Forum debates ways of driving global sustainability landscape
Over 100 delegates attend inaugural World Sustainable Business Forum
Resilience, post-pandemic recovery, sustainability and creating positive change in the world. These were the main focus as around 100 business and government leaders; dignitaries and diplomats took part in the inaugural World Sustainable Business Forum (WSBF) at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai yesterday.
Top on the agenda during the exclusive closed-door
event organised by Gulf News and International Federation of Indo-Israel Chambers of Commerce (IFIICC) were futureproofing the health sector and enabling sustainable healthcare for all; the UAE’s circular economy and sustainability in the global energy sector; how buildings of the future are taking shape; as well as best practices, sustainability and innovation in Nordic countries; and where the travel industry is headed beyond the pandemic.
Dr Tariq Bin Hendi, Director-General of Abu Dhabi Investment Office, talked about how the UAE is driving investments and making progress towards a knowledge-based economy. “All of our policies and driving principles have been built around resilience and we make sure that everything we do – including public and private initiatives – are geared towards sustainability and building the future,” he said.
Committed to creating positive change in the world, around 100 business and government leaders as well as dignitaries and diplomats took part in the inaugural World Sustainable Business Forum (WSBF) at Atlantis, The Palm in Dubai yesterday.
The exclusive closed-door event — a joint initiative by Gulf News and International Federation of Indo-Israel Chambers of Commerce (IFIICC) — discussed issues that are shaping the national, regional and global sustainability landscape.
Top on the agenda were future-proofing the health sector and enabling sustainable health care for all; the UAE’s circular economy and sustainability in the global energy sector; how buildings of the future are taking shape; best practices, sustainability and innovation in Nordic countries, and where the travel industry is headed beyond the pandemic.
Building long-term resilience
Welcoming the participants, David George, Gulf News Publisher, said: “The foundations of our world have been shaken to the core by Covid-19. The pandemic has pushed us towards the worst recession in decades, with terrible consequences for the most vulnerable. Societies and citizens are reeling from widespread disruptions. Fiscal resources are plunging; biodiversity is disappearing and greenhouse gases [are] at record levels.”
Committed to sustainable development
Merzi Sodawaterwala, founder and chairman of IFIICC, added: “WSBF is committed to empowering the sustainable development of the world by mobilising the collaborative and collective action of all global stakeholders.”
He said sustainability is not a perceived threat or a new way of doing business in the future — it is the future. “Sustainability will influence the way governments act, industries function, businesses perform, people behave and will govern future investments. It is perhaps the greatest investment opportunity in modern history,” Sodawaterwala said.
Taking spotlight at WSBF was a discussion on future-proofing the health of nations through innovation and sustainable solutions. Speakers and subject experts talked about improving health care systems and services that improve people’s health.
Protecting the health of nations
Niyaz Mohamad, Head of Sales, Lower Gulf, Siemens Healthineers, one of the principal sponsors of WSBF, earlier commented: “The world around is changing rapidly, the population is growing, and ageing, we therefore have a pressing need to deploy efficient and effective solutions. These solutions need to increase availability, improve accessibility, and should be affordable to ensure the large populous truly benefits from it.”
Benefits of circular economy
Also discussed was the UAE’s circular economy. Madhumohan S, chief innovation officer for environment solutions at Dulsco, shared his insights on how the transition to a circular economy has enabled the UAE to unlock new economic opportunities.
He said circular economy is about “doing more and better with less.” The transition to a circular economy will result in multiple economic, environmental, and social benefits, such as increased disposable income through lower cost of products and services and higher productivity.
Safe and sustainable air travel
As airlines around the world are rethinking about their post-pandemic recovery strategies, Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of flydubai, said the UAE’s airline industry is showing signs of recovery, ahead of the world. “We are very proud of what we’ve done in the UAE — we’ve opened up our market as early as possible. The UAE … has helped the airline companies in the country,” he said.
Taking spotlight at WSBF was a discussion on futureproofing the health of nations through innovation and sustainable solutions. Speakers and subject experts talked about improving health care systems and services that improve people’s health.
Hydrogen and decarbonisation
Bernard Dagher, President & CEO, Grid Solutions at GE Renewable Energy (Middle East, Turkey & Africa), talked about sustainability in the energy sector next. He said hydrogen has a vital role in decarbonising the global economy. “The imperative for combating climate change is to curb emissions rapidly and if one cannot avoid the use of carbon-emitting energy, the next important steps are to reduce and capture carbon emission,” he said.
Nordic diplomats share best practices
At WSBF, best practices, sustainability and innovation in Nordic countries were discussed by Denmark Ambassador Franz-Michael Skjold Mellbin, Norway Ambassador Sten Arne Rosnes, Finland Chargé d’Affaires Marjaana Ettala, and Jan Thesleff, Commissioner General — Swedish Committee for Participation at Expo 2020 Dubai. According to the Global 100 Index in 2020 by Corporate Knights, the world’s most sustainable businesses are usually Nordic.