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EA Chairman kicks off high-level planning for Oman Climate Week

Abdullah al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority, presides over the kickoff meeting of Oman Climate Week’s Executive Committee held recently
 
Abdullah al Amri, Chairman of the Environment Authority, presides over the kickoff meeting of Oman Climate Week’s Executive Committee held recently
MUSCAT: Abdullah bin Ali al Amri, Chairman of Oman’s Environment Authority, presided over the inaugural meeting of the Executive Committee overseeing the delivery of the first edition of the Oman Climate Week, scheduled to be held in Muscat during February 24 – 27, 2025.

Al Amri was joined by distinguished figures representing key Omani, regional and international stakeholders in the global campaign against climate change. In welcome remarks to the committee members – attending in-person and virtually – he affirmed the importance of crafting an impactful forum, underpinned by action-oriented programmes and initiatives, to help galvanise the international community forward in the achievement of global Net Zero goals.

Lending their significant expertise in the drafting of the forum agenda as Executive Committee members are: Dr Mohammed al Kalbani (Environment Authority); Dr Amer al Hinai, Dr Malik al Wardi and Dr Ghazi al Rawas (of Sultan Qaboos University); Rumaitha al Busaidi (Environmental Society of Oman); Shamsa al Rawahi and Muaadh al Madhani (44.01); Ahmed al Rawahi (Asyad Group); Dr Samir Tantawi (UN IPCC); Dr Alexandra Soezer (Climate Action Centre); Emma Champion (Bloomberg); Miraq Al Jubouri (UN ESCWA); and Hussam Othmany (Gulf Organisation for Research and Development).

Proceedings during Oman Climate Week, focusing on the overarching theme, ‘Uniting the World for a Sustainable Tomorrow’, will encompass a broad array of topics at the heart of the global Net Zero journey. This list includes: Climate Mitigation, Climate Adaptation, Climate Finance, Carbon Markets, Climate Technologies, Loss & Damage, and Social Inclusion. Supplementing this list, based on the recommendations of the newly constituted Executive Committee, are topics focusing on Sustainable Finance, Training & Capacity Building, Remote Sensing Technologies, and Satellite Observatory Systems.

Furthermore, with the goal of delivering an inclusive and well-rounded forum, committee members also called for the incorporation of a Future Leaders Awards session into the programme agenda. Additionally, local and international climate tech startups, NGOs and young entrepreneurs will be invited to present their climate and environmental tech innovations in a dedicated area within the exhibition. Field trips to places of environmental interest around Oman will also be organised for the benefit of international delegates.

Oman Climate Week is also envisioned to be an action-packed three-day forum featuring not only the Strategic Conference as its centerpiece, but also Masterclass Workshops, Tech & Science Talks, and exclusive sessions dedicated to Future Climate Leaders and Women in Climate. Prominent international experts will be among a stellar line-up of speakers who will address the main summit and workshops. Additionally, global energy companies and technology providers will have the opportunity to showcase their capabilities at an exhibition planned alongside the forum.

Given Oman’s burgeoning role as a frontrunner in the global energy transition, Oman Climate Week will also serve as an opportunity for researchers and innovators to present their tech solutions to an international audience. In this regard, a Scientific Committee composed of SQU experts has been tasked with reviewing research papers presented during the forum before they are compiled into a special journal to be issued with the support of a reputed publisher.

Supporting the Environment Authority in organizing a high-impact launch edition of Oman Climate Week is local Omani energy-centric events firm Birba. By leveraging its consideration expertise in the events space, Birba has also pledged to harness what is anticipated to be Oman Climate Week’s robust appeal to advance a number of Oman’s strategic national objectives: Supporting economic diversification and job creation, Boosting business tourism, Positioning Oman as a hub for innovation, Highlighting opportunities for investment, and Strengthening Oman’s Vision 2040 goals.