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The insiders’ guide to the best events at COP28

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By illuminem briefings

· 14 min read


As the leading platform on sustainability, illuminem continues its support for impactful events such as COP27, the London Climate Tech Show, Rethink Hong Kong, NY Climate Week, and Davos, to disseminate cutting-edge insights from its extensive network of 1200+ Thought Leaders.

Based on suggestions from our community, our editorial team has meticulously crafted an exclusive insiders' guide to some of the most important events at COP28, providing a comprehensive overview of in-person gatherings, discussions, and networking opportunities. While our team will do its best to keep this calendar updated, please note that the timing of some events might change at the last minute. 

Make sure to check our COP28 page for in-depth coverage of the world's largest climate event and, most importantly, mark your calendar for our COP event 'Charting the Climate's Future' on the 12th of December. Click here to register and discover our top-tier speakers.

Saturday, December 2

• 9:15-10:15 (Al Jeer) | Dried up: strengthening resilience of food systems in light of climate change
• 9-30-11:00 (Al Hur) | Accelerated Partnership for renewables in Africa
11:30-12:15 (Al Shaheen) | Conversation on Multilevel Climate Action
13:30-15:30 (Al Hur) | Advancing Ambitious Multi-Level Climate Action
13:45-15-15 (Al Wakri) | New Solutions and Finance for Local Action: MDB Reform
14:00-15:00 (Al Jeer) | World Climate Action Summit (WCAS)
16:00-17:30 (Al Hur) | Engaging the Private Sector in the New Climate Economy for a win-win collaboration

Sunday, December 3

• 8:15-9:45 (Al Hur) | From a Financing Gap to Outcomes-oriented Finance
9:00-10:30 (Zone B7) | Health Care Roundtable
9:30-11:00 (Zone B7) | Human Behavior Change
8:30-10:30 (Al Wakri) | Financing Water Climate and Nature
9:30-11:00 (Zone B7) | Human Behavior Change
10:00-12:00 (Al Shaheen) | Gender Day - Technical Dialogue: Financing for a Gender just Transition
11:30-12:30 (Al Wakri) | How does Climate Change Affect Our Health?
11:30-12:30 (Zone B7) | Launch of the Catalyst 2030 South - South Alliance: Within the Global South there is so much to learn and do with each other
12:30-13:30 (Al Jeer) | Fostering Adaptation Transformation
12:30-14:30 (Zone B7) | Access to Health Care, Healthy Nutrition and Climate
14:00-15:00 (Al Jeer) | Private Finance for Adaptation
15:00-16:00 (Zone B7) | Catalyzing Nature-Positive Action through Biodiversity Credits: A Holistic Approach from the Global South
15:00-16:30 (Zone B7) |Climate Solutions: Unpacking the climate-tech innovation ecosystem to unlock the deployment of decarbonization and adaptation solutions
15:30-17:00 (Al Jeer) | Poverty and Climate Finance

