Skip to main content
Deloitte at COP28 UAE | 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference
Thursday, 30 November 2023 8:00 AM SST

In-person

30 Nov - 12 Dec.

08:00 SST

Deloitte at COP28 UAE | 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference

28 reasons to still connect with COP28 post the event? ­ You only need one: Together, we can create lasting change.

At Deloitte, we’re committed to bringing together global leaders and policymakers across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to further climate action. On the road to COP28, we helped drive the green transition and fostering resilience across these sectors to create a more sustainable, prosperous world. 

2023 was the “Year of Sustainability” in the United Arab Emirates, and Deloitte geared up and led key discussions to accelerate shared solutions that could help us collectively reach net zero and meet sustainability goals. 

Watch this space to learn about Deloitte’s COP28 presence in Dubai, for both in-person and virtual events, including conversations around:

  • Financing the green energy transition
  • Pathways to decarbonization
  • The future of regulations and policies
  • Generative AI (GenAI) solutions

Sustainability & Climate

By combining leading sustainability technology and proven business capabilities, Deloitte’s Sustainability & Climate solutions and services are built to help drive progress on moving from commitments to actions. Find out how we can help your organization create long-term value through sustainability. 

Learn about

COP28 affirmed a transition from fossil fuels. What’s next?

COP28 marked a clear indication of our intent to advance a more sustainable future. Deep dive into 5 key highlights worth noting, and what’s next for 2024.

Dowload Report
Deloitte program of events at COP28

From panels and roundtables to livestreams—all from Dubai, leaders across multiple sectors and special guests will provide insights around everything from financing the green energy transition, decarbonization, green tech, sustainability in business strategy, and other COP28 Presidency daily and cross-cutting themes.

Deloitte virtual sessions

Wednesday, 29 November 2023 | 11:00 – 11:30 a.m. EST (4:00 – 4:30 p.m. GMT)

COP28 marks the first time there will be an official Health Day at COP. As health gains traction as a central motivator for climate action, learn about the relationship between climate change and human health and the implications for health equity as Deloitte’s Dr. Elizabeth Baca sits down with sector leaders to discuss the business imperative for decarbonization and strategies for health care. 

Moderator: Dr. Elizabeth Baca, managing director, Deloitte Consulting LLP

Speakers: Dr. John Balbus, director, Office of Climate Change and Health Equity, US Department of Health and Human Services; Dr. Jeff Thompson, retired CEO, Gundersen Health System

Monday, 04 December 2023 | 11:00 - 11:35 a.m. EST (4:00 – 4:35 p.m. GMT)

This fireside chat will explore some of the key investment bottlenecks in the energy transition, with a focus on climate technologies and exploring potential solutions. 

This discussion will explore tools and innovations for increasing the bankability of green projects facilitating increased private capital flows towards energy transition. 

Moderator: Céline Bak, Partner, Risk Advisory, Deloitte Canada

Panelists: Bridget Fawcett, Global Head of Strategy and Co-Head Sustainability and Corporate Transitions Group Banking, Capital Markets and Advisory, Citi | Hoi Ying So, Co-Head and Global Portfolio Manager, Disruptive Technologies and Venture Capital, IFC

Tuesday, 05 December 2023 | 11:30 - 12:15 p.m. EST (4:30 - 5:30 p.m. GMT)

This panel will explore some of the key challenges hindering the integration of sustainability within business strategy and decision making, and how to overcome these hurdles and to help meet shifting expectations, achieve progress on the sustainability transformation journey, and enhance trust in sustainability information. Discussion points will explore the importance of trustworthy sustainability reporting; the role of global baseline standards in enhancing consistency, comparability and trust; how to address data challenges and inform better governance and decision-making; and how companies can live up to their sustainability responsibilities.

