The gathering next week in Davos of more than 2,700 business and policy leaders from 130 countries, including 52 heads of state and government, will serve as a springboard for the Cop28 climate summit being held in the UAE later this year, the World Economic Forum said on Tuesday.
The forum is also expected to sign a preliminary agreement with the UAE about the UN climate conference, which will be held at Expo City in Dubai.
“The climate and energy nexus is critical,” said forum president Borge Brende.
“There are more than 30 ministers in this field [expected to be in Davos] preparing [for] the Cop28 in UAE … we're also signing an MoU [memorandum of understanding] between the World Economic Forum and the UAE on preparations for this.
“[US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate] John Kerry will be there laying out the US strategy for climate and financing.”
The agreement with the UAE “will be critical in the sense that it's also underpinning the importance of the new technologies … for having a new breakthrough on how we produce energy and electricity globally”.
“After Cop26 and Cop27, we now need to make sure that developing countries and emerging economies can afford what is necessary when it comes to adaptation and mitigation strategies,” he added.
“So [we will be] working on both those topics [and] also with the incoming [Cop] presidency.”
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At the UAE Government Meeting in November 2022, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said the hosting of Cop28 will be the UAE's biggest event next year. Photos: Wam -
Cop28 will be the first time countries will assess the progress of the 2015 Paris climate accord to limit global warming. -
The global event, which will take place at Expo City Dubai, will welcome more than 140 heads of state and government and 80,000 participants. -
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Special Envoy for Climate Change and chairman of Masdar, gave a presentation at the meeting outlining what will be involved in hosting one of the largest global events of the year.
Gim Huay Neo, the forum's managing director, said the annual meeting would “connect leaders to understand, focus and act on the most critical environment issues facing the world”.
“One of the key conversations at [the] annual meeting will be around the business case for climate adaptation, which highlights how we will need to deal with immediate climate realities while mitigating emissions,” she said.
Key areas of focus include getting to net zero; building a nature-positive economy; regenerating food, water and ocean systems; circular use of resources and addressing waste and pollution.
“And this builds on progress at Cop27 in Sharm el Sheikh, [Cop15] in Montreal very recently and towards Cop28 in UAE,” she said.
Recognition of the Middle East and North Africa's growing role in global affairs will also be in evidence next week, officials said.
“We have record participation from the Middle East and North Africa — we have, in fact, six heads of states and governments [and] very strong delegations … This is also reflecting the importance of the Middle East in the energy transition, in the green transition,” said Mr Brende.
“We also know that Cop27 was in Egypt … and now it's moving to [UAE] … UAE will be hosting the next trade minister meeting MC13 that will take place there [in 2024].
“Also, the Middle East is always important when it comes to investments with the sovereign wealth funds that are investing all over the world and what they set as premises for their investments.”
Held between January 16-20, the forum’s theme this year is “Co-operation in a Fragmented World”.
It returns to its regular snowy January slot for the first time since 2020, after several Covid-19 pandemic-disrupted years.
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German chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The annual meeting of the World Economic Forum is taking place in Davos from May 22 until May 26, 2022. AP Photo -
The Mayor of Ukraine's capital Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, addresses a news conference at the media village of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in the alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland. Reuters -
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva, European Central Bank president Christine Lagarde and WTO director general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala join other dignitaries in Davos. EPA -
Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz address a plenary session. EPA -
It is the 51st annual WEF meeting to be held in Switzerland. EPA -
Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, the UAE’s Minister of State for Foreign Trade, is interviewed by Bloomberg on the closing day of the Swiss summit. Bloomberg -
European Commission Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, World Trade Organization President (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Flexport CEO Ryan Petersen take part at the panel discussion "Trade: Now what?" during the World Economic Forum 2022 (WEF) in the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland. Reuters -
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz leaves the stage after he addressed the assembly during the WEF annual meeting. AFP -
Malaysia's finance minister, Zafrul Abdul Aziz, during a panel session on the closing day of the event. Bloomberg -
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz addresses the Davos assembly. AFP -
Takeshi Niinami, chief executive of Suntory Holdings Ltd., during a Bloomberg television interview. Bloomberg -
World Trade Organisation Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala during the 51st annual event. EPA -
Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran. AP Photo -
Princess Haifa Al Saud, the Saudi assistant minister for tourism. AP Photo -
Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla. AP Photo -
Seth Berkley, chief executive of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. AP Photo -
Investor and philanthropist George Soros answers questions after giving a speech in Davos. AFP -
Bill Gates attends a session of the 51st annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos. AP -
Roshni Nadar Malhotra, chairwoman of HCL Technologies, during a panel session on day two of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. Bloomberg -
