Action Track 3 Events: Seizing Transformation Opportunities
Date: Day 2 – 29 March; 9 – 10:30 am Dubai time
Title: Action Track 3 Seizing Transformation Opportunities
Session 1: Transformative Climate Action through Digitalization
Organizers: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Regional Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE)
Description:
The MENA region is already embracing the digital transformation. Many countries in the region are early adopters of cutting-edge digital technologies, with governments increasingly diversifying their economies. The public and private sectors have made significant gains in establishing a robust digital infrastructure that supports innovation and opens new economic possibilities. Yet there exists tremendous potential for radical climate action leveraging the digital transformation already underway in the region. Digital technologies could be a game changer for the climate action in the region, which is facing pressing challenges related to energy security, aging energy grids, adaptation and resilience, food and water security, and extreme heat. Digitalization has deep ramifications in various sectors, including energy, building and agriculture, and may have socio-economic and environmental impacts which require scrutiny.
In this session, stakeholders involved in the region across different sectors will provide insights about what digitalization for climate action can bring to the MENA region, and what can be done to help.
This session aims to:
- Highlight the main current challenges and opportunities for digitalization for climate action in the MENA region.
- Shed light on the systemic change digitalization can bring through increased resilience of communities and a more efficient low-carbon economy.
- Discuss the main socio-economic and environmental impacts of digitalization.
- Identify actions, policies and investments needed to speed up digitalization for climate action in the MENA region.
Speakers:
- Yasser Nassin, Minister of Environment, Lebanon
- Alessandro Modiano, Minister Plenipotentiary and Italy’s first Special Envoy for Climate Change (by video message)
- Jan-Willem Van de Ven, Head of International Climate Policy and Engagement, EBRD
- Helmut von Struve, CEO MENA Region, Siemens
- Bradley Todd Hiller, Lead Mitigation Specialist, IsDB
- Muhamad Abugaoud, Greater Madaba Municipality
- Vida Rozite, Energy Policy Analyst, International Energy Agency
- Norhan El Dallal, Egypt, Integrated Development Group
Moderator: Jauad El Kharraz, Executive Director, RCREEE
Date: Day 2 – 29 March; 10:30 am – 12:00 pm Dubai time
Title: Action Track 3 Seizing Transformation Opportunities
Session 2: Transformative Climate Action through Digitalization: Blockchain Technologies
Organizers: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), International Association for the Advancement of Innovative Approaches to Global Challenges (IAAI GloCha) and United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UN-ESCWA)
Description:
Some countries in the MENA region have been among early adopters of blockchain technology for use in the public and private sectors. The United Arab Emirates (UAE), which hosts MENA Climate Week 2022 is among the biggest and fastest growing blockchain ecosystems worldwide with an extraordinarily high uptake of blockchain solutions by the public sector. Despite broad awareness of blockchain’s potential, there is much potential in the region to explore the application of blockchain technology to climate solutions. In this session, policy makers and the private sector in the MENA region would benefit by learning the pioneering blockchain projects and networks within and beyond the region.
In the run up to COP27 and COP28, to be hosted in the MENA region, the session will serve as an important milestone to draw together blockchain stakeholders in the MENA region for shaping the common understanding of the technology’s potential for supporting countries with the Paris Agreement’s global goal.
This session aims to:
- Showcase existing efforts and opportunities on blockchain innovation for climate actions in the MENA region
- Distill lessons learnt about blockchain’s application to climate action for scaling up innovative climate solutions in the MENA region.
- Highlight the challenges and opportunities in the region for scaling up application of blockchain technologies for climate solutions.