Moderator: Kristen Sullivan, Audit & Assurance Sustainability & Climate leader, Deloitte & Touche LLP

Panelists: Daniel Schmid, Chief Sustainability Officer, SAP | Tajinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General, IOSCO | Mardi McBrien, Chief of Strategic Affairs and Capacity Building at IFRS Foundation/ISSB | Wendy Miles KC, Barrister, Twenty Essex

Tuesday, 05 December 2023 | 7:00 - 7:45 a.m. EST (12:00 - 12:45 p.m. GMT)

With the interest in ESG investing at all-time high, institutional investors are shining a light on a previously sidelined indicator of environmental health: biodiversity. But despite an increasing number of funds and technologies being created, natural capital investment opportunities remain limited, and biodiversity should be taken into consideration by governments, companies, and the investment community. Research shows an awareness gap between what exactly should be done and how addressing risks and opportunities related to natural capital can drive contribution towards a sustainable future. 

Opening Remarks: Vimi Grewal-Carr, Chief Growth Officer, Deloitte Global

Moderator: Kimberly Johnston, CEO, NextGen Energy Partners 

Panelists: Kehkashan Basu, Founder and President, Green Hope Foundation | Tim Christophersen, VP Climate Action, Salesforce | Nicholas Hardman-Mountford, Head of Ocean and Natural Resources, Commonwealth Secretariat | Elisabeth Goos, Sustainability Services Leader EMEA & DACH, IBM | Fabien Laurier, Sustainability, Climate, & Equity Managing Director, Deloitte Consulting LLP

Wednesday, 06 December 2023 | 9:00 -10:00 a.m. EST (2:00 - 3:00 p.m. GMT)

This event will convene leaders, innovators and stakeholders across government, private sector, and civil society to share perspectives on some of the challenges, policy and regulatory landscape across regions, success factors, and the role and impact of innovative solutions currently being deployed. There will be a focus on key hard-to-abate sectors and the enabling role of hydrogen.

Opening Remarks: Vimi Grewal-Carr, Chief Growth Officer, Deloitte Global

Moderator: Stanley Porter, Global Energy, Resources & Industrials leader, Deloitte Global

Panelists: Arlene Strom, Chief Sustainability Officer, Suncor Energy | KR Sridhar, Founder and CEO, Bloom Energy | Peter Herweck, CEO, Schneider Electric | Juan Ignacio Rubiolo, Executive Vice President and President, Energy Infrastructure, AES

Wednesday, 06 December 2023 | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. EST (8:30 - 9:30 p.m. GMT)

Getting access to the necessary funding is critical to help kick off hydrogen at scale. The panel will discuss the available sources of funding: policy instruments, private capital - how to access, the contribution, among other topics of interest.

Moderators: Bernhard Lorentz, Founding Chair of the Deloitte Center for Sustainable Progress and Tarek Helmi, Global Hydrogen leader, Deloitte Netherlands.

Panelists: Daria Nochevnik, lead H2 negotiator for COP | Christine Falken-Großer, German government | May Jaramillo, Head of Americas, Sustainable and Impact Banking, Barclays

Friday, 08 December 2023 | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. EST (8:30 - 9:30 p.m. GMT)

This panel aims to engage a multistakeholder dialogue to explore some of the key investment bottlenecks in the energy transition, with a focus on developing economies. Discussion points will explore:

  • Tools and innovations for increasing bankability of green projects.
  • Innovative approaches to help the mobilization of capital flows towards energy transition.

Opening Remarks: Massamba Thioye, Project Executive, Global Innovation Hub, UNFCCC

Moderator: Bernhard Lorentz, Founding Chair of the Deloitte Center for Sustainable Progress

Panelists: Abdallah Al Dardari, Assistant Secretary-General, Assistant Administrator, and Regional Director, UNDP | Jennifer Sara, Global Director, Climate Change Group, World Bank Group | Jay Collins, Vice Chairman Banking, Citi | Lavinia Bauerochse, Global Head of ESG Corporate Bank, Deutsche Bank | Sanjeev Krishnan, Co-Founder, Managing Director, and Chief Information Officer, S2G Ventures | Jason Salgado, Founder of ClimateShare and United Nations  Youth Delegate