Bob Prince, co-chief investment officer at Bridgewater Associates LP, speaks during an interview at the event. Bloomberg -
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde waves as she attends the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. EPA -
Marc Benioff, billionaire and chief executive of Salesforce.com, speaks during a panel session. Bloomberg -
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and founder and executive chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab prepare to address the assembly in Davos. AFP -
US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry addresses a panel session during the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum. EPA -
Police stand guard on a roof near where the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum is taking place. AP -
Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, speaking at the Averting a Global Food Crisis session at Davos. Photo: World Economic Forum Flickr -
Jane Fraser, chief executive of Citi, at the Global Economic Outlook session at Davos. Photo: World Economic Forum -
IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva and governor of the Bank of France Francois Villeroy de Galhau attend a session at Davos. AFP -
Sadhguru poses for a photo with a guest at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Photo: World Economic Forum Flickr -
Gita Gopinath, economic counsellor and director of the research department at the International Monetary Fund, speaks during an interview with Reuters in the Alpine resort of Davos. Reuters -
A camera crew filming the World Economic Forum in Davos. Photo: World Economic Forum Flickr -
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al Thani addresses the assembly. AFP -
(L-R) Fifa president Gianni Infantino, former Brazilian footballer Ronaldo with the World Cup trophy and former footballer and coach Jill Ellis in Davos. AFP -
Wladimir Klitschko (L), Ukrainian former professional boxer and businessman, and his brother Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv and also a former professional boxer, address a WEF panel session. EPA -
Swiss Police officers on guard on a street during the WEF annual meeting in Davos. AFP -
Mark Carney, vice chairman and head of transition investing at Brookfield Asset Management, on the opening day of the World Economic Forum. Bloomberg -
Ignazio Cassis, President of the Swiss Confederation and federal councillor, welcomes John Kerry, US special presidential envoy for climate, in Davos. EPA -
A projection is displayed advertising the 51st annual meeting of the World Economic Forum n Davos. EPA -
Participants walk through the Davos Congress Centre, the venue of the annual meeting. AP -
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks by video at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Reuters -
Klaus Schwab, President and founder of the World Economic Forum, delivers his opening speech at the event in 2020. AP -
Swiss President Ignazio Cassis addresses delegates during the opening ceremony. Reuters -
Ukraine’s prosecutor general Iryna Venediktova speaks by video during the opening ceremony of the Russian Warcrimes House, a photographic exhibition documenting atrocities alleged to have been committed by Russian troops in Ukraine. The display was organised by The Victor Pinchuk Foundation. AFP -
Alok Sharma, president of Cop26, is interviewed by Bloomberg on the opening day of the forum. Bloomberg -
Kristalina Georgieva, chairwoman and managing director of the International Monetary Fund, is interviewed by Bloomberg Television. Bloomberg -
WEF director Saadia Zahidi is interviewed by Bloomberg Television. Bloomberg -
A Swiss police helicopter flies over the Alpine resort of Davos, Switzerland. Reuters -
The annual WEF meeting began on Sunday and will end on Thursday. AP -
German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck, right, with Swiss ministers Simonetta Sommaruga and Guy Parmelin after a meeting held on the sidelines of the summit. EPA -
Mr Habeck, Ms Sommaruga and Mr Parmelin discussed the impact of the war in Ukraine on energy supply. EPA -
Ukrainian MPs Yulia Klymenko, Yevheniya Kravchuk, Anastasia Radina, Alyona Shkrum and Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze attend a media reception. EPA -
Ms Shkrum and Ms Klympush-Tsintsadze have urged world leaders to step up sanctions against Russia. EPA -
Arifin Tasrif, Indonesia’s Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources, with Simonetta Sommaruga, the Swiss Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications Minister. EPA -
Google, which owns YouTube, is one of the businesses represented at the event. Reuters -
Facebook owner Meta Platforms is also Davos. Reuters -
The US software company Palantir Technologies has sent delegates to Davos. Reuters -
Participants gather at the 51st annual WEF meeting. EPA -
A robot on display in Davos. WEF delegates have gathered in person for the first time in two years. EPA -
The four-day meeting of political leaders, top executives and celebrities is expected to focus on the Ukraine conflict. Bloomberg -
A chef serves canapes during the WEF's welcome reception in Davos. Bloomberg
Those attending the event include Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and Kristalina Georgieva, the International Monetary Fund's managing director.
China is also sending a high-level delegation and Asian leaders including South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol and President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos will also attend.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will also visit Davos.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Oxfam's executive director Gabriela Bucher, World Trade Organisation director-general Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are also set to attend.
In addition to Mr Kerry, the US will be represented by Avril Haines, US director of National Intelligence; Secretary of Labour Martin Walsh; US Trade Representative Katherine Tai; and Samantha Power, administrator of the US Agency for International Development.
Celebrities will also make the trip, including actor Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina Dhowre Elba.
On Monday, the forum announced the couple would receive the 2023 Crystal Award for “their leadership in addressing food security, climate change and environmental conservation”.
The awards ceremony will be held in Davos on the eve of the annual meeting.
