The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) organized an expert panel discussion on Leveraging South-South Cooperation: De-Risking Climate Security, at the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP28), currently being held in Dubai.
COMSATS, an intergovernmental organization of 27 member countries, is an Observer organization of UNFCCC. Executive Director COMSATS, Ambassador Dr. M. Nafees Zakaria is participating @COP28.
The high profile panelists included Mr. Naguib Sawairis, Chairman- Orascom Telecomm giant and Orascom Investment Holding, a significant investor and friend of Pakistan; Prof. Dr. Ashraf Shaalan, Director, Center of Excellence for Climate Change Applied Research, NRC, Egypt; Prof. He Zhang, Deputy Director ICCES, IAP-CAS, China; Mr. Filip Novakovic, Sustainable Finance Specialist, United Nations Climate Advisor; and Dr. Saad Uakkas, Coordinator of the Children, and Youth Pavilion COP28.
Welcoming the guests, Dr. Zakaria, briefed the audience on COMSATS’ objectives and activities, particularly Climate Change related. He highlighted the risks of conflict over resources under stress due to climate change such as water.
He emphasised quantification of and compensation for damage to environment by the militaries and wars. Emphasising the importance of Climate Change and responsibilities of corporate sector to address challenges, Naguib Sawairis assured Ora Development’s commitment to catalysing the UAE’s progression towards their net-zero targets, through various sustainable and smart investments in the real-estate industry & finance technology sector.
He pledged that 5 billion dollars worth potential projects will play a pivotal role in ensuring the sustainability and energy efficiency of this massive development, which aligns with the UAE’s 2050 Strategy to reach net Zero and to reduce its carbon footprint.
