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From Ambition to Action

A whole-of-society effort to accelerate progress

SGI Forum is back on the 4th December with a strong lineup of speakers. The SGI Gallery will be open throughout COP28 and is hosting a new daily speaker series, SGI Talks.

SGI Forum - 4 December

Taking place during COP28, the third edition of SGI Forum will convene policy makers, thought leaders, and climate experts to share insights on how to address climate challenges and secure a greener future

SGI Gallery - 30 November to 12 December

This year, SGI Gallery will be open throughout COP28, showcasing the range of initiatives and projects being championed across The Kingdom.

SGI Talks - 30 November to 12 December

A new daily speaker series, SGI Talks, will be unveiled in the SGI Gallery. The Talks offer an opportunity for audiences to listen to and engage with international and Saudi climate experts on the sustainability trends that matter.

SGI Forum 2023 in focus

A closer look at this year’s key themes

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In the year of the global stocktake, the SGI Forum 2023 will focus on some of the most critical sustainability themes from the energy transition and protecting our seas, to unlocking climate finance to enable climate action.

Energy in transition

Globally, it is essential that clean energy potential is realized, while carbon emissions are reduced. This year, the Forum will explore the energy transition and the trends shaping the future of energy.

The innovation imperative

Innovation is essential to overcome sustainability challenges. This pillar of the Forum program will focus on the different sectors being transformed by new thinking and the importance of investment for continued progress.

Financing the gap

Climate finance will be a critical theme in the year of the global stocktake. Systemic as well as sector specific challenges will be discussed as speakers grapple with how to deploy the capital required to meet the scale of the need.

Sea Change

This year, the importance of blue ecosystems and the blue economy will take center stage. Discussions will take place on how these important environments can be preserved whilst safeguarding the communities who rely on the seas for their livelihoods.

Afforestation and regeneration

The importance of tree planting as a way to combat desertification, land degradation and the loss of biodiversity will feature at the SGI Forum, SGI Talks and in the SGI Gallery.

Key updates and announcements

Saudi Arabia announces 300% increase in installed renewables capacity, 43.9 million trees planted since launch of Saudi Green Initiative
  • Announcements
  • Infographics
  • Events
  • SGI Forum
  • Greening Saudi
  • Land protection
  • Marine protection
  • Renewable energy

Saudi Arabia announces 300% increase in installed renewables capacity, 43.9 million trees planted since launch of Saudi Green Initiative

04 December 2023 Read More

Key local speakers

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H.E. Adel Al-Jubeir

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Climate Envoy, Saudi Arabia

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H.E. Bandar Alkhorayef

Minister of Industry & Mining, Saudi Arabia

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H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman

Minister of Energy, Saudi Arabia

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H.E. Yasir Othman Al-Rumayyan

Governor, Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia

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Amin Nasser

CEO, Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia

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H.E. Khalid Al-Falih

Minister of Investment, Saudi Arabia

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H.E. Ahmed Al Khateeb

Minister of Tourism, Saudi Arabia

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H.E. Faisal Alibrahim

Minister of Economy and Planning, Saudi Arabia

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H.E. Saleh Al-Jasser

Minister of Transportation, Saudi Arabia

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H.H. Princess Haifa bint Muhammad Al Saud

Vice Minister of Tourism, Saudi Arabia

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Nadhmi Al-Nasr

CEO, NEOM, Saudi Arabia

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Abdulrahman Al-Fageeh

CEO, SABIC, Saudi Arabia

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Dr. Osama Faqeeha

Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Saudi Arabia

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Dr. Khaled Bin Abdullah Al-Abdul Qadir

CEO, National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification, Saudi Arabia

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Mazin Albahkali

CEO, Saudi Power Procurement Company, Saudi Arabia

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Raad Al-Saady

Vice Chairman & Managing Director, ACWA Power, Saudi Arabia

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Dr. Zeid Al-Ghareeb

General Director of Clean Hydrogen and Circular Carbon Economy, Ministry of Energy, Saudi Arabia

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Dr. Khaled Asfahani

CEO, The General Organization for Conservation of Coral Reefs and Turtles in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

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Eng. Mohammad Al Tayyar

Oil Sustainability Program, Saudi Arabia

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H.E Dr. Mohammed Al-Tamimi

Governor of the Communications, Space and Technology Commission (CST), Saudi Arabia

