Region’s top sustainability experts meet with Schneider Electric to drive climate collaboration ahead of COP28

• Senior officials from French Embassy join global sustainability experts on the role of technology innovation and public private partnerships to accelerate climate action
• Leading global, regional and local businesses discuss sustainability commitments as UAE eyes net-zero emissions by 2050

Schneider Electric brought together executives, public officials and sustainability experts, representing more than 25 UAE-based and global businesses. The gathering is another milestone that further reiterates the importance of private sector engagement and a commitment to accelerate decarbonization and strengthen public-private collaboration ahead of COP28.

The evening gala took place this week in Dubai and welcomed a number of high-ranking officials focused on creating multi-stakeholder cooperation. Attendees included Jean-Baptiste Chauvel, Head of the Regional Economic Department for the Arabian Peninsula, from the Embassy of France, and senior officials and executives from the government and private sectors.

Following opening remarks by Gwenaelle Avice-Huet, Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Schneider Electric, who travelled to the UAE to participate in the high-level meeting, the attendees exchanged views on why a collaborative approach toward the climate crisis and energy security is crucial to the success of the global decarbonization effort. Attendees also stressed on the need for governments and companies to accelerate sustainability action and boost investment in green technologies.

Gwenaelle Avice-Huet said: “As the world faces the growing challenge of balancing carbon neutrality with immediate energy security, collaboration and cooperation is more important than ever. We need to work together to tackle these issues if we want to maintain business continuity and simultaneously step up the switch to clean-power generation. This is a big challenge. And it can only be achieved if we strengthen global multi-stakeholder partnerships and share more knowledge, technology and know-how with one another.”

Jean-Baptiste Chauvel, Head of the Regional Economic Department for the Arabian Peninsula, from the Embassy of France, said: “Engaging the private sector to accelerate the transition towards decarbonization as well as fostering and leveraging its innovation capacity to develop efficient and economically viable solutions are critical actions to achieve global and regional CO2 emissions reduction targets. Through collaborative initiatives such as this, the private sector assumes the role of a catalyst in the energy transition.”

Florence Bulte, Chief Sustainability Officer at Chalhoub Group, noted: “For over six decades, Chalhoub Group has been a partner and creator of luxury experiences in the Middle East, driving innovation and creativity while keeping sustainability at the forefront of our operations. Sustainability has been rooted in our history since the beginning. We are committed to building long-term partnerships to achieve our sustainability goals and make a positive impact on our people, partners and the planet, creating a better future for all. We were proud to join Schneider Electric’s event, to highlight our pathway to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.” 

Daxita Rajcoomar, Chief Sustainability Officer, Africa, Middle East and Asia, Engie, added: “We are committed to accelerating the global energy transition and are thankful for Schneider Electric’s efforts to bring key decision-makers together to review our collective progress on sustainability ahead of COP28. We look forward to working in collaboration with private sector companies to reduce and sequester greenhouse gas emission as we aim to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045.”

Sustainable development plan

With the first global stocktake, which will assess the world’s collective progress under the Paris Agreement, set to conclude at COP28, Schneider Electric’s event was a moment for companies and executives interested in global sustainability to discuss how they are stepping up climate action.

As a member of the Global Councils on SDGs, a network of experts and practitioners working to drive dialogue and action toward a better world, Schneider Electric is advancing public-private partnerships towards achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda in the UAE. All of the company’s sustainability commitments and initiatives are strategically aligned to the blueprint of the 17 SDGs.