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• Global Summit hosted in partnership with COP28 UAE Presidency to convene high-level speakers from public sector, private sector, NGOs, and leading academic institutions.

• WiSER champions women as leaders of sustainability, with a focus on education, engagement, and empowerment, supporting the COP28 Presidency’s commitment to advance Sustainable Development Goals.

• Supports future and current female leaders, WiSER seeks to integrate gender equality into climate change agendas, for a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient future for all.

Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) - Masdar’s global initiative that champions women as leaders of sustainable change - will co-host The Arab Women Leaders’ Summit in the Green Zone at COP28 on December 4.

Held under the theme, “Gender Inclusion and Climate Change: Advancing Equality for a Resilient Future”, the Summit will explore the critical relationship between gender equality and climate action.

Bringing together a diverse program of participants including researchers, activists, policymakers and civil society representatives, the Summit will convene high-level speakers including H.R.H. Princess. Lamia Bint Majed Saud AlSaud, Secretary-General, AlWaleed Philanthropies, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Barbara Rambousek, Director, Gender and Economic Inclusion, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Participants at the half-day event will work together to identify challenges, share best practices, and develop strategies to promote gender equality in climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience efforts.

Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director of Brand and Strategic Initiatives, Masdar, said

Masdar’s WiSER initiative supports current and future generations of female leaders and seeks to integrate gender equality into climate change agendas, fostering a more inclusive, equitable, and resilient future for all.

WiSER’s engagement at COP28 supports the Presidency’s commitment to advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, by advocating for gender equality as a tool to improve working conditions, advance technology and ultimately, address climate change.

Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC – Masdar is honoring the outstanding achievements and invaluable contributions of remarkable Emirati women who are working to build a sustainable future for all.

A new campaign, launched by Masdar in celebration of Emirati Women’s Day, features prominent Emirati sustainability pioneers who are at the forefront of the UAE’s global sustainability mission, alongside several young Emirati women who are set to be amongst the next generation of sustainability leaders.

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The campaign also spotlights the work of WiSER (Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy), Masdar’s global platform that champions women as leaders of sustainable change. 

Borne from a recognition that more needs to be done to support women in the global mission to tackle climate change, WiSER is dedicated to empowering current and future generations of women sustainability leaders.

The high-profile Emirati sustainability leaders showcased in the campaign are all members of the WiSER Advisory Council.

• Masdar’s Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) Annual Forum at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2023 focused on empowering women to lead climate adaptation
• Forum brought together experts and leaders from business, technology, government, academia, and not-for-profit sectors ahead of COP28 climate conference, which will focus on inclusion and action
• Guests took the #IAmWiSER pledge to champion women as leaders and agents of sustainable change 

Over 120 influential figures came together to explore ways to boost women’s leadership in climate adaptation at an annual forum held by Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER), a global platform run by the UAE’s clean energy powerhouse Masdar. 

As the world strives to adjust to a changing climate, women are increasingly finding themselves at the forefront of climate adaptation efforts. In recognition of this, the flagship WiSER Annual Forum was held on Tuesday 17 January, as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2023, the global platform for accelerating sustainable development that is taking place this week in the UAE capital.

Roundtable topics discussed at the forum included equal access to climate finance, increasing food security and access to agritech, women’s participation and leadership in the clean energy transition, and protecting biodiversity and eco-systems. Findings from the forum will be published in a report on March 8 – International Women’s Day. 

HE Khadeeja Naseem, Minister of Environment, Climate Change and Technology for the Maldives, was one of the participants. “As one of the lowest-lying countries in the world, the Maldives is incredibly vulnerable to climate change,” she said. “We’ve been taking a holistic approach to these challenges, including building the resilience and health of our coral reefs - which are the first line of defense for our shores.  To ensure maximum success for climate adaptation projects, women’s leadership is vital. Women bring unique insights and talents to this collective mission and we must remove all barriers to their participation.”