Speakers:
- Sami Dimassi, Regional Director and Representative of the UN Environment Programme for West Asia
- Jane Thomasson, Frontier Technology Leader
- Marwan AI Zarouni, CEO, Dubai Blockchain Centre
- Ameera Al Haranki, Youth Climate Action Leader from UAE
- Miroslav Polzer, Executive Director, International Association for the Advancement of Innovative Approaches to Global Challenges (IAAI GloCha)
- Tia Kansara, CEO, Replenish Earth
- Neha Mehta, CEO and Founder of FemTech Partners
- Massamba Thioye, Project-Executive of Global Innovation Hub and Co-Chair of Climate Chain Coalition, UNFCCC Secretariat
- Kristina Corner, Editor-In-Chief, Cointelegraph
Moderator: Sean Ratka, Economic Affairs Officer, ESCWA
Date: Day 3 – 30 March; 14:00 – 15:30 pm Dubai time
Title: Action Track 3 Seizing Transformation Opportunities
Session 3: Beating the Rising Heat: Cool Solutions for Resilient Communities
Organizers: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), C40 Cities, Cool Coalition and Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction
Description:
Advancing the availability and accessibility of sustainable cooling solutions is a transformative opportunity for the MENA region to deliver increased resilience to climate risks, while avoiding rising emissions. Bold policies and action are needed by national and local governments to urgently adopt strategies to keep people cool without warming the planet. From district cooling in Dubai, passive buildings solutions in Egypt, ambitious policy regulation in Morocco, to urban forests in Riyadh, this session will feature solutions that are being implemented to beat the heat in the region.
Experts from cities, industry and country representatives will discuss what is needed to scale up implementation of best practices, to deliver increased resilience to extreme heat sustainably, for all.
This session aims to:
- Showcase what is needed to scale up implementation of best practices
- Mark the regional launch of Beating the Heat: A Sustainable Cooling Handbook for Cities, a new tool that provides actionable guidance for cities to organize action towards sustainable and equitable urban cooling
Speakers:
- Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for Egypt (TBC)
- Ahmad Bin Shafar, Chief Executive Officer, Empower
- Lahcen Amrouch, Mayor of Argana, Vice President of the Associations of Mayors of Morocco
- Abdullah Taibah, Senior Advisor to the CEO, Royal Commission for Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia
- Majida El Ouardirhi, Secretary General Secretary General of Housing and City Policy Department, Ministry for National Territory Planning, Land Planning, Housing and City Policy, Kingdom of Morocco
- Samira al Rais, Senior Director of Policy and Strategy, General Secretariat of the Executive Council of Dubai (TBC)
Moderator: Giorgia Rambelli, Coordinator, Climate Policy & Energy Governance, ICLEI
Date: Day 3 – 30 March; 16:00 – 17:30 pm Dubai time
Title: Action Track 3 Seizing Transformation Opportunities
Session 4: Unlocking the Potential of Transport and Mobility to Build Sustainable Cities
Organizers: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), SLOCAT Partnership, C40, and International Association for Public Transport and the International Union of Railways
Description:
Using public transport is one of the most effective actions that people can take to help stop the climate crisis. Rail will also be key to move towards more sustainable cities. Considering the low energy and CO2 intensities of rail transport, shifting passenger activity from more intensive modes such as private cars and airplanes to rail and public transport is a key strategy for net zero alignment.
Advancing the availability and accessibility of sustainable transport is a transformative opportunity to advance the realisation of global sustainability and climate frameworks - helping MENA countries achieve socio-economic ambitions, address environmental and planning challenges, as well as deliver on resilience to climate risks, and avoid rising emissions in the region.