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H.E. Mohammed Al-Jadaan

Minister of Finance, Saudi Arabia

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Mohammed Albrahem

Assistant to the Minister of Energy  for  Oil  & Gas  Affairs, Ministry of Energy, Saudi Arabia

International speakers

Patrick Pouyanné

CEO, TotalEnergies, France

The Rt Hon Sir Alok Sharma

MP, COP26 President, UK

William Thomas Winters

CEO, Standard Chartered, United Kingdom

H.E. Dilma Rousseff

President, New Development Bank

Raymond T. Dalio

Founder, CIO Mentor & Member of the Bridgewater Board Bridgewater Associates, LP, United States

Dr. Angela Wilkinson

Secretary General and CEO, World Energy Council

Olivier Le Peuch

CEO, Schlumberger, United States

Prof. Carlos Duarte

Ibn Sina Distinguished Professor, Marine Science, KAUST, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Christoph Gebald

Director, Founder, and Member of the Board, Climeworks, Switzerland

Scott Eaton

CEO, Carbonplace, United Kingdom

François Jackow

CEO, Air Liquide, France

Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa

Director-General, OPEC Fund

Kara Succoso Mangone

Head of the Sustainable Finance Group, Goldman Sachs, United States

John Pagano

CEO, Red Sea Global, Saudi Arabia

Oliver Gunasekara

Co-Founder & CEO, Impossible Metals, United States

William McDonough

Chief Executive, McDonough Innovation, United States

David Edmondson

CEO, NEOM Green Hydrogen Company

H.E. Inger Andersen

Executive Director, UNEP

Prof. Petteri Taalas

General Secretary, World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

Haitham Al-Ghais

Secretary General, OPEC

Prof. Ove Høegh-Guldberg

Professor of Marine Science, University of Queensland, Australia

Dr. Jennifer Holmgren

CEO, LanzaTech, United States

Dr. Ajay Mathur

Director-General, International Solar Alliance

Sanjiv Lamba

CEO, Linde, Ireland

H.E. Michael W. Lodge

Secretary-General, International Seabed Authority

Robert Wilt

CEO, Ma’aden

Dr. Lisa Levin

Distinguished Professor of Biological Oceanography and Marine Ecology, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, United States

Dr. Abdulhamid Alkhalifa

Director-General, OPEC Fund

SGI Forum 2023 Program

Exploring solutions to tackle climate challenges

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The third edition SGI Forum will convene climate experts and thought leaders to share insights and, in the year of the global stocktake, offer solutions to  the climate challenges faced globally.

Industrial Plays

From the potential of clean energy to scaling carbon capture, usage and storage, this pillar will focus on the energy transition from several perspectives.

Innovative Transitions

This pillar will consider the importance of innovation to secure a more sustainable tomorrow.

The Financial Architecture of Tomorrow

From sustainable investment to rethinking the financial infrastructure this pillar will be centered on financing climate action.

Coherence for Impact

How do you simultaneously conserve marine ecosystems and encourage the blue economy? This pillar will focus on the fragile balancing act from a range of angles.

Introducing SGI Talks

An expert-led speaker series

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New for 2023, and following the official daily themes of COP28, SGI Talks will convene a line up of international and Saudi speakers to discuss the sustainability trends that are shaping the future and offer different perspectives on the challenges we need to address. 

The 30-minute sessions will be held daily within the SGI Gallery, inside COP28’s Green Zone, at 3pm.

Program

SGI Talks will delve into topics from Saudi Arabia’s greening ambitions, to new technologies enabling energy efficiency, boosting food security, and empowering the Kingdom’s youth to drive positive climate action change.

