EIT Climate-KIC at COP28

The COP28 UN Climate Change Conference, hosted by the United Arab Emirates this year, will take place from 30 November to 12 December 2023 in Dubai. In addition to advancing global climate talks and action, this year’s climate conference will focus on the Global Stocktake, loss and damage, solutions implementation and climate finance.

As a key actor in climate action in Europe and abroad, EIT Climate-KIC is going to COP28 to share our expertise in supporting cities, countries, regions and their value chains to bridge the gap between their climate goal commitments and current reality. 

We are also going to Dubai with the intent to listen to other actors, find like-minded organisations we can partner with and learn from, and try to understand how our expertise in driving systemic change could contribute to solving today’s most pressing global challenges.

Below is a list of sessions we’re leading or contributing to. Join us in person or virtually, and follow the conversation on social media under the hashtags #SystemsChangeNow and #RadicalCollaboration.

Please note: all the events listed below are in UAE local time (UTC+4)‎.

Learn about our COP28 ambitionsRead our liveblog

UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub opening session

Blue Zone, UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub Pavilion

This session officially opens the UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub COP 28 Dialogues, featuinge high-level statements from UGIH supporting partners on their reasons for engagement and plans, including EIT Climate-KIC CEO Kirsten Dunlop.

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Urban settlements in transformations – Places of learning, community and self-determination

Blue Zone, UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub Pavilion
Led by EIT Climate-KIC

This session opens a conversation about systems innovation in cities, and about role of city leaders and citizens, local communities and businesses, in transformation at scale. What is needed from city leaders and community leaders to support and enable change? How can leaders and urban dwellers be given the space to experiment, push boundaries and learn in real time and how can they work to engage and mobilise local communities? How can narratives, and opportunities for learning and active participation of citizens and community groups lead to positive and equitable change?

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System innovation for net zero: Bringing transformational change to cities and regions

OECD COP28 virtual pavilion

Cities and regions are accountable for a high share of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As such they play a crucial role in meeting global mitigation targets. In particular, policy decisions shaping transport and urban planning will largely determine the spatial development of a city or a region. This will in turn determine the share of GHG emissions, making transport and urban planning policy decisions inseparable from climate action, as well as from broader action to improve people’s well-being.

This session will bring together government representatives and international institutions to discuss how system innovation can help cities and regions move towards net zero. On this occasion, the OECD will present recent work that that brings systems thinking and systems innovation to the heart of climate action. Governments representatives will share experiences and lessons regarding the value added to this decision-making approach. In addition, international institutions will discuss the importance of systemic change for achieving sustainable lifestyles and the use of systems innovation for accelerating the pathway to a resilient future.

Harnessing stakeholders’ knowledge for climate-smart soil management

EU side event, online

Both the Communications on the ‘EU Soil Strategy for 2030’ and on ‘Sustainable Carbon Cycles’, rely on development of new knowledge and making that knowledge effectively available to land managers. The European Joint Programme (EJP) SOIL works across 24 European countries to build a sustainable European integrated research system and develop and deploy a reference framework for climate-smart, sustainable agricultural soil management.  Close interaction with stakeholders is key to realize sustainable soil management to maintain the soil in a healthy condition and practices need to be adapted to different soil types, climatic conditions and local contexts.  This session discusses stakeholder involvement in effective knowledge management to support policy development on and adoption of climate-smart and sustainable soil management.

Development of resilient and livable cities

Designing knowledge-action networks for supporting climate-positive innovation towards regenerative transformation

Blue Zone, UN Climate Change Pavilion
Co-organised by EIT Climate-KIC with BMW Foundation

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Climate narratives and storytelling: Unleashing the power of creativity

Blue Zone, Resilience Frontiers Pavilion
Organised by EIT Climate-KIC

Humans have always made sense of the world through stories and everyone should be equipped to tell powerful stories for climate impacts. Hence, it’s essential to invest time in building this capability to democratise storytelling.