Guests at the forum also pledged their support for the #IAmWiSER campaign, which champions women as leaders and agents of sustainable change. The global campaign aims to provide a clear call to action for women and those who support them.  To take the pledge visit https://masdar.ae/IAmWiSER/take-the-pledge

Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, was a keynote speaker at the forum and a high-profile supporter of the #IAmWiSER campaign. “The transition to a cleaner, greener future must be an inclusive one,” she said. “If measures are not adopted to increase women’s participation in emerging green occupations, current gender stereotypes are likely to persist, and women will only have access to a fraction of the jobs created. Ensuring women’s full and unfettered participation is a must.”

In recent months, the human cost of climate change has been in sharp focus with a ‘loss and damage’ deal to provide funding for climate-vulnerable countries being struck at COP27 in Egypt. Globally, women and girls make up 80 percent of those displaced by climate change, according to the UN. The UAE will host the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), in November and December.

Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director of Brand and Strategic Initiatives at Masdar, said: “Whether it’s improving women farmers’ access to finance or encouraging women in the renewable energy sector, empowering women to lead climate adaptation will benefit all of society. The WiSER Annual Forum provides a space where people from diverse backgrounds can come together and work towards much-needed solutions. This is of upmost importance to the UAE, especially as we look forward to hosting COP28 and putting inclusive action at its heart.”

Since WiSER was launched in 2015 it has convened high-level forums attended by over 2,000 participants to promote sustainability and gender equality. 

• Masdar’s Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) initiative hosts series of COP27 events to amplify voices of women and girls in global climate debate
• UAE’s Sheikha Shamma Al Nahyan joins global industry leaders and policymakers for WiSER Wisdom Series dialogue on intersection of gender and climate 
• Masdar has invested 1 GW of clean energy in Africa, which could power over 845,000 homes

Masdar, one of the world’s fastest-growing clean energy companies, and its global Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) initiative, this week held a series of high-level discussions to raise global awareness and support for women as powerful catalysts of sustainable change on the sidelines of the 2022 United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference (COP27).

With a sharp focus on Africa, WiSER convened regional and global leaders Monday for a panel discussion on key issues at the intersection of gender and climate change, which began with a keynote address by Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Executive Director of the UAE Independent Climate Change Accelerators (UICCA), the Middle East region’s first non-partisan climate action think tank.

Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan said: “It was an honor to collaborate with WiSER this week to amplify the voices of women and girls at COP27. As the UAE looks forward to hosting COP28 next year, I am encouraged by WiSER’s efforts to raise global awareness and support for women and girls at the forefront of the net-zero transition. The UAE and UICCA are committed to continuing this important work with WiSER and our partners in Africa and around the world to help secure an inclusive and sustainable future for all.”

Throughout COP27, WiSER also promoted its global #IAmWiSER campaign to encourage policymakers, industry leaders, and climate stakeholders worldwide to press forward with initiatives to build a more inclusive and sustainable future by pledging their support for women at the forefront of efforts to tackle climate change.  

Global policymakers and industry leaders have taken the #IAmWiSER pledge, including the UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Special Envoy for Climate Change, and Chairman of Masdar, H.E. Dr Sultan Al Jaber; UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, H.E. Mariam Almheiri; Permanent UAE Representative to the UN, H.E. Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh; and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and Special UN Secretary-General SEforALL Representative, Ms. Damilola Ogunbiyi of Nigeria.

UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Special UAE Envoy for Climate Change, and Chairman of Masdar, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, said: “The UAE has long recognized that women represent an equal share of the global population and is committed to ensuring that they have an equal voice in the dialogue on climate action. This is especially important in areas such as Africa and the global south, where women are bearing the brunt of climate change. Through our global clean energy powerhouse Masdar and its WiSER initiative, we are working constantly to empower women to generate more equitable and effective climate solutions, and COP27 has provided the ideal platform to amplify their voices to the world. I look forward to building on this success at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week next year, and to seeing this positive momentum carry through to COP28 in the UAE.”

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) is a global initiative, established by Masdar in 2008, to accelerate sustainable development and advance economic, social, and environmental progress, in line with the UAE’s long-term vision and commitments. Taking place 14–21 January, ADSW 2023 will be next year’s first major sustainability gathering, bridging the gap between COP27 and COP28 by convening global stakeholders to take stock of progress on commitments and continue to engage on bold climate action and practical innovation. 