Wednesday, 13 December | 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. ET (4:00 - 4:45 p.m. GMT)

Join our panel of specialists from Deloitte and Google Cloud to hear how we are teaming to help tackle some of the challenges related to sustainability, climate, and equity. Our joint work, supported by specialist providers, centers on using geospatial technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to help solve some of these challenges. These technologies can help us collectively gain an understanding of the potential impact of human activities on the physical environment, thereby providing a tool to help combat climate change. The panel will reflect on #COP28 and share insights on some of the opportunities that geospatial technology and AI present for businesses, both commercially and in the pursuit of a sustainable, and more equitable future.

Moderator: Ed Shedd, Sustainability & Climate leader

Panelists: Justin Keeble, Managing Director of Global Sustainability, Google Cloud | Manuel Pinuela, Co-Founder & CEO, Cultivo | Vijay Sharma, Chief Commercial Officer, Sustainability and Climate, Deloitte Global |Hannah Routh, Sustainability and Climate Change partner, Deloitte UK

Friday, 15 December 2023 | 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. EST (2:00 - 3:00 p.m. GMT)

This webinar aims to engage a multistakeholder dialogue to explore the growing debate around the effectiveness of standard measures societal progress—most notably GDP—and whether it is fit for purpose for measuring and evaluating social progress during a just transition. Discussion points will explore the importance of using a just transition approach to help address climate change:

  • Why new complementary measurement standards can be key to helping ensure equity and social progress during a just transition 
  • How new tools, such as Social Progress Imperative’s Just Transition Score, can ensure better social and environmental outcomes 
  • How policies and leading practices are already contributing to successful just transition outcomes 

Moderator: Jacques Buith, Global Lead Partner for the United Nations, Deloitte.

Panelists: Mags Bird, Senior Policy Officer, Climate & Energy - Just Transition, World Wildlife Fund | Michael Green, CEO, Social Progress Imperative

Deloitte in-person events

Sunday, 3 December 2023 | 5:30-7:30 p.m. UTC+4 UAE Time

Location: Address Dubai Marina Hotel, Wane by Somiya Restaurant (4th floor), Al Marsa Street, 66, Dubai Marina, Dubai, UAE

As part of our IOE sponsorship, the reception provides a unique opportunity for high-level attendees of the COP28 forum to connect among business leaders and discuss the critical role of the private sector in achieving the goals of the COP 28 agenda.  

Please RSVP by emailing our COP28 mailbox. 

Monday, 04 December 2023 | 9:30 – 10:15 a.m. UTC+4 UAE Time

Location: Blue Zone - Rainforest Nations Conservation Alliance Pavilion, Mobility Petal B2-20

Adoption of the ISSB standards worldwide is needed to help achieve true harmonization and to avoid risk of a fragmented approach to regulation. Global baseline standards are in motion to help enhance the user confidence of sustainability reporting to achieve consistent, comparable, and reliable climate-related disclosure.  

Moderator: Kristen Sullivan, Audit & Assurance Sustainability & Climate leader, Deloitte & Touche LLP

Monday, 04 December 2023 | 12:00 – 12:35 p.m. UTC+4 UAE Time

Location: Green Zone - Technology & Innovation Hub

This fireside chat will explore some of the key investment bottlenecks in the energy transition, with a focus on climate technologies and exploring potential solutions. 

This discussion will explore tools and innovations for increasing the bankability of green projects facilitating increased private capital flows towards energy transition. 

Moderator: Céline Bak, partner, Risk Advisory, Deloitte Canada

Monday, 04 December 2023 | 1:30 – 2:15 p.m. UTC+4 UAE Time

Location: Blue Zone - Rainforest Nations Conservation Alliance Pavilion, Mobility Petal B2-20 

With the interest in ESG investing at all-time high, institutional investors are shining a light on a previously sidelined indicator of environmental health: biodiversity. But despite an increasing number of funds and technologies being created, natural capital investment opportunities remain limited, and biodiversity should be taken into consideration by governments, companies, and the investment community. Research shows an awareness gap between what exactly should be done and how addressing risks and opportunities related to natural capital can drive contribution towards a sustainable future.   