Monday, December 4

• 8:00-9:30 (Bloomberg Green) | Special Session: The AI Potential: Accelerating Climate Solutions
9:00-10:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Mission efficiency: Rethinking an energy-efficient life  
• 9:00-9:45 (Al Waha Thatre) | Trade Solutions for Global Climate Action: Global Leaders unite to promote a roadmap of trade policy options for a just and ambitious response to climate change
9:25-9:30 (Island of Hope) | Welcome Remarks: Island of Hope Official Opening: Setting the Course for a Sustainable Future in Islands
9.30-11.00 (Zone B7) | Coalition building and leadership
9:50-10:45 (Island of Hope) | Panel: Navigating The Green Financing Pathway: Sids And The Road To The Paris Agreement  
10:00-11:00 (Impact Hub) | Voices and Ventures: Women driving climate solutions
10:00-12:00 (Climate Finance Stage) | How can corporates and banks partner to accelerate transition to net zero?
10:15-12:45 (Bloomberg Green) | Morning Programming
10:30-11:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Innovative Solutions for Community Resilience: A partnership between “Doers” and “Funders
11:00-12.30 (Zone B7) | Biodiversity Credits: Financing the transition to regenerative agriculture & forestry
11:15-11:25 (Island of Hope) | Keynote: Walter Roban, JP, MP Minister of Home Affairs, Government of Bermuda
11:25-12:05 (Island of Hope) | Panel: Community Solutions For Loss And Damage In Islands
11:30-12:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Fossil fuels in transition
• 12:00-13:00 (Impact Hub) | The Future of Carbon Pricing
12:30-13:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Securing a timely energy transition
12:30-14:30 (Zone B7) | Improving Accountability in Climate Finance
13:30-13:40 (Island of Hope) | Keynote: Sustainable Tourism and Climate Justice in Keiss and Kerkennah Islands through Local Community and Women Engagement
13:40-14:20 (Island of Hope) | Tech Showcase: Climate crisis action through cross-border collaboration and entrepreneurship (part 1)
13:45-14:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Cities and Innovation at COP28: Expanding climate and innovation agendas to deliver 11 Billion flourishing lives
14:30-15:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Connecting current global research & innovation initiatives and agendas to human needs-based approaches
• 14:30-15:30 (B8: Plenaries & Meeting Rooms) | Finance Ministers High-level round table: scaling up climate finance
15:30-16:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Towards clean and sustainable fuels: Matching supply and demand
16:00-17:00 (Bloomberg Green) | Special Session: Climate Cooperative Workshop: The CSO Evolution
16:00-17:00 (Island of Hope) | Panel: Implementing Loss and Damage – a Breakthrough Solution to Secure the Financial Future of the World’s Most Climate Vulnerable States
16:30-17:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Give the World Some Credit: Financing the future
18:00-21:00 (Bloomberg Green) | Special Session: The New Green Economy
17:30-18:00 (Equality Lounge) | A New Era in Climate Communications

Tuesday, December 5

•7:00-8:30 (Zone B3) | EU Energy Days -The EU and its global partners unleashing the clean energy transition 
• 9:00-10:00 (Bloomberg Green) | Special Session: Accelerating MENA's Net-Zero Journey
9:15-10:30 (Al Waha Theatre) | Eliminating Methane Emissions by 2030
9:30-10:30 (Bloomberg Green) | Registration & Networking Breakfast
9:30-10:15 (Climate Action Stage) | How philanthropy can catalyze meaningful climate action
9.30-11.00 (Zone B7) IDEO Climate Lab - Scaling Sustainability through Desirability 
• 9:30-11:30 (Presidency Roundtable - Al Saih) | High Level Roundtable on Hydrogen
9:50-10:35 (Island of Hope) | Tech Showcase: Climate crisis action through cross-border collaboration and entrepreneurship (pt 2)
• 10:15-10:30 (Climate Action Stage) | Networking Break
10:30-11:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Climate Solutions and the Race to Zero
11:30-12:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Bridging Youth Leadership and Sustainable Education
12:30-13:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Climate transition planning and disclosure: Getting it right 
12:45-13:30 (Bloomberg Green) | Special Session: Investing in the Cleantech Ecosystem
12:45-13:30 (Bloomberg Green) | Special Session: The Future of Carbon Markets
• 13:40-14:15 (Technology and Innovation Stage) | The Necessary Role of Nuclear in the Energy Transition
13:40-14:20 (Island of Hope) | Panel: Philanthropic Innovation: Catalyzing Climate Resilience in Coastal Areas
• 14:00-15:30 (Presidency Roundtable - Al Saih) | High level roundtable on renewables and energy efficiency
14:30-15:00 (Climate Action Stage) | Mechanisms for Transition Finance and the Role Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCM) Can Play
14:35-15:25 (Island of Hope) | Panel: Tech Innovative Solutions For Climate Resilience And Adaptation
15:30-16:15 (Climate Action Stage) | What is Bitcoin mining's role in the clean energy transition?
16:00-17:00 (Bloomberg Green) | Special Session: Empowering Women in Climate Workshop
16:30-17:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Harnessing the power of data to accelerate transparent action in corporate sustainability

