The forum will connect business and philanthropy with the COP28 action agenda, helping to enable a fast-tracked energy transition, fixing climate finance, focusing on people, lives and livelihoods with full inclusivity
The COP28 presidency will host the business & philanthropy climate forum (BPCF) on December 1 and 2, held concurrently with the world leaders world climate action summit. This CEO-level forum will mobilise global business leaders and philanthropists to progress action in line with the COP28 presidential action agenda and with a focus on the global south to advance cross-sectoral progress around net zero and nature positive goals.
The multi-stakeholder engagement strategy for climate and nature is driven by the UAE’s ambition to host an inclusive climate conference that marshals full and broad support with engagement from all regions of the world. The forum will converge business and philanthropy leaders, along with policy makers, to ensure co-creation, collaboration, and acceleration to unlock solutions and drive bolder results.
Prominent leaders from business and philanthropy will gather at the forum. The forum will address key climate priorities related to the COP28 action agenda, which includes fast-tracking a just and orderly energy transition, fixing climate finance, putting nature, lives and livelihoods at the heart of climate action and underpinning everything with full inclusivity.
COP28 president-designate Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said, “To disrupt business as usual and fix climate finance we need action from everyone. We are committed to underpinning everything at COP28 with full inclusivity and we want to bring together key stakeholders to work on collective solutions. That is why I am hosting the Business & Philanthropy Climate Forum to deliver concrete outcomes from the private and philanthropic sectors that can be presented at the highest levels of COP28. Businesses and philanthropists must play leading roles in meeting net zero pathways and delivering sustainable development and at COP28 they will have a platform to do so.”
The forum will be chaired by the COP28 special representative for business & philanthropy, Badr Jafar, a businessman and philanthropy advocate, who also serves on the COP28 advisory committee.
Badr Jafar said, “For far too long, the private sector has been an afterthought in the pursuit of our climate and nature global goals, which is why the COP28 action agenda will ensure business and philanthropy are embraced as critical partners. The Business & Philanthropy Climate Forum will provide this enabling platform for action, breaking down silos between sectors and connecting stakeholders from all regions of the world around game-changing outcomes underpinned by the COP28 action agenda. This is what is needed to deliver scalable solutions that can positively transform the lives of billions of people.”
The forum is set to engage over 500 CEOs and philanthropists for a 90-minute flagship session on December 1 in the COP28 blue zone. Held under the theme of ‘Synergising business and philanthropy: a new paradigm for climate & nature action’, this session will focus on how best to mobilise the experience and resources of the private sector to deliver meaningful action and unlock greater flows of private financing for the global south.
The forum will be held at the beginning of the two-week COP28 program that runs from 30 November to 12 December.