Panelists: Fabien Laurier, Sustainability, Climate, & Equity Managing Director, Deloitte Consulting LLP

Monday, 04 December 2023 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. UTC+4 UAE Time

Location: Blue Zone - International Organization of Employers Pavilion

This panel will explore some of the key challenges hindering the integration of sustainability within business strategy and decision making, and how to overcome these hurdles and to help meet shifting expectations, achieve progress on the sustainability transformation journey, and enhance trust in sustainability information. Discussion points will explore the importance of trustworthy sustainability reporting; the role of global baseline standards in enhancing consistency, comparability and trust; how to address data challenges and inform better governance and decision-making; and how companies can live up to their sustainability responsibilities.   

Moderator: Kristen Sullivan, Audit & Assurance Sustainability & Climate leader, Deloitte & Touche LLP

Tuesday, 05 December 2023 | 09:00 – 11:15 a.m. UTC+4 UAE Time

Location: Waldorf Astoria DIFC, New York Ballroom A, Dubai, UAE

The session will focus on the new era of sustainability reporting, along with conversation from a distinguished panel of finance and sustainability professionals on their perspectives on how sustainability reporting is evolving. 

Moderator: Kristen Sullivan, Audit & Assurance Sustainability & Climate leader, Deloitte & Touche LLP 

Tuesday, 05 December 2023 | 11:00 – 12:00 p.m. UTC+4 UAE Time

Location: Blue Zone - International Organization of Employers Pavilion

This panel brings together leaders at the forefront of driving jobs and skills transition in their sectors to reflect on progress, and the remaining challenges. They’ll be sharing their lessons on strategic and operational actions in place, and needed, across the energy system to ensure we leave no-one behind. 

Moderator: Laila Takeh, Deloitte Sustainability and Climate Strategy & Innovation, Deloitte UK  

Tuesday, 05 December 2023 | 3:30 – 4:15 p.m. UTC+4 UAE Time

Location: Blue Zone - Rainforest Nations Conservation Alliance Pavilion, Mobility Petal B2-20

Global regions and societies are experiencing the devastating effects of climate change costing lives and billions of dollars in damages. The public and private sectors are assessing their exposure to climate risks, formulating climate mitigation strategies, and mobilizing funding to help protect societies, economic vitality, and natural ecosystems. 

Speakers: Freedom-Kai Phillips, Director of Center for Sustainable Progress, Deloitte Global

Tuesday, 05 December 2023 | 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. UTC+4 UAE Time 

Location: Blue Zone - Resilience Hub Pavilion 

This event will convene leaders, innovators and stakeholders across government, private sector, and civil society to share perspectives on some of the challenges, policy and regulatory landscape across regions, success factors, and the role and impact of innovative solutions currently being deployed. There will be a focus on key hard-to-abate sectors and the enabling role of hydrogen.   

Opening Remarks: Vimi Grewal-Carr, Chief Growth Officer, Deloitte Global 

Moderator: Stanley Porter, Global Energy, Resources & Industrials leader, Deloitte Global

Tuesday, 5 December | 5:30-7:00 p.m. UTC+4 UAE Time

Location: Blue Zone - Resilience Hub Pavilion

We are delighted to invite you to a Deloitte Reception during COP28. Remarks will be at 6:00 pm. No RSVP is required. The reception follows the “Pathways to decarbonization” panel taking place 4:30-5:30 pm in the Resilience Hub. This event will convene leaders, innovators and stakeholders across government, private sector, and civil society to share perspectives on some of the challenges, policy and regulatory landscape across regions, success factors, and the role and impact of innovative solutions currently being deployed. There will be a focus on key hard-to-abate sectors and the enabling role of hydrogen.

