challenges. Speakers include:

  • Ketan Patel CEO and Founder, Force for Good
  • Andrea ‘Andy’ Blair Co-Founder and Director of Business and Innovation, Upflow
  • Phoebe Koundouri Professor at Athens University of Economics and Business & Technical University of Denmark, President of European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists (EAERE), Chair of SDSN Global Climate Hub, Co-chair of SDSN Europe
  • Chantaline Carpentier Global Climate Lead UN Conference on Trade and Development

Moderator: Amanda Ellis Senior Director, Global Partnerships and Networks, ASU Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory

Monday, December 4

“Panel: SDG Stimulus: Financing the Sustainability Transition across the world”

Date and Time: Monday, 4th December, 3:00 – 4:00 pm UAE local time

UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub Pavilion, Blue Zone

This event will be livestreamed on the UNFCCC website and YouTube

Session Description: The transformation to sustainable societies and economies, cannot be accelerated unless financing gaps are identified and financing pathways to support the transition and the joint implementation of the agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the regional and local policies, are also identified and implemented. This high-level session discusses the introduction of several frameworks and the mainstreaming of the SDGs.

Agenda:

Keynote Speeches: (15 min)

  • Jeffrey Sachs, President of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and University Professor at Columbia University - Welcoming: Climate Change, SDGs and health in the XXXXX Region (10 min)
  • Phoebe Koundouri, Professor Athens University of Economics and Business & Technical University of Denmark, President EAERE, Chair SDSN Global Climate Hub, Co-chair SDSN Europe - Welcoming: Climate Change, ESGS, SDGs and Quantification and Acceleration (5 min)

Panel: Financing the Transformations for the Joint Implementation of Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the European Green Deal – (40min)

  • Brian O'Callaghan, Lead Researcher and Project Manager at the Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment
  • Wing Thye Woo, SDSN Vice President for Asia, Professor of Economics at the University of California in Davis online
  • Dimitris Sakipis, Director ESG, Sustainability and Climate Change Services, PwC Greece
  • Mahmoud Mohieldin, Cairo University, Egypt and Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - United Nations
  • Ketan Patel, Co-founder and CEO of Greater Pacific Capital
  • Markus Müller, Managing Director, Chief Investment Officer ESG & Global Head of Chief Investment Office Deutsche Bank

Moderator Phoebe Koundouri

Panel: "2023: A year to remember"

Date and time: Monday, 4 December 2023, 19:00 – 20:30 UAE

Greek Pavilion, Blue Zone

Watch the livestream at https://greeceincop.gr/

Session Description: The summer 2023 was, by all means, one of the most disturbed and hotter summers climatologically speaking, in the Mediterranean. Unprecedented intensive heatwaves, forest fires (e.g. in Rhodes, the Dadia National Forest Park and elsewhere) as well as a catastrophic omega blocking disturbance have caused deaths, floods and great economic disasters in Greece and Libya. Only the damage of the agricultural area in Thessaly it is tentatively estimated to exceed 3 billion euros. Damaged areas have been assigned a high risk ranking in a recent study on UNESCO’s 240 sites of cultural and natural importance, published from the Academy of Athens. The study has identified a number of endangered regions in the Mediterranean from manmade climate change with examples such as the historic monastery of Hosios Loukas in Boeotia (central Greece), Rhodes and the area of Dadia. The event is supporting the goal of resilience strengthening through knowledge, education, and continuous monitoring of endangered regions from manmade climate change in the Mediterranean area.

Agenda:

•Welcome Theodoros Skylakakis, Minister of Environment and Energy of Greece (10’)

•“LIFE Adapt: An overview and results” Petros Varelidis, General Secretary of Natural Environment and Water, Ministry of Environment and Energy of Greece (10’)

•“A brief overview of the 2023 phenomenal year in the Mediterranean and elsewhere” Christos Zerefos, Secretary General, Academy of Athens; Climate Envoy for Greece (10’)

•“The MedEWSa project as an example to deliver solutions for the Mediterranean and Pan-European area focusing on current and emerging extreme event hotspots, vulnerable areas, and at risk communities” Juerg Luterbacher, Director of Science and Innovation, WMO (10’)

•“The challenges facing climate services” Guy Brasseur, Head of the Environmental Modeling Group Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (10’)

•“A brief presentation of the Aquila report” Juergen Kropp, Deputy Chair, Department of Climate Resilience at PIK (10’)

•“On the cost of extreme events in hotspots” Phoebe Koundouri, Professor, Athens University of Economics and Business & Technical University of Denmark; President EAERE; Chair SDSN Global Climate Hub: Co-chair SDSN Europe (10’)

