Dubai is gearing up to host the 11th World Green Economy Summit on 1–2 October 2025 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, where green finance will sit at the forefront of global climate discussions. Under the theme 'Innovating for Impact: Accelerating the Future of the Green Economy', the summit will convene policymakers, investors, business leaders, academics and innovators to mobilise capital toward equitable, sustainable growth. Organised under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and spearheaded by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and the World Green Economy Organization, WGES aims to translate COP28’s UAE Consensus into operational climate strategies.

Leaders will underscore the necessity of green capital to ensure a fair transition for vulnerable communities. HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice‑Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and MD & CEO of DEWA, will highlight how the summit furthers global commitments under the Paris Agreement through investments in innovation, finance and data-driven research that benefit all humanity.

Addressing climate equity, participants from small island and developing states will bring critical perspectives. The Minister of Agriculture, Climate Change and Energy of the Seychelles will speak to the interwoven nature of development and environmental limits, while Madagascar’s Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development will emphasise that “the green transition must be just – or it will fail,” highlighting those who lose livelihoods to drought, flood and neglect.

Technological innovation and science will receive equal attention. Dr Tarifa Alzaabi, Director General of the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture, will point to science-based strategies that build resilient agriculture and water systems. Professor Nazia M Habib from the University of Cambridge will stress that a just green transition involves clarifying who gains, who bears the costs and how institutions are funded.

Industry thought‑leaders will offer solutions that span key sectors. Olaf van der Veen, CEO and co‑founder of Orbisk, will make the case that reducing food waste offers immediate, high‑impact mitigation through its effect on emissions and resource use. Angela Homsi, founder of Ignite Energy Access and Ignite Partners, will demonstrate that providing clean energy in underserved markets is not just ethical—it is economically compelling, with distributed renewable energy already outperforming in some of the toughest markets globally.

Focus will also turn to water and food security. Adri Pols, CEO of Desolenator, will frame climate-induced scarcity as a crisis demanding integrated responses—advocating renewable-powered desalination and circular systems to tackle pressures on agriculture and freshwater supplies.

Sessions will explore the disproportionate burden climate change places on the vulnerable, especially concerning health, food security and water access. Delegates will evaluate rapid, equitable solutions—ranging from AI-driven smart farming and agrivoltaics to advanced water management tools—all aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Water scarcity and health impacts of climate change will feature prominently. With one in three people lacking safe drinking water and over 2 billion facing water stress worldwide, WGES will examine scalable technologies to strengthen sustainable water systems and reach SDG 6. Equally, climate-related health threats that could reverse decades of progress will drive calls for inclusive and resilient health infrastructure.