Elsewhere on the sidelines of COP27 this week, a WiSER Wisdom Series panel, “Gender Challenges to Climate Change,” featured The Gambia’s Honorable Minister of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Fatou Kinteh; Director of Decarbonization and Sustainable Energy at the UN’s Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), Mr. Tareq Emtairah; Head of Institutional, Strategic, Private & Gulf Partnerships at Plan International, Mr. Mohamed Kamal; CEO of Siraj Power, a UAE-based provider of solar power solutions across the Middle East and Africa, Mr. Laurent Longuet.

Honorable Minister Fatou Kinteh of The Gambia said: “The WiSER Wisdom Series COP27 panel was an important opportunity to engage in collaborative, frank conversation about challenges to building an equitable, sustainable future in communities across The Gambia, specifically, and Africa more broadly. It is critical that we continue to work together with organizations like WiSER to facilitate a global dialogue that meaningfully considers the unique challenges and opportunities facing women in diverse communities across Africa.”

Another WiSER Wisdom Series panel, “Design and Implementation of Inclusive, Community Energy Systems,” featured young women who shared insights from their experience participating in WiSER’s first field-based course in Rwanda, completed in August as part of the platform’s new WiSER Cares initiative to equip young women in rural off-grid communities with the knowledge and skills to harness the potential of practical clean energy technologies. 

Masdar Executive Director of Brand and Strategic Initiatives, and WiSER Program Director, Dr Lamya Fawwaz, said: “Across the world, women are starting new companies and innovating new technologies that are catalyzing meaningful sustainable change for their families, communities, and countries. At COP27, it was my privilege to shine a spotlight on these women while also working with our partners in Africa to inspire more to join them in advancing positive climate action. From now, through to ADSW, COP28, and beyond, WiSER will continue to sow these seeds of empowerment so more women can unleash their full potential.”

In line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 5 and 7) concerning gender equality and clean energy access, respectively, WiSER also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in September with Plan International Spain (SPNO), an independent development and humanitarian organization working in more than 75 countries, including in Africa, to advance children's rights and equality for girls. In the MoU, WiSER and SPNO agreed to pilot programs worldwide to accelerate sustainable development by empowering women and girls through educational, skills-training, mentorship, and internship opportunities, with a special focus on the global south.

SPNO Chief Executive Officer, Concha Lopez, said: “We urge all states to raise responsible and active citizens through ambitious transformative education that enables children, especially child girls and adolescents, to be prepared, to adapt and to mitigate the impacts of this crisis, as well as to participate in climate action and in the green economy. We share this vision with WiSER, an internationally reputed platform which also works towards a world wherein all girls are empowered to maximize their potential as innovators and leaders of sustainable change.”

Across Africa, Masdar and its partners are also helping to accelerate sustainable socioeconomic development with over 1 gigawatt (GW) of clean energy projects capable of delivering electricity to over 845,000 homes in Egypt, Morocco, Mauritania, and the Seychelles. Globally, Masdar’s clean energy projects displace close to 20 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.

Masdar’s Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) platform today launched a global campaign, I Am WiSER, to raise support for women at the forefront of efforts to tackle climate change and encourage world leaders to press forward with initiatives to build a more inclusive and sustainable future.

The campaign urges policymakers, heads of industry, and individuals to take the #IAmWiSER pledge to champion women as agents of sustainable change, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) 5 and 7, which aim to “achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls,” and “ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all,” respectively.

Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, said, “Masdar has long recognized the pivotal role women must play in building a sustainable future. Through #IAmWiSER, we are proud to invite our partners around the world to join us in ensuring women have an equal voice in our collective clean energy transition.”

Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Masdar Executive Director of Brand and Strategic Initiatives, and WiSER Program Director, said: “WiSER recognizes, inspires and empowers women to become leaders and change agents in driving sustainable development for all. The “#IAmWiSER campaign will enable us to reach a broader audience and provide a clear call for action for women and those who support them around the world. We look forward to translating these pledges from policymakers, thought leaders, business experts and engaged individuals around the world into concrete progress.”

