UN Science-Policy-Business Forum
Calendar of Activities at COP27
Sharm el-Sheikh
7-17 November 2022
Events organised by UN-SPBF
UN SPBF HL Roundtable and Luncheon:
Empowering A Climate-Resilient Africa for the 21st Century
Articulating Vision and Opportunity
Policies. Technologies. Investment. Cooperation
Today African Leaders and Technology Giants at the COP27 Africa Pavilion
In partnership with the Government of Botswana
Held strategically on the day of the opening of the UN Conference of the Parties for the Climate Convention (COP 27), the event aims to:
- Reshape the conversation about climate diplomacy and empowerment in relation to Africa and the developing world.
- Reaffirm a renewed commitment towards Africa’s vision and leadership vis a vis adaptation and building resilience through technology empowerment, innovative financing and climate diplomacy.
Promote Africa as a hub for innovation, sustainable technologies and innovative financing by inviting top technology giants and investment institutions to share their vision and showcase the solutions capable of realizing Africa’s vision. Read More
Our Speakers
- H.E. Mokgweetsi E.K Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana
- H.E. Alar Karis, President of Estonia
- H.E Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe
- Akinwumi Adesina, President, African Development Bank
- Inger Andersen, Executive Director, UNEP
- Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary, UNCCD
- Eric Usher, Head UNEP Finance Initiative
- Marcel Ondele, Vice President, Development Bank of the Central African States
- Anthony Lea, President, International Copper Association
- Sebastien Riez, Cluster President Northeast Africa & Levant, Schneider Electric
- Mohamed Saad, Regional Leader, Signify NE-Africa
- Kate Brandt, Chief Sustainability Officer, Google
- Sheri Hinish, Global Head of Consulting, Sustainability Services, IBM
- Niklas Gustafsson, Senior Vice President & Head of Public Policy & Regulatory Affairs, Volvo Group
- Miroslav Polzer, CEO of International Association for the Advancement of Innovative Approaches to Global Challenges (IAAI)
SOLUTIONS DAY CLOSING LEADERSHIP DIALOGUE
Trailblazing Public-Private Action for a More Resilient World
This Dialogue will be followed by a Cocktail Reception hosted by H.E. Dr. Hala El Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Egypt
Co-organised by the Presidency of COP27
Bringing Solutions Day to a conclusion, a leadership dialogue entitled ‘Trailblazing Public-Private Action for a More Resilient World’, will attempt to answer the difficult questions:
HOW TO TRANSLATE INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS INTO REAL TRANSFORMATION?
In other words
- How to bridge the implementation gap between commitments and action with all hands (public-private-society) on deck?
- What are the technologies and integrated solutions that will takes us there, the policies that will empower, and the resources that will finance?
- And how to do all that in the most equitable and just way possible, leaving no one behind?
Our speakers
- H.E. Dr. Hala El Said, Minister of Planning and Economic Development, Arab Republic of Egypt
- Harry Verhaar, Vice President Global Public and Government Affairs, Signify
- Gwenaelle Avice-Huet, Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, Schneider Electric
- Jay Collins, Vice Chairman Banking, Capital Markets, Advisory, Citi Group
- Layla El Hares, Egypt Managing Director, Siemens Energy
- Alessandro Fracassetti, UNDP Resident Representative in Egypt
- Dr. Kareem Yusuf, General Manager, IBM Sustainability Software
- Shereen Zorba, Head of the Global Secretariat of the United Nations Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment
- She Haifeng, Vice President, LONGi
- Dr. Omnia El Omrani, COP27 Youth Envoy
- Yossi Matias, Vice President, Engineering & Research, Google
- Nicole Karimi, CEO, Antankara Group
- Adriano Martins Juras, Department of External Control-Agriculture and Environment Audit, Brazil
Our moderators
- Axel Threlfall, Editor at large, Reuters
SEE Foundation Side Event:
Climate Action and Sustainable Consumption
With the global trend of promoting sustainable development and consumers' increasing awareness of sustainability, sustainable consumption is bound to become a powerful driving force for the future development of China's consumer market and even its economy. At the same time, sustainable consumption is an integral part of achieving the "3060 goals" of carbon peak and carbon neutrality. The sustainability of a value chain, whether in production, design, products, or services, can not only provide and promote diverse solutions for sustainable living but also cultivate consumers' awareness on sustainable consumption and guide their behavior change.
