The World Green Economy Summit 2024 wrapped its 10th edition in Dubai with significant outcomes on renewable energy, climate finance, and green cooperation — paving the way for COP29 in Azerbaijan later this year. The summit drew heads of government, ministers, and industry specialists united around the green economy agenda.
Summit Overview and Organisers
Hosted by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), under the patronage of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and in cooperation with the World Green Economy Organisation (WGEO), WGES 2024 tackled the most pressing topics in sustainability, climate change, and clean energy transition.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Chairman of WGEO, stressed that the UAE is an active member in the promotion of the global green economy. He expressed gratitude to UAE President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Dubai Ruler HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for their steadfast support for sustainability efforts.
Al Tayer highlighted the country's significant progress in achieving economic growth while remaining an active part of the global climate change solution.
UAE's Clean Energy Targets Reaffirmed
The UAE used WGES 2024 to restate its strategic objectives under the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which include:
- Tripling renewable power capacity by 2030 - Reaching 19.8 GW of clean energy capacity by 2030 - Scaling up hydrogen production as a core pillar of the UAE Net-Zero 2050 framework
Ministers and industry specialists joined panels on clean energy adoption, outlining how key sectors — including energy, infrastructure, and housing — are being shifted toward cleaner sources of power.
Bridging COP28 and COP29
A central theme of WGES 2024 was continuity: the summit formally reviewed the results of COP28, hosted by the UAE in Dubai in 2023, and defined the preparatory process for COP29, scheduled for Baku, Azerbaijan in November 2024.
This positions the World Green Economy Summit as a critical bridge between consecutive UN climate conferences, reinforcing global cooperation in implementing the Sustainable Development Goals.
Sectors in Focus
Sessions covered eight core themes including decarbonisation and net-zero goals, clean energy advancements, climate finance, circular economy, policy and regulatory frameworks, technology-driven climate solutions, youth participation, and food and water security.
The breadth of topics reflected the summit's mission: moving beyond pledges to actionable, cross-sector strategies that can be carried into COP29 negotiations.
