ABU DHABI: The World Future Energy Summit 2025, hosted by Masdar as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, concluded today at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, spotlighting critical global sustainability issues over three impactful days.
Key topics explored included self-sufficient sustainable cities, community resilience, and green finance’s supply-demand imbalance.
Sustainable Cities and Climate Resilience
The Sustainable Cities Conference addressed extreme climate events, such as California’s wildfires (US$160–200 billion in damages) and Gulf floods (US$850 million in losses). Experts emphasized proactive climate risk assessments to mitigate such disasters.
Dima Al Srouri, Founder of Biospheric City Lab, highlighted that every euro spent on risk management saves six euros in damages. Farah Naz, ESG and Innovation Director at Aecom, underscored the urgency of integrating climate and economic planning, stating, “We are in a climate and biodiversity emergency. It’s time to reimagine our priorities.”
Empowering Collective Action
Alida Saleh of JLL MEA called for simplified communication around sustainability, encouraging collective action. She illustrated how small behavioral changes, such as saving water while brushing teeth, could save the equivalent of 26 Olympic-sized pools daily.
Innovations in Water Scarcity Solutions
Baynunah Water Generation Technologies announced a strategic partnership with Pipetec to implement technology that converts steam into pure drinking water. CEO Michael Rutman described the initiative as a pivotal step toward sustainability and carbon emission reduction.
Green Finance and Emerging Economies
The Green Finance Conference highlighted surging demand for green assets and the need for approximately US$1 trillion annually by 2030 to support a low-carbon transition in emerging economies. Bart White of Santander emphasized the accessibility of renewable energy financing and the role of capital in driving startup innovation and decarbonization.
The Summit underscored the global need for balanced approaches to climate, economy, and social equity, while showcasing innovation as the key to a sustainable future.