Wednesday, 06 December 2023 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. UTC+4 UAE Time

Location: Blue Zone - International Organization of Employers Pavilion

Getting access to the necessary funding is critical to help kick off hydrogen at scale. The panel will discuss the available sources of funding: policy instruments, private capital - how to access, the contribution, among other topics of interest.  

Moderators: Bernhard Lorentz, Founding Chair of the Deloitte Center for Sustainable Progress and Tarek Helmi, Global Hydrogen leader, Deloitte Netherlands.

Wednesday, 06 December 2023 | 4:50 – 5:25 p.m. UTC+4 UAE Time

Location: Green Zone - Technology & Innovation Hub 

Heavy road transport accounts for 4% of global emissions and faces a range of challenges on its pathway to decarbonization. This fireside chat convenes industry leaders to help explore supply chain limitations, barriers to financing and lack of regulatory incentives impeding technology shifts. In this panel, we’ll discuss areas of opportunity to help advance new business models while supporting development of alternative technologies.  

Moderator: Bernhard Lorentz, Founding Chair of the Deloitte Center for Sustainable Progress

Wednesday, 06 December 2023 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. UTC+4 UAE Time

Location: Blue Zone - Rainforest Nations Conservation Alliance Pavilion, Mobility Petal B2-20

Shifting from net zero pledges to carbon neutrality operating models across the value chain of products and services requires comprehensive carbon measures. Understanding and quantifying Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions is paramount for governments and businesses to make informed decisions and help drive positive environmental impacts. Gain insights on leading sustainable supply chain management strategies across public and private sectors. 

Moderator: Ed Shedd, North and South Europe Sustainability & Climate leader, Deloitte NSE

Friday, 08 December 2023 | 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. UTC+4 UAE Time

Location: Blue Zone - UNCC-GIH Pavilion 

This panel aims to engage a multistakeholder dialogue to explore some of the key investment bottlenecks in the energy transition, with a focus on developing economies. Discussion points will explore 

  • Tools and innovations for increasing bankability of green projects 
  • Innovative approaches to help the mobilization of capital flows towards energy transition

Moderator: Bernhard Lorentz, Founding Chair of the Deloitte Center for Sustainable Progress

Deloitte’s committed to climate action from the inside out

Climate change poses one of the greatest threats to the natural environment and societies, and it’s our responsibility to collectively push for a transition to a net-zero economy that can benefit each person.

Learn about our WorldClimate strategy and how we’re working toward net zero by 2030, embedding sustainability into our organization, empowering individuals, and engaging ecosystems.

Explore WorldClimate

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)’s Global Stocktake makes it clear what we collectively should do to help meet the goals of the Paris Agreement and limit temperature rise to 1.5° C (2.7° F) by 2030. By working across ecosystems to take action, businesses are uniquely positioned to help facilitate speed and scale when it comes to decarbonization, preventing nature loss, harnessing technology, creating green jobs, embedding circularity into industry, transforming supply chains and advocating for consistent sustainability reporting standards.

Jen Steinmann, Deloitte Global Sustainability & Climate Leader

Get in touch

Jennifer Steinmann

Deloitte - Global
Jennifer is Deloitte’s Global Sustainability & Climate practice leader, providing cross-business leadership to make an impact that matters and drive critical changes around some of the most important challenges organizations face today and in the future. She is a member of Deloitte’s senior leadership team and for more than 25 years has held various leadership positions at Deloitte including Deloitte US Chief Talent Officer and Deloitte US Deputy CEO. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL) and the Deloitte Foundation. From 2015-2019, Jennifer was Deloitte’s US Chief Transformation Officer—leading Strategy, Innovation, and Technology. Jennifer teamed with Deloitte’s businesses to set the organization’s strategic direction, address strategic issues and opportunities facing the firm, and evaluate changes in the business and competitive environment. Most recently Jennifer was Deloitte Global Chief Commercial Officer for our Salesforce Alliance. Jennifer is passionate about diversity, inclusion and improving the communities in which we serve. She was the founding sponsor of several Deloitte programs that drive positive social impact such as Courageous Principals and the CORE Leadership Program. Jennifer also sits on the boards of the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco and the Lycée Français of San Francisco. She holds a BA from Colgate University and an MBA from the Columbia School of Business.
View Profile

