The forum, a first-of-its-kind private-sector engagement initiative within the COP program, brought together over 1,300 global business leaders and philanthropists, amplifying the private sector's call for inclusion in the COP process.
COP28 President, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, emphasized the importance of leveraging private sector knowledge and resources to address climate finance challenges. He stated, “To fix climate finance, we must leverage the knowledge, resources, and power of the private sector to ensure we deliver necessary funding to those in need, particularly in the global south. COP28 is committed to directing capital from multiple sources to meet the trillions required to attack emissions so we can all shepherd a just, orderly transition.”
Strategic partners for the forum included the Sustainable Markets Initiative, with additional support from International Finance Corporation (IFC), Organisation for Economic and Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Economic Forum (WEF), Asian Development Bank (ADB), Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, IDB Invest, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), and XPRIZE.
-Vinod Kumar (Dubai)