Wednesday, December 6

• 9:00-10:40 (Zone B3) | EU Transport Day: Navigating the future: boosting sustainable alternative fuels in shipping 
• 9:30-10:15 (Climate Action Stage) | From off track to achieving systems change: Action needed by 2030 for 1.5°C
9:30-11.00 (Zone B7) | Creating Cities for Community and Planetary Health
9:40-10:30 (Island of Hope) | Panel: Island Economies Driving Climate Resilience Through Responsible Tourism
10:00-11:15 (Al Jeer) | Freight to Zero | Decarbonizing Urban Freight Transportation
10:30-11:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Unleashing Essential Commercialization: Converting sustainability research into impact
11:30-12:15 (Climate Action Stage)  | Unlocking a Retrofit Revolution: Policy, Finance and Regulation
11:30-12:30 (Al Shaheen) | Charging Ahead: A Collective Vision on Charging Infrastructure to Accelerate the EV Transition
12:30-13:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Financing the transition: A Multi-dimensional approach to mobilizing capital
13:00-14:00 (Al Shaheen) | Shipping Green Hydrogen
13:30-14:30 (Al Hur) | Scaling Up Financing for Green Cities
13:40-14:20 (Island of Hope) | Restoring Our Future: Scaling-Up Ecosystem-Based Adaptation
14:30-15:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Sustainable & climate resilient net-zero transformation of the private sector and financial intermediates
14:00-15:30 (Al Jeer) | Loss and Damage
15:30-16:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Climate – Nature nexus in global sustainability reporting
• 15:30-17:00 (Italian Pavilion) | 3DEN Initiative: implementing tomorrow’s smart power systems
15:45-16:25 (Island of Hope) | Building Sustainable Futures in the Face of Climate Change
16:30-17:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Climate Awareness: New and traditional media responsibilities
17:00-18:30 (Al Hur) | Later Is Too Late: Tipping the Balance from Negative to Positive
• 19:00-21:30 (Zone B7) | Enhancing multistakeholder food and agriculture collaboration

Thursday, December 7

• 8:00-9:00 (World Climate Summit) | Opening & Registration
9:30-10:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Responsible Technology: The Impact of ESG
9:30-11:00 (Zone B7) | Breakfast Session
9:50-10:10 (Island of Hope) | Fireside chat: Islands, Nature And Renewable Energy
10:00-10:30 (World Climate Summit) | Networking Break
10:30-11:15 (World Climate Summit) | Panel Session 1A: Utilising Opportunities of Today for the Clean Energy Future
10:30-11:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Decarbonizing the Nile & Valley and Danube Delta Ecosystems: Challenges and Innovative Solutions
11:20-12:05 (World Climate Summit) | Panel Session 2B: Accelerating the Energy Efficient Future - Pathways to Innovating the Built Environment
11:25-12:10 (Island of Hope) | Building Climate Resilience Through Food Security 
11:30-12-15 (Climate Action Stage) | Session hosted by US Green Building Council
12:05-15:05 (World Climate Summit) | Lunch Break
12:30-13:15 (Climate Action Stage) | More than funding: How your finance partners can help de-risk your transition journey
13:15-14:00 (World Climate Summit) | Workshop 3D: From ambition to action - the aluminium sector's commitment to decarbonisation
13:30-14:20 (Island of Hope) | Panel: Advancing Inclusive Climate Action
14:30-15:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Sustainable Banking Alliance: Lessons learned in engaging financial institutions for climate finance
14:35-15:20 (World Climate Summit) | Gearing up for ESG Reporting - State-of-the-Art Climate-related Disclosure
15:30-16:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Mobilising private finance for the net zero transition: Innovations, challenges, and opportunities
15:45-16:25 (Island of Hope) | Decarbonising Islands: The Transformational Power Of Pilots
16:00-16:45 (World Climate Summit) | Six Years to Succeed: Advancing Policy, Innovation and investments to meet 2030 Targets
16:30-17:15 (Climate Action Stage) | The Buildings Breakthrough – How do we deliver a new Net Zero Paradigm for the Built Environment

