Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), the prominent global financial hub in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA) region, has unveiled its plans for the first edition of the Future Sustainability Forum. The Forum, scheduled for October 4th-5th, 2023, at the Ritz-Carlton DIFC, aims to mobilize sustainable finance and innovation by bringing together industry leaders, investors, tech disruptors, and policy makers. The event intends to facilitate investment flows between the global north and south to accelerate climate action.
As part of DIFC’s activities leading up to COP28, the Future Sustainability Forum underscores the center’s commitment to advancing COP28 priorities. DIFC’s chairmanship of the Dubai Sustainable Finance Working Group (DSFWG), established in 2019, aligns with its role in hosting the Forum.
The Future Sustainability Forum aligns with the Year of Sustainability in the UAE and reflects DIFC’s vision to foster coordinated global solutions that address the climate financing needs of emerging markets and developing economies. It also supports sustainable economic growth for Dubai, the UAE, and the wider region.
Arif Amiri, CEO of DIFC Authority, expressed enthusiasm for hosting the Forum and highlighted its significance in addressing environmental challenges. Amiri emphasized the center’s commitment to driving progress toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient future through collaboration and innovative financial solutions. DIFC aims to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and anticipates meaningful dialogue and actionable outcomes at the event and beyond.
The Future Sustainability Forum aims to mobilize key stakeholders, including the finance and insurance sectors, to accelerate net-zero goals. The platform will explore future sustainability and climate technologies crucial to the global net-zero agenda, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Paris Agreement.
The Forum is in line with DIFC’s 2030 Strategy to shape the future of finance and Dubai’s position as a global leader for Green and Sustainable Bonds and Sukuk. NASDAQ Dubai, representing a market size of over 110 billion USD, features more than 16% in sustainable bonds and sukuks.
The Forum’s agenda aligns with COP28’s four-pillar plan, encompassing fast-tracking the transition, fixing climate finance, focusing on adaptation, and ensuring inclusivity. The plan was announced by the COP28 President-Designate and Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology.
The UAE and Dubai governments have spearheaded comprehensive sustainability initiatives to pursue a net-zero future. Commitments like the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, the UAE Net Zero 2050 strategic initiative, and the UAE Vision 2070 emphasize renewable energy adoption, water conservation, waste management, and sustainable urban development. These strategic endeavors demonstrate the nation’s proactive approach to addressing environmental challenges and ensuring a sustainable future.
The Future Sustainability Forum will highlight the UAE’s sustainable practices, particularly within the financial ecosystem, bringing together global experts to connect, collaborate, and share insights to accelerate the global transition toward a low-carbon, climate-resilient future. Panel discussions and sessions will cover topics such as embedding ESG within organizations, designing the path to net-zero for companies, driving ESG-driven innovation, fostering sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems, and transforming capital to support the low-carbon transition.