This workshop session focuses on supporting participants in building personal capabilities towards communicating engaging climate stories.  Through hands-on guidance participants gain an understanding of:  

• how they can harness the power of creativity and storytelling to change systems for the better  
• what makes a good story, and how they best pull out the main essences from their own work and experiences to create authentic and meaningful stories 
• how to shape more inclusive narratives 
• how to make sure that relevant stories reach a receptive audience

More informationWatch the highlights

Innovative solutions for community resilience: A partnership between “doers” and “funders”

Climate Action Innovation Zone

The effects of climate change are often experienced most acutely at the local level. Each community faces unique challenges based on its geographical location, climate, and socio-economic context. Innovation plays a crucial role in tailoring these adaptation strategies to specific local needs and is essential for effective resilience building. Join this session to hear how funders and grassroots ‘doers’ are working together to ensure climate finances are deployed effectively. This session is hosted by UNDP, under the Adaptation Innovation Marketplace (AIM)’s strategic platform, which promotes scaled-up adaptation at the local level through NGOs, civil society, women, and young innovators.

• What key factors influence investors and donors’ decisions to support impactful resilience organisations?
• How do sustainable models and value chains help bolster resilience, especially in disadvantaged areas?
• What tools, practices, technologies, and business models are scalable? What finance models are available for innovation in adaptation?

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Radical collaborations: Breaking finance silos and implementation barriers to deliver on the climate agenda

Blue Zone, UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub Pavilion
Co-organised by EIT Climate-KIC with OECD

This session will focus on a system-thinking approach and explore new and radical ways of working across philanthropic funding and implementation. During the session, EIT Climate-KIC and the Systemic Climate Action Funding Collaborative and OECD’s netFWD will facilitate a discussion among foundations, delivering organisations, experts and public donors, to discuss practical and locally-led solutions to priority issues identified by the COP28 2 Presidency, including youth, education and skills, gender equality, nature, land use and oceans; while keeping a tight focus on poverty reduction and leaving no one behind. 

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Catalyzing innovation and private sector engagement in climate adaptation and resilience 

Blue Zone, UNEP Pavilion

In the face of escalating climate change impacts, Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDs) find themselves disproportionately affected. At the same time, the current level of private sector involvement falls significantly short of what is essential to effectively address the far-reaching consequences of climate change. This deficiency not only hampers the ability to cope with climate impacts but also represents a missed opportunity to unlock crucial climate investments and foster innovation in these countries.

To address this critical void, a new GEF-UNIDO project aims to promote private sector engagement and innovation in climate adaptation by establishing three Communities of Practice, serving as dedicated platforms to systematically gather and showcase all knowledge generated by adaptation projects. 

This initiative will focus on three sectors: a) Investment funds b) MSMEs incubation and acceleration, and c) Climate change adaptation impacts and measures metrics, and each one will be led by an institutional entity with expertise in the field.

This session will launch the project. 

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Tech Showcase: Climate crisis action through cross-border collaboration and entrepreneurship

Climate Action Innovation Zone

Climate and systems change: Towards positive tipping points

Green Zone, Impact Hub, DP World Pavilion

Tipping points are small changes that trigger larger, more significant changes. They can be warning signs of danger ahead or they can be signs of hope and reason for optimism. In the midst of the climate crisis, it can be difficult to identify tipping points accurately, let alone direct resources to encourage positive change and stall momentum in the wrong direction.  

As we reimagine our economic, energy, food, transportation and other systems, how can we recognise and encourage the positive tipping points needed to achieve them? In this session organised by Kite Insights, we’ll explore the small changes with the potential to drive the acceleration of the green transformation and how to turn them into systems level change across cultures, societies and geographies.   

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The road to clean and decarbonised cities

Blue Zone, Spanish Pavilion
Co-organised by EIT Climate-KIC

Against the backdrop of rising urbanization and the imperative to combat climate change, this event takes center stage in acknowledging the critical role of cities in the global decarbonization effort.

This session underscores the paramount importance of reshaping urban landscapes and policies to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the impact of climate change. It seeks to unite city planners, environmentalists, and stakeholders to explore innovative strategies, sustainable technologies, and progressive policies aimed at creating cleaner, more resilient, and energy-efficient urban environments.

Through collaborative discussions and knowledge-sharing, the event aims to equip attendees with the insights and tools necessary to embark on a path of sustainable urban development. It will delve into topics such as renewable energy integration, green infrastructure, and sustainable transportation, fostering a vision of cities that not only reduce their carbon footprint but also improve the quality of life for their residents. “The Road to Clean and Decarbonized Cities” serves as a crucial waypoint in the collective journey towards more sustainable, resilient, and environmentally responsible urban centers.

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EIT Climate-KIC press conference: How to bridge the gap between climate commitments and reality

Blue Zone, Press Conference Room 2, Zone B6 – Building 77
Led by EIT Climate-KIC

City, regional, and national leaders have taken the helm in driving climate action, aligning with the Paris Agreement’s aim to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. However, as COP28 approaches its conclusion, the IPCC’s recent report on the Global Stocktake highlights a significant gap between nations’ actions and their intended ambitions, emphasising the urgent need for systemic changes.