Watch the daily live streaming Download program

SGI Talks Speakers

Dr. Peiying Hong

Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering KAUST, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Bassam Fattouh

Director, Oxford Institute for Energy Studies (OIES), United Kingdom

Dr. Hussein Hoteit

Professor of Energy Resources and Petroleum Engineering, KAUST, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Abdullah Alsubaie

Advisor, Ministry of Energy, Saudi Arabia

Wael Bushah

General Manager of Environmental Awareness, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Saudi Arabia

Munira AlHazani

Founder and President, Saudi Arabian Botanical Society, Saudi Arabia

Raghad Fathaddin

Founder & CEO, Sangha Estidama Hub, Saudi Arabia

H.H. Princess Nouf bint Muhammad Al Saud

CEO, King Khalid Foundation, Saudi Arabia

Eng. Fahad Alajlan

President, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), Saudi Arabia

Eng. Faisal Al-Musa

General Manager, Clean Technologies Support Department (International Initiatives), Ministry of Energy, Saudi Arabia

Othman Almoamar

Chair, Y20, Saudi Arabia

Najat Alhashim

Environmental Advocate & Environment and Sustainability Graduate, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Ahmed Ali Alghamdi

Consultant, National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification, Saudi Arabia

Hawazen Nassief

Head of Sustainability and Stewardship, Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia

Rasees S. AlSaud

Senior Director, Head of Financial Institutions & Investor, Relations, Global Capital Finance, Public Investment Fund, Saudi Arabia

Mashael Alshalan

Co-founder, Aeon Collective

H.H. Prince Mishari T. Al-Saud

Chaiman and Co-Founder, Faseel

Khaled Alshaikh

Director of the Coral Reefs Department, The National Center for Wildlife, Saudi Arabia

Raed AlBasset

Group Chief Environment & Sustainability Officer, Red Sea Global, Saudi Arabia

Eng. Ahmad Alenzi

General Manager of the Reforestation Program Department, National Center for Vegetation Development and Combating Desertification, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Mazen Assiri

Executive Director of the Regional Centre for Climate Change Center, Saudi Arabia

Eng. Abdulaziz Alsubaihi

Energy Efficiency Specialist, Buildings Sector, Saudi Energy Efficiency Center (SEEC)

Anwar Gasim

Fellow in Climate & Sustainability, KAPSARC, Saudi Arabia

SGI Gallery

Meet the specialists from across the Kingdom

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Displaying the breadth and depth of climate action initiatives taking place across Saudi Arabia, the SGI Gallery will showcase current initiatives being conducted under SGI, with insight on the entities, SMEs, and individuals behind the efforts.

Visitors to the SGI Gallery will be taken on an engaging interactive journey that is organized around the Circular Carbon Economy, Vegetation Cover, Protecting Wildlife and Biodiversity and Promoting Sustainability.

Frequently asked questions

What is the SGI Forum?

Held annually under the patronage of HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the SGI Forum is a convening platform for climate leaders to discuss best practice, highlight innovation, evaluate progress against national targets and drive forward substantive action in the race against climate change.

How can I keep up-to-date on all the things happening during SGI Forum and in the SGI Gallery?

Downloading the SGI Forum app is the best way to stay up-to-date on the SGI Forum and what is happening daily at the SGI Gallery. It is where you will find information on speakers and programming, as well as receive reminders for the SGI Forum panels and SGI Talk sessions you don't want to miss.

Download SGI Forum app

When will the Middle East Green Initiative Summit return?

The Middle East Green Initiative Summit will be back in 2024, after the members unanimously agreed to change the frequency of the event to once every two years.

What are the SGI Talks?

This year, the Saudi Green Initiative is premiering an interactive speaker series called SGI Talks, to offer a wider audience access to different aspects of the climate action conversation and encourage dialogue. 

The series will take place daily throughout COP28, from 3-3:30pm in the SGI Gallery, with the exception of the day of the SGI Forum (4 December). 

The series will engage with the major sustainability trends of the future, complementing the wider COP28 agenda. Talks will cover topics ranging from the new technologies transforming energy efficiency, to climate anxiety and mental health awareness related to climate change.

The sessions will be open to those with access to the COP28 Green Zone.

Download SGI Talks program

Will the SGI Forum and SGI Talks be livestreamed?

Yes. The SGI Forum will be livestreamed. Virtual participants will be able to follow the day’s program via the SGI website and social channels.

Watch SGI Forum live stream

Daily SGI Talks will also be livestreamed. Further details on how to watch can be found here. 

Watch SGI Talks daily live stream

Where can I find out more about SGI initiatives?

Over 80 initiatives across Saudi Arabia are currently ongoing under SGI. Explore SGI initiatives 

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