The side event is co-hosted by SEE Foundation, CTeam, and China Corporate Climate Action. The event will invite representatives of enterprises implementing sustainable consumption practices, including the food industry, fashion industry, cosmetic industry, etc. to discuss how different industries can jointly promote sustainable consumption.
Event Contribution: Panelist, Shereen Zorba, Head of Secretariat of UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment
Sustainable Innovation Forum
Is business taking nature and biodiversity seriously?
We need business models that truly enrich and regenerate biodiversity on both land and marine ecosystems to enable and enhance climate adaptation and mitigation. Initiatives such as rewilding, ocean habitat restoration or community protection, alongside the integration of nature-based products and solutions will all contribute to going beyond net zero nature towards net positive.
- How will corporate decision-making take the true value of nature into account. Is net positive business possible?
- What role can nature-based solutions play in carbon markets?
- How do we protect and involve local communities?
Event Contribution: Panelist, Shereen Zorba, Head of Secretariat of UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment
Green Inclusive Carbon Neutrality Center Side Event:
Digital Carbon Neutrality and Carbon Emission Reduction on Consumption Side
We need business models that truly enrich and regenerate biodiversity on both land and marine ecosystems to enable and enhance climate adaptation and mitigation. Initiatives such as rewilding, ocean habitat restoration or community protection, alongside the integration of nature-based products and solutions will all contribute to going beyond net zero nature towards net positive.
With the vision of helping to achieve China's double carbon goal, the Carbon Inclusion Network takes the reduction of pollution and carbon emission as the main guideline, adheres to the value concept of "universal emission reduction and responsibility", is committed to gathering the strength of all sectors of society, establishing a sound green living standard system, combining mobile Internet, big data, blockchain, and other information technologies, and strives to promote carbon emission reduction for all people through digitalization, promote the green lifestyle of the whole society in an all-round and systematic way, promote green consumption, establish and improve the incentive and rebate mechanism for green living, promote the implementation of diversified carbon benefit mechanisms, and force the production methods and supply chains to realize the targets of green, intelligent and low carbon.
This side event is jointly organized by CGCI of All-China Environment Federation, Special Fund of Digital Carbon Neutrality of China Internet Development Foundation, International Academy for Carbon Neutrality, Green Inclusive Technology for Carbon Neutrality (Suzhou) Co., Ltd., and China Corporate Climate Action. The side event will invite governments, institutions, social organizations, enterprises, and universities to discuss how to form social cooperation to jointly promote the green low-carbon action of all people and carbon emission reduction on the consumption side; to publicize China's policies and actions to address climate change, and to show China's wisdom and tell China's story to the international community.
Event Contribution: Panelist, Shereen Zorba, Head of Secretariat of UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment
LONGi Side Event:
Green Finance and Chinese Industries Tackling Climate Change
It is of great significance to build a green financial system for realization of low-carbon transformation of the industries. The meeting will discuss how Chinese new energy companies and financial institutes practice in cooperation and contribution to global green transformation.
COP27 Presidency Side Event:
Friends of Greening National Investment Plans in Africa and Developing Countries”.
The initiative aims at signing a communique, pledging to voluntarily achieve the following targets:
- Increasing the share of green projects in their national investment plans to at least 30% by 2030.
- Establish and operationalize an internal system to monitor the allocation of public resources to climate sensitive projects, in a manner that facilitates the implementation of their NDCs.
- Establish a capacity building hub and knowledge sharing hub for members and organizations, to share the best practices and lessons learnt for greening their national budgets and investment plans.
- Advocate for the cause of shaping economic policies and greening national investment plans in every CoP, regional and global functions relating to climate change.
Event Contribution: Panelist, Shereen Zorba, Head of Secretariat of UN Science-Policy-Business Forum on the Environment