The #IAmWiSER campaign has been endorsed by five notable women who are today advancing the sustainability agenda on the global stage, including H.E. Mariam Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment; H.E. Ambassador Lana Nusseibeh, Permanent UAE Representative to the UN; Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for SEforALL, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy; Peggy Choi, Founder and CEO of global knowledge-sharing platform, Lynk; and Alexandra Palt, Executive Vice-President Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer of L’Oréal and Executive Vice-President of the Fondation L’Oréal.

Commenting on the campaign, Palt said: “#IAmWiSER is about celebrating the achievements of women who have worked tirelessly to build a more sustainable future for their communities and our planet. It is also, just as importantly, about inspiring and empowering future generations to follow in their footsteps. Because women are an extremely powerful engine of change and key to social and ecological progress.”

Interested participants are invited to visit Masdar’s website to take the #IAmWiser pledge: “I am committed to championing women as agents of sustainable change.” Signatories will then be prompted to publicize their commitment and encourage others to take the pledge via an auto-generated link for sharing on social media.

At the 27th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC COP 27) in Egypt this November, WiSER will host delegates at its booth in the UAE Pavilion and invite them to take the #IAmWiser pledge.

As host of COP 28 next year, the UAE has set ambitious targets to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, making it the first Middle Eastern country to do so.

• Inaugural offering of WiSER Cares, a new initiative launched by Masdar’s Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) platform to advance practical sustainability solutions that enhance community well-being
• Course promotes gender equality and universal access to reliable clean energy, in line with UN Sustainable Development Goals 
• Launched in partnership with Energy Action Partners, ARC Power, and POWERHer
• Provided immersive field-based training to 14 young women from WiSER and local community 

Masdar’s Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) platform today completed its first field-based course in Rwanda to teach young women in rural off-grid communities to harness the potential of clean energy solutions, in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 7 to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

Launched in the Gatsibo district of Rwanda, the course, titled “Rural Energy Access: Designing and implementing inclusive community energy systems,” is the inaugural offering of WiSER Cares, a multidisciplinary initiative launched this year to engage WiSER Pioneers in on-the-ground learning experiences that promote sustainable community development. WiSER Pioneers is a year-long program, hosted annually since 2018, that offers women aged 25 to 35 access to bespoke educational workshops and global networking opportunities to inspire sustainability leadership.

Fourteen young women, including nine WiSER Pioneers and five Rwandan professionals, completed the six-day WiSER Cares course, comprised of a series of lectures and hands-on projects led by global experts in renewable energy and sustainable development, with a focus on four core disciplines: 1) energy systems technology and service models; 2) energy access business models and financing; 3) community inclusion, social change and human development; and 4) climate adaptation. 

“We are proud to offer the WiSER Cares Rural Energy Access course as part of Masdar’s long-running effort to equip young women with the knowledge and skills necessary to lead their communities and the world in building a more sustainable future,” said Dr. Lamya Fawwaz, Masdar’s Executive Director of Brand & Strategic Initiatives, and WiSER Program Director. 

“Through a multidisciplinary approach that emphasizes development of practical skills, strong technical fundamentals and realistic business models, WiSER Cares aims to facilitate productive cultural exchange and inspire participants to work together to achieve SDG 7 by accelerating the clean energy transition in rural off-grid communities,” added Dr. Fawwaz. 

Experts leading the course included Co-Executive Director of Energy Action Partners in Malaysia, Ayu Abdullah; Off-Grid Technical Advisor, Energy Action Partners in Rwanda, Ivan Asiimwe; Co-Founder and Team Leader of Love at Hands in Rwanda, Erica Matasi Gateka; and Co-Director of Energy Action Partners and CEO of ClearSky Power, Boston, Dr. Scott Kennedy. 

The WiSER platform was officially launched by Masdar and the Zayed Sustainability Prize on the sidelines of the 70th United Nations General Assembly in September 2015 with the goal of inspiring women to play an active role in addressing global sustainability challenges.

