COP28 Launches Inaugural  Business, Philanthropy Climate Forum

By Ruth Tene Natsa, Abuja

For the first time at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP), the COP28 Presidency of the United Arab Emirates has launched the inaugural COP28 Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum, convening more than 1,000 CEOs and philanthropists from over 80 countries.

The Forum is being held alongside the World Climate Action Summit. Hosted by the COP28 Presidency and the Sustainable Markets Initiative, the Forum launched today with a high-level reception in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Majesty King Charles III.

The Forum represents a paradigm shift in the COP process. With its strengths in low-carbon solutions and innovation, delivery and global networks, the private sector has – and continues – to invest trillions of dollars into the transition.  With the objective of moving beyond commitments, the COP28 Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum will showcase global industry-by-industry delivery together with opportunities to accelerate, replicate, and scale, particularly in the Global South.

Private sector actors will join heads of state and government to focus on showcasing private sector progress and joint delivery.  

Dr. Sultan Al Jabar, COP28 President, said “For the first time at a UNFCCC COP, and in line with the vision of the UAE, the global private sector has a seat at the table on the first day of COP28.  No single party has all the solutions, and COP28 must bridge the trust gap between North and South, East, and West, and build a platform for action through partnership.  This is what the Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum represents.”

Badr Jafar, Chair of the Forum and COP28 Special Representative for Business and Philanthropy, said “There is no time to waste, and no need to wait. The Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum showcases over 20 major actions that CEOs and philanthropists can take now demonstrating accessible ways for private sector leaders to move beyond pledges and declarations and into action and implementation in ways that are suited to their capabilities and competencies.”

Jennifer Jordan-Saifi, CEO of the Sustainable Markets Initiative, said “Building on the vision of our founder, King Charles III, and the momentum of the Sustainable Markets Initiative’s CEO summits at COP26 and COP27, the COP28 Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum’s purpose statement amplifies calls from the private sector to be at the table for all future UNFCCC COPs.  It is time for a whole new model—one focused on real-world delivery and accelerated results.”

The Sustainable Markets Initiative is the Strategic Partner for the inaugural Forum. Other Forum delivery partners include the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Economic Forum (WEF), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Africa Finance Corporation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Inter-American Development Bank Group (IDB Invest), World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and XPRIZE.

Other organizations participating in the November 30 reception and also at the COP28 Business and Philanthropy Climate Forum include: UNFCCC, Food and Agriculture Organisation, International Telecommunication Union, World Health Organisation, International Civil Aviation Organisation, UN Office of Outer Space Affairs, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Caribbean Development Bank, African Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, International Monetary Fund, and World Trade Organisation.