•“The Greek Initiative at UN level: Addressing climate change impacts on cultural and natural heritage” George Kremlis, Chair of the Flexible Mechanism of the Greek Initiative at UN level (10’)

•Wrap up and Closing Remarks Christos Zerefos, Secretary General, Academy of Athens; Climate Envoy for Greece (5’)

Tuesday, December 5

Talent and Green Summit

Date and time: 9:30-12:00, December 5, 2023

University of Dubai

Panel Discussion:

Topic 1: “Digital Skills for Sustainability”

Topic 2: “Real World Solutions, the Green Transformation to Achieve Sustainability

Panelists

Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, Athens University of Economics and Business & Technical University of Denmark, President EAERE, Chair SDSN Global Climate Hub, Co–chair SDSN Europe

Prof. Wathiq Mansoor, Dean of College of Engineering and IT, University of Dubai

Safder Nazir, Senior Vice President, Public Sector at Huawei Middle East and Central Asia

Hisham Barakat, Computer Science Student at Peking University, Third Price Winner of 2019-2020 Huawei ICT Competition Global Final

Moderator: Ammar Tobba, VP, Public Affairs & Communications, Huawei Middle East & Central Asia.

Panel: “Just Transition in Practice – How to tackle multigenerational challenges within one decade to leave no person and place behind?”

Date and time: Tuesday, 5 December 2023, 16:30 UAE local time

Just Transition Pavilion co-operated by the EC and the ILO

This event will be livestreamed on the International Labour Organization Website

Session Description: The high-level panel explores the interconnectedness of decarbonization, climate resilience, youth employment, and gender equality in the global green transition. Climate disasters highlight the urgency for resilience efforts and employment opportunities through education, guided by a human centred approach. Decarbonization shapes occupational profiles, offering new opportunities, particularly for educated youth, contributing to gender parity in some sectors. COP28's Global Stocktake urges a holistic view, placing people at the center of climate action and shielding new generations from adverse effects.

The panel brings together human rights activists, EU decision makers, field practitioners to explore challenges and opportunities of the transition globally with an emphasis on the global south and the EU, with a focus on human rights, climate resilience, youth, gender and employment.

Agenda:

Moderator & introduction: Romain Boitard, European Training Foundation, Head of the Green Skills Team

Speakers

  • Ms Barbara Kauffmann, Director, European Commission, DG Employment Social Affairs and Inclusion, Directorate “Employment and Social Governance, Analysis
  • Mr Saji Thomas, UNICEF, Chief, Regional Adviser for Child Protection
  • Prof. Phoebe Koundouri, Professor Athens University of Economics and Business & Technical University of Denmark, President EAERE, Chair SDSN Global Climate Hub, Co-chair SDSN Europe
  • Dr. David R. Boyd, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights and Environment,
  • Mr Simon Schmid, Partner, Skillab

Sunday, December 10

EAERE-UBocconi-UCLG side event: "Innovative Instruments for Joint Biodiversity and Climate Policy"

Date and Time: Sunday, December 10, 2023 18:30-20:00 (GMT+4) | 15:30-17:00 CET Time) - SE Room 4.

Register to watch online or to confirm your presence at the venue, using the Registration Form

Session Description: Climate change and biodiversity agreements are strictly interconnected. Innovative economic and financial instruments can enhance biodiversity, increase resilience and reduce CO2 emissions. The event aims to assess the potential of joint climate and biodiversity policies at different territorial scales.

Speakers:

  • Simone BORGHESI, EAERE President-Elect, Director FSR Climate, EUI and University of Siena
  • Edoardo CROCI, Professor of Practice and Director of Sustainable Urban Regeneration Lab, Bocconi University
  • Sylvie GOULARD, President of the Institute for European policy making, Bocconi University and Co-chair of the International Advisory Panel on Biodiversity Credits
  • Andreas KONTOLEON, Professor of Environmental Economics and Public Policy, University of Cambridge
  • Alina KOSCHMIEDER, Climate change and environmental consultant UN-Habitat
  • Phoebe KOUNDOURI, President - European Association of Environmental Resource Economists, Chair - World Council of Environmental Resource Economists Associations, Chair - UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network Global Climate Hub, Professor - Athens University of Economics and Business, Professor - Technical University of Denmark
  • Eva MAYERHOFER, Head of Environmental Policy and Lead Biodiversity Specialist, European Investment Bank
  • Massamba THIOYE, Project Executive UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub

CHAIRPERSONS

  • Jos DELBEKE, EIB Climate Chair, School of Transnational Governance, European University Institute
  • Benedetta LUCCHITTA, Research fellow Sustainable Urban Regeneration Lab, Bocconi University