Over 20 Young Women Graduate from Masdar’s WiSER Pioneers Program


Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 19 July 2022: Masdar, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, today announced that 23 graduates successfully completed its annual Women in Sustainability, Environment, and Renewable Energy (WiSER) Pioneers Program, which empowers women aged 25 to 35 to lead sustainable change in their communities and careers. 

Now in its fourth year, more than 70 young women representing 17 nationalities have graduated from the WiSER Pioneers Program, including this year’s 23 graduates, all of whom successfully completed more than 20 hours of educational and skills-training workshops and over 100 hours of one-on-one mentorship sessions. 

The program is part of Masdar’s broader WiSER initiative, which launched in 2015 on the sidelines of the 70th United Nations (UN) General Assembly to inspire women and girls to play a more active, coequal role in the global energy transition, in line with both the United Arab Emirates’ strategic net-zero initiative and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. 

Masdar Executive Director of Brand & Strategic Initiatives, and WiSER Program Director, Dr Lamya Fawwaz, said: “By training, upskilling and creating mentorship opportunities for talented young women, the WiSER Pioneers Program empowers future generations of women to become sustainability leaders in their communities, workplaces and around the world, which is critical to meeting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.”

WiSER Advisory Council Member, Co-Chair of UN-Energy, and CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Sustainable Energy for All, Damilola Ogunbiyi, said: “Through my involvement with WiSER, I am proud to play a part in empowering women to become leaders in our sustainable energy future and I look forward to the positive impact these graduates will make.”

WiSER Pioneer, Farah Al Sayegh, said: “The WiSER Pioneers Program gave me the opportunity to learn directly from world-class experts, industry leaders, innovators and change-makers, fostering the real-world experience and robust global network I will need to make a meaningful difference.”

Masdar’s Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) strategic initiative has published a white paper on the positive impact of equitable energy access on inclusive sustainable development. Energy Access for All: A WiSER Perspective builds on roundtable discussions held during the 2022 WiSER Annual Forum, one of the key events of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. 

The virtual Forum brought together more than 80 delegates, including the then-President of Armenia, government ministers, business leaders, academics and youth representatives, to discuss equitable energy access issues. Participants looked at the barriers women face in accessing clean electricity, energy financing, and other resources that prevent them from participating in, and benefiting from, clean energy developments and policies. 

Importantly, Energy Access for All: A WiSER Perspective highlights how institutions and individuals can improve women’s access to energy finance, develop better-informed energy policies and infrastructure for equitable clean energy access, include more women in clean energy development and use, support more women-led energy entrepreneurship, and facilitate greater female representation in energy leadership and decision-making. 

The white paper includes insights from His Excellency Armen Sarkissian, former President of Armenia, as well as extended interviews with experts in business, engineering, research and development, and policymaking on clean energy access and the role of women in the renewable energy sector. 

To download the white paper, please click here.

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• Supported by its Principal Partner Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, WiSER held the sixth annual Forum at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 
• Forum to be held virtually under the theme of ‘Energy access for all: empowering women to accelerate sustainable development’  

Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER), one of Masdar’s outreach platforms, explored the positive impact of energy access on inclusive sustainable development at its virtual Annual Forum, held as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2022.

The sixth WiSER Annual Forum is the flagship event of the WiSER platform, which is dedicated to empowering women so they may play a greater role in carrying forward the sustainability agenda.  
Supported by Principal Partner Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, the 2022 Forum was held under the theme, ‘Energy access for all: empowering women to accelerate sustainable development’. The invite-only roundtable event, explored the barriers women face in accessing clean electricity, energy financing, and other resources that prevent them from participating in, and benefiting from, clean energy developments and policies. It also addressed the challenges women face in finding jobs in the clean energy sector, where currently only 22 percent of the workforce is female, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). 

