The Global Green Economy Summit aims to solidify its role as a premier international forum to promote the shift toward a green economy and enhance ambitious climate action in line with the United Nations’ sustainable development goals.
A key factor in realizing this transition is the implementation of climate policies that stimulate sustainable development, direct investments, and ensure accountability.
This year’s summit is scheduled to take place under the theme “Impactful Innovation: Accelerating the Future of the Green Economy” on October 1-2, 2025, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
According to Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, “Thanks to the vision and guidance of our wise leadership, the Global Green Economy Summit continues to enhance the UAE’s role as a global model in leading the transformation to a low-carbon economy based on innovation and effective international partnerships.”
Climate policies and legislation serve as foundational pillars that ensure the sustainability of this transition while accelerating its pace, addressing global challenges, and boosting investment opportunities in promising technologies.
The summit has gained increasing global importance as a strategic platform for shaping visions and strategies, steering the green economy internationally, and driving climate action positively impacting communities and economies worldwide, thus reinforcing Dubai and the UAE’s position at the forefront of international efforts to build a more prosperous and sustainable future for current and future generations.
Foundation for Sustainable Transition
The summit’s focus on policies and legislation will explore the dynamic shifts in climate policies and the impact of diverse priorities such as energy security, industrial policies, and global competitiveness on decision-making, especially in major markets like the United States and the European Union.
Despite various challenges, there is a strong global commitment to transitioning to clean energy, as evidenced by a remarkable 11% growth in global investments in low-carbon energy transformation, reaching a record level of $2.1 trillion in 2024, primarily driven by electric transport, renewable energy, and electricity networks.
However, current investment levels only represent 37% of what is needed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, necessitating annual investments of $5.6 trillion from 2025 to 2030.
Investment analysis indicates disparities, with mature technologies attracting $1.93 trillion, while investments in emerging technologies like hydrogen and carbon capture were only $155 billion. This reality underscores the need for supportive policies aimed at addressing investment gaps and accelerating the maturity of promising technologies.
Discussions during the summit will also highlight the increasing expansion of global carbon markets and their direct impact on trade and industry. In 2024, global carbon pricing revenues hit a record $117 billion, while the total value of carbon compliance markets reached $1.169 trillion.
With 75 effective carbon pricing instruments now in place worldwide, these tools cover approximately 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This expansion opens new avenues for climate financing but also presents competitive challenges that necessitate supportive and adaptive mechanisms.
Najeeb Saab, Secretary-General of the Arab Forum for Environment and Development and a speaker at the Global Green Economy Summit 2025, stated, “Achieving carbon neutrality is critical to combating climate change, which significantly impacts the Arab region. Addressing climate change requires a radical shift away from fossil fuel extraction and consumption.”
Many leading oil-producing Arab nations have been diversifying their economies, including massive investments in renewable energy and enhancing energy efficiency while seeking to adopt technological innovations for cleaner fossil fuel use. Hosting the Global Green Economy Summit in Dubai exemplifies this genuine commitment.
The green economy is based on proper resource management that considers nature’s capacity for regeneration. While addressing the challenge of nature may provide a temporary reprieve, it does not resolve environmental issues or long-term climate challenges.
Naila Farouk, CEO of the Arab Supporting Institutions Forum and one of the speakers at the summit, asserted, “The climate crisis requires regional solutions. The Arab Supporting Institutions Forum is dedicated to mobilizing civil society, government, and private sector actors to develop a unified response focused on local realities and long-term sustainability.”
This enables charitable work in the Arab region to fulfill its responsibility to support innovative ideas and the most affected local communities, providing long-term solutions based on justice and care.
Sheikha Mohammed Sharif, an energy sector specialist at Masdar and one of the speakers at the summit, emphasized, “The future of climate conferences lies in adopting an outcome-focused mentality that goes beyond mere commitments. To advance global climate goals, we must ensure that climate action responds to social and economic realities, supports comprehensive transformations, and is rooted in international collaboration. Only then can we shift from commitment to impact.”
Engy Jaber, Managing Director of Climtaize and another speaker at the summit, noted, “Climate policies are no longer evolving in isolation but are shaped by the complex interplay of various priorities, from energy security to economic resilience and industrial growth.” She emphasized that while governments redefine their strategies, companies must remain agile and engaged to ensure compliance and lead in an increasingly interconnected environment where sustainability drives competitiveness.
Craig Preston, CEO of Ducis in collaboration with Sandhurst Trust Academy and a speaker at the summit, remarked, “The global shift to green energy calls for fundamental political, economic, technological, and cultural changes. We cannot achieve meaningful change without wise leadership, and we must explore successful leadership examples that have catalyzed change while learning from past mistakes to prepare ourselves as leaders for the success of our efforts to secure a fundamentally different future.”
Aditya Saraswat, Director of Research at Rystad Energy and a speaker at the summit, observed, “Despite the challenges faced by green hydrogen, it still holds significant potential under the right circumstances. Renewable energy and gas sources ensure stable power supplies, but green hydrogen and ammonia will only progress when policy support aligns with local demand and competitive imports. This alignment in sectors like steel, shipping, and aviation can transform early promises into tangible momentum. The recent green ammonia auction in India shows that progress is possible when policies, partnerships, and capabilities come together in support of ambition.”