A philanthropist and published author, Sheikha Shamma has notably founded multiple organisations for the sustainability agenda in the Middle East. She has developed national climate action strategies, building a circular economy in the UAE, and worked toward gender-balanced boards.
Sheikha Shamma participated in high-level exploratory discussions with Lord Nicholas Stern, Chairman of the Grantham Research Institute, which focused on how her extensive work in the field of sustainability and the environment could align with the work of the Institute, and contribute to shaping global climate change policies moving forward.
All parties emphasised the importance of strategic collaboration in mobilising financing for sustainability initiatives from across the public and private sector, and the critical role that the upcoming UN Climate Change Conferences (COP27 and COP28), being hosted in Egypt later this year and in the UAE in 2023. It was agreed that COP28, would be a global stocktaking opportunity for governments to evaluate progress in delivering on their Net-Zero promises. The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to developing a framework that will catalyse the growth of energy-saving and climate tech projects in the UK and the UAE.
Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan commented, “The climate crisis poses an irreversible threat to our planet and it is imperative that we seek new avenues to manage and mitigate the effects as much as possible through mutual collaboration. It was an honour to be invited to visit the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and witness, first-hand, the incredible work being done to identify and implement long-term solutions in tackling climate change. I look forward to continuing these discussions and welcoming the LSE team to the Middle East for the upcoming COP conferences.”
Bob Ward, Policy and Communications Director at the Grantham Research Institute is hopeful and is looking forward to exploring potential areas of collaboration and support.