Importantly, participants in the Forum will discuss how institutions and individuals can improve women’s access to energy finance and further support women-led energy entrepreneurship.
“As we head into the next 50, the role of women in sustainability finds more resonance than ever before. In the UAE, women are fully supported – Our leadership believes in women’s role in shaping lives and empowers them to lead central efforts towards sustainability and clean energy,” said Eng. Amal Al Braiki, Strategic Affairs Executive Director at the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy. “Women have distinct experiences and excel at the soft skills needed for business leadership. Therefore, they bring new perspectives and important insights to inform policies and decision-making to better serve the community. We look forward to this year’s WiSER Forum to discuss global women’s access to clean energy access and ways to promote their role in energy sustainability.” 

“There is a growing recognition of the positive impact that inclusive energy access has on the development of women, children, and all of society,” said Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director, Brand & Strategic Initiatives at Masdar.  “The WiSER Forum will address a critically important issue of our time – the need to improve women’s access to reliable and sustainable sources of energy, as well as to other key resources, so they can directly contribute to and benefit from the development of new technologies and policies shaping our future, which is essential to achieving gender parity and all the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
The resulting insights from the Forum’s discussions will contribute to the latest WiSER white paper, which will advance understanding of the complex issues behind inclusive sustainable development and offer tangible solutions to improve energy access for all. Previous white papers produced by WiSER have explored the impact of artificial intelligence on gender parity, and the role of women in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

The Forum also marked the first event of the year for the new intake of WiSER Pioneers – a year-long program offering women aged 25 to 35 access to educational workshops and global networking opportunities with industry experts. 

Speakers for the 2022 Forum included: Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan, Founder and CEO, Alliances for Global Sustainability; H.E. Suhail Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister, UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure; Tayba Al Hashemi, CEO, ADNOC Sour Gas; Fatema Al Nuaimi, CEO, ADNOC LNG; Anne-Marie Choho, Director General - Executive Vice-President, SETEC; James Baker, CEO, National Graphene Institute at The University of Manchester; Joanna Osawe, President and CEO, Women in Renewable Energy (WIRE); Katherine Lucey, Founder and CEO, Solar Sister; Haifa Al Kaylani, Founder and President, Arab International Women’s Forum (AIWF); Gillian-Alexandre Huart, CEO, ENGIE Energy Access; Sophia Brecknell, Deputy Head of Mission, UAE, at the British Embassy; and Sarah Casey, Managing Director, Climate Council, and many more. 

For more information about the WiSER Annual Forum, visit www.abudhabisustainabiltyweek.com

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Collaboration between public and private sector entities is crucial if the adoption of sustainable finance is to accelerate, attendees of the first in-person WiSER Wisdom Series heard.

Hosted by the Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER) platform at the Women’s Pavilion Majlis at Dubai Expo 2020, panelists for the session on ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) investing and the future of business were: Mercedes Vela Monserrate – Head of Sustainable Finance at ADGM, Belinda Scott, VP ESG Advisory at First Abu Dhabi Bank, and Michael Bueker, SVP Finance at Siemens Middle East Energy. Moderator was Hanan Saif Al Yafei, Senior Advisor, Responsible Investing team at Mubadala. 

Mercedes said “we need to have a gold standard that will allow for a level playing field but taking into account the specificities of each region.” 

She noted the High Level Statement on sustainable finance by UAE regulators at COP26 to advance the UAE’s net zero goals, which included a commitment to encouraging consistent ESG corporate disclosure standards across the country. 

The panelists said the social aspect of ESG was as equally important as the environmental aspect. Michael said that diversity and inclusion was a big part of Siemens Middle East Energy’s ESG strategy. The company, he said, was committed to having women making up at least 25 percent of senior leadership positions by 2025 and 30 percent by 2030, and this is “being measured and highly focused by all of us.” 

“We live in a world that’s interconnected,” added Mercedes. “So if you want to have a robust business, then you want to make sure the people around the table are diverse.” Belinda said it was more important for businesses to “set a purpose for what they want to achieve” rather than obsessing over their ESG rankings at any given time. 

She said: “I’m happy to say that’s one of the things we’re trying to do at FAB, and the bank has set that purpose of what we want to be as a bank in the future and how we’re going to get there.”
WiSER is supported by Principal Partner Abu Dhabi Global Market.