Vimi Grewal-Carr

Deloitte - Global
Vimi also serves as the Global Advisory Partner for some of our largest global clients where she focuses on enhancing Deloitte’s relationship with the client’s Board and Executives, and connects Deloitte member firms globally to focus on the client’s priorities. Previously, Vimi has served as a UK Vice Chair, the Global Clients and Industries Leader, and the Global Clients Leader. She has also served as the Global Lead Partner for HSBC and the Managing Partner of Innovation in the UK. Vimi’s career with Deloitte spans more than 25 years. During this time, she has led the business through major change and transformation and served some of our most influential clients. Vimi has a record of success working with global client executives, shaping and driving corporate growth, and advising on corporate strategies, market disruption, best practices, and risk mitigation. Vimi is a passionate advocate for diversity issues. Outside of Deloitte, she is a founding member of the London Women's Forum and 30% Club, holds Trustee roles at the International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) and Design Council, and sits on the Board of the Teenage Cancer Trust. Vimi is based in London and is a mum to three teenage children.
View Profile

Mutasem Dajani

Deloitte - Global
Mutasem Dajani, the Chief Executive Officer of Deloitte & Touche Middle East and leads a team of over 7,000 professionals across 15 countries and is a member of the Deloitte North and South Europe Executive Committees. Mutasem has been with Deloitte since 2002, and before ascending to the CEO position, he led Deloitte’s Middle East Audit & Assurance practice and held the role of UAE Regional Managing Partner. Having been based in the Middle East since 1994, Mutasem has forged strong partnerships with both public and private sector groups across a breadth of industries. He has been a trusted advisor to numerous Boards and Executive management teams, providing strategic insights for a wide array of transactions, from acquisitions to divestitures. As CEO, Mutasem directs Deloitte’s strategy and operations in the Middle East and is focused on bringing the value of the whole firm to clients and the wider society in which Deloitte operates.
View Profile

Related COP articles

Financing the Green Energy Transition

How can we finance the green energy transition? Deloitte’s report explains that improved financing mechanisms could save US$50 trillion through 2050 as the world decarbonizes, reducing the annual investment needed by over 25%.

Find out more

Pathways to decarbonization series

Let’s navigate the path to decarbonization for these critical sectors, including ecosystem players, technology, and the potential of clean hydrogen and renewable energy in these concise yet comprehensive perspectives. 

Explore the series

GreenSpace Tech by Deloitte

GreenSpace Tech by Deloitte can offer a way to help navigate the rapidly changing climate tech landscape and identify opportunities for organizations to both decarbonize and create a sustainable competitive advantage.

Learn more

Green Hydrogen: Energizing the path to net zero

Deloitte Global’s new global outlook shows how green hydrogen can play a key role in helping to achieve net-zero targets by 2050. It can give the world a chance to meet our collective decarbonization goals and to help overcome existing limitations and challenges posed by fossil fuels and technologies that add to greenhouse gas emissions. 

Read the report

Recommended for you

Sustainability and Climate

Global business offering integrated sustainability consulting and climate change services that help our clients build a more sustainable future.
About Us

Can an inclusive COP28 help accelerate climate action?

COP28 marked a clear indication of our intent to advance a more sustainable future. Deep dive into 5 key highlights worth noting, and what’s next for 2024.

Deloitte’s engagement during UN General Assembly Week and Climate Week NYC events.

Deloitte at the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly Week (UNGA78), Climate Week New York City and the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Sustainable Development Impact Meetings
Events

WorldClimate

Mitigating the impacts of the climate crisis is a monumental task. But together, we can drive positive change. Progress is possible if we act collectively, and it is vital that we all take urgent and immediate action.