This session aims to:
- Feature solutions being implemented, and lessons learnt to create sustainable transport solutions in the MENA region
- Illustrate the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the MENA region
- Discuss the necessities to scale up and accelerate action on sustainable transport that can be accessed by all
Speakers:
- Lea Ranadler, Project Manager & Advisor, REN21
- Dr. Ayman Smadi, UITP Director MENA Region
- Cezanne Maherali, Head of Policy Middle East and Africa, Uber
Moderator: Christopher Dekki, Director, Global Advocacy and Engagement at SLOCAT Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport
Date: Day 4 – 31 March; 09:00 – 10:30 am Dubai time
Title: Action Track 3 Seizing Transformation Opportunities
Session 5: Technology Options for a Sustainable and Just Energy Transition
Organizers: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), IRENA, UNFCCC, IEA, UN-ESCWA, and We Mean Business
Description:
The MENA region is diverse in many ways, but every country has potential to accelerate its respective energy transition, through increased renewable energy, energy efficient solutions, and related infrastructure. There are many technical options available to meet these goals now; it is important that the region focuses on implementing these options while innovating for future technologies, such as green hydrogen. The options are vast, but all can help meet the region’s heightened energy demand, while promoting economic growth and socio-economic benefits, while achieving decarbonisation objectives. However, when implementing these technologies, it is important that these transitions are centred around people, promoting a just and inclusive transition.
The MENA region has an opportunity to lead energy transitions by taking advantage of its renewable energy potential and necessity to increase energy efficiency solutions while building strong alliances with financing partners.
This session aims to:
- Explore how energy transition technologies, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, and related infrastructure, can accelerate the energy transition in the MENA region and decrease GHG and methane emissions, providing socio-economic benefits, such as jobs, increased GDP, energy access, energy security, equity and social inclusion, health, and well-being.
- Showcase the partnership opportunities to implement energy transition technologies in MENA region and beyond.
Speakers:
- Mariam Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, United Arab Emirates (by video message)
- Sawsan Bawaresh, Clean Energy and Climate Specialist, Jordan
- Lamia Ghazouani, International Cooperation, Director General for Electricity and Energy Transition, Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mines, Tunisia
- Antonio Di Cecca , COO, Tabreed
- Saïd Mouline, Director of the Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency (AMEE)
Moderator: Glenn Pearce-Oroz, Senior Director of International Relations and Special Projects, SEforALL
Date: Day 4 – 31 March; 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Dubai time
Title: Action Track 3 Seizing Transformation Opportunities
Session 6: Collaborations and Partnerships to Accelerate a Sustainable and Just Energy Transition
Organizers: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), IRENA, UNFCCC, IEA, UN-ESCWA, and We Mean Business
Description:
Energy transition collaborations and partnerships are important for all regions. The MENA region, although vastly different in needs, targets, and priorities, has similar potential and faces similar impacts from climate change to other regions, particularly in the Global South. South-South cooperation has promoted a large number of knowledge and expertise exchanges through programs, projects and initiatives that have helped solve specific problems in the countries of the Global South. Therefore, increased South-South cooperation could support the sharing of best practices and lessons learned in the region, helping countries in the MENA region further accelerate their energy transitions.
As energy transitions reach beyond energy and can support further transitions in other sectors, collaborations and partnerships in the MENA region can help to enhance synergies among these sectors while implementing commitments and pledges made during climate and energy events, such as the High-Level Dialogue on Energy (HLDE) and COP26.
This session aims to:
- Highlight the importance of increased collaboration and partnerships, including South-South cooperation, in supporting the implementation of energy commitments and pledges made at the HLDE and COP26, for example, in order to build momentum with concrete progress by COP27.
- Highlight the importance of viewing the energy transition in a holistic manner, enhancing synergies among other sectors.
- Identify key partnerships, measures and policy reforms that can be implemented at national and regional levels to ensure that the energy transition is just and inclusive.
Speakers:
- Taghrid Said El Ayouti, General Manager of Energy Efficiency and Climate Change, Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Egypt
- Ryme Assaad, President, Sustain the World
- Ahmed Samir Elbermbali, Managing Director, Clean Energy Business Council
- Bradley Hiller, IsDB Climate Change Team
- Johan van den Berg, Head of Secretariat, Africa-EU Energy Partnership
- Ralien Bekkers, Senior Country Engagement Specialist, NDC Partnership
Moderator: Radia Sedaoui, Chief of Energy Section, Climate Change and Natural Resource Sustainability Cluster, UN ESCWA