Friday, December 8

• 9:00-10:30 (Zone B3) | Accelerating green and climate investments in the LAC region: barriers and solutions 
• 9:15-10:00 (World Climate Summit) | Opening Plenary Session: Financing the Green Transition
9:30-11:00 (Zone B7) | The Inner Work Required
9:30-10:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Green Hydrogen: Powering the climate transition
9:50-10:30 (Island of Hope) | Empowering Subnational Jurisdictions: Climate Finance Strategies for a Sustainable Future
10:30-11:15 (World Climate Summit) | Panel Session 1B: The Future of Investor Engagement
10:30-11:15 (World Climate Summit) | Workshop 1C: Accelerating transition in emerging markets
10:30-11:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Carbon removals: What goes up must now come down
11:00-12:30 (Zone B7) | Credits for Cultural, Social & Economic Regeneration
11:30-13:30 (Al Hur) | COP28: Pace, Progress, and Impacts
11:30-12:05 (Island of Hope) | Panel: Future Leaders - Inspiring Hope For Tomorrow
12:00-14:00 (Al Jaer) | Monitoring of Adaptation and Resilience Building Actions
12:30-13:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Power Up: boosting Africa’s energy access pioneers
13:05-13:15 (World Climate Summit) | Announcement: Speeding Up Clean Mobility
13:45-14:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Fossil fuel in a net-zero world: A dialogue across three perspectives
14:05-14:30 (World Climate Summit) | Navigating Carbon Markets - Ensuring Quality, Impact, and Integrity
14:30-15:10 (Island of Hope) | Panel: Powering gender equity for refugees: inspiring stories and solutions
14:30-16:00 (Zone B7) | Executive Education for Regenerative Business & Economy
14:35-15:20 (World Climate Summit) | Decarbonising Supply Chains
15:20-15:50 (World Climate Summit) | Networking Break
15:30-16:15 (Climate Action Stage) | Green Horizons: Innovators navigating supply chains under SDG13, Climate Action
15:35-16:15 (Island of Hope) | Panel: Empowering Youth To Actively Participate In Building Pacific Community Resilience
16:00-17:30 (Al Hur) | A First Look at ECCA

Saturday, December 9 

• 8:30-10:00 (Zone B7) | Financing the Transition: Unilever, Tikehau Capital, AXA Climate Breakfast
10:00-12:30 (Al Hur) | Taking Stock of Climate Action: Land Use & Ocean and Coastal Zones
10.00-11.00 (Zone B7) | Regeneraction
11:00-12:30 (Zone B7) | Credits for the Water, Energy, Food Nexus: Financing the Transition to Regenerative Agriculture and Food and other Industry Systems
13:00-14:00 (Al Jeer) | Climate Friendly Food Systems
14:00-15:00 (Al Shaheen) | Monitoring Land Restoration
16:00-17:30 (Al Hur) |Turning the tide on Deforestation

Sunday, December 10

• 8:00-9:00 (Zone B3) | Accelerating the financing of the circular economy in climate and biodiversity strategies
• 9:30-11:00 (Zone B7) | Community-Powered Regeneration: The Playbook
14:30-16:00 (Zone B7) | Africa: Scaling Regenerative Forms of Agriculture
18:30-20:00 (SE Room 4) | Innovative Instruments for Joint Biodiversity and Climate Policy

Monday, December 11

• 9:30-11:00 (Zone B7) | Empowering Climate Pioneers 
11:00-12:30 (Zone B7) | Whole System Carbon plus plus Credits: Financing the Transition to Regeneration Agriculture and Food Systems
• 11:30-13:00 (Zone B3) | Building climate neutral and resilient cities: a journey to implementation
14:30-16:00 (Zone B7) | Blended Finance for Regenerative Agriculture & Food Systems

Tuesday, December 12

• 15:30-17:00 (Italian Pavillion) | COP28 Debrief: Charting the Climate's Future

Tikehau Capital's generous sponsorship has been the driving force behind our presence and meaningful engagement at COP28, and we are truly thankful for their support.

If you have any events you would like to suggest, feel free to contact us.

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