EIT Climate-KIC has dedicated years to prepare for supporting leaders in navigating this “messy middle,” striving to bridge the gap between climate ambition and existing realities. Our efforts involve spearheading EU Missions, such as Pathways2Resilience and NetZeroCities, encouraging regions and cities to engage actively in climate adaptation and mitigation. Additionally, we collaborate with national governments, aiding Ireland’s transformation of the agri-food sector to meet emissions reduction goals and assisting Slovenia in establishing a circular economy across various sectors. These large-scale endeavours serve as tangible demonstrations of systemic transformations in action. Nevertheless, achieving these goals necessitates robust financial mobilization and capacity building, essential aspects that we prioritize across all our projects.

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Climate Dragon’s Den: Presenting the future leaders in climate finance

Blue Zone, Opportunity Petal, BENELUX Pavilion

The International Climate Finance Accelerator (ICFA) Luxembourg is a unique public-private partnership created in 2018 with the aim to support and scale innovative and high-impact climate solutions by accelerating first- and second-time fund managers with a developed and tested investment strategy focusing on climate action. During this event, six future leaders in climate finance will present themselves and will face a jury of experienced public and private investors.

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Intergenerational dialogue and the future of cities

Blue Zone, Resilience Frontiers Pavilion
Organised by EIT Climate-KIC

Engaging citizens of different generations, specifically youth and senior citizens, can be a resource for city leadership and can be a major support for cities who want to drive more transformative and visionary policy.  

This session will be designed to be inclusive and participatory, inviting city and regional leaders, and city stakeholders, to join a real-time capability building workshop with climate activists, both young and experienced. We will explore and collectively build principles that can support cities and regional authorities to better listen to, engage with and build real collaboration with citizens.  

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What we can learn from Slovenia: The role of the construction industry in national circular economies – challenges and opportunities

EU side event, online
Led by EIT Climate-KIC

This session will be using EIT Climate-KIC’s Deep Demonstration Slovenia programme as a case with collaboration from Built 4 People to address the common territorial challenges in construction sector i n order to enhance circular economy in central European region.

The construction sector consumes resources and generates emissions greatly. For example, 50% of water, 33% of energy and over 50% of all extracted materials are spent by this industry sector which produces more than 30% of waste and 35% of Green House Gas emissions. This makes it one area to implement circular economy practices and principles in order to boost the well-being in Central European region. While some regions have already adapted and are developing good practices for circular economy in construction sector, some are currently taking their first initial steps. In addition, the construction sector is conventional and a hard-to-adapt industry sector for circular economy. However, there are common territorial challenges in construction sector that need to be addressed in order to enhance circular economy within this region.

This session is a place to learn about the challenges and possible solutions which the region is dealing with. 

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Holistic and systemic urban transformation: Change at city-wide scale

Blue Zone, UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub Pavilion
Led by EIT Climate-KIC

This session focuses on learnings from the ground, hearing from cities that are currently engaged in systems-thinking and systems innovation approaches to creating whole place transformation. Focussed on reflections and lessons emerging from the experience at city-level, this session will bring together expertise and perspectives from leading initiatives in Europe, South America, North America and Asia.

Insights will include reflections on the need to address both mitigation and adaptation; finance and business models, multi-level governance, policy innovations needed for acceleration and scaling (via replication models), stakeholder engagement including direct and specific partnership and community-led and community-owned development.

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Shape the future industries: emerging solutions and systemic innovations

Blue Zone, Finland Pavilion

How do companies navigate the path to renewal? In a world of rapid change and evolving technologies, industries are at a crossroads, faced with unprecedented challenges and opportunities. This session will explore the cutting-edge solutions, visionary leaders, and transformative ideas that are redefining the industrial landscape. What is the role of innovations, start-ups, regulations and how European Union drives the change? How to balance tradition and innovation, economic growth and environmental sustainability?

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Climate tech innovation and climate action

Blue Zone, IDB Group Pavilion

The panel will discuss key private sector innovations in climate technology that are shaping our response to climate change, with special emphasis on innovations from the Latin American and Caribbean region, as well as the potential of technological innovations to rapidly scale up the adaptation and mitigation agenda at the sector level.

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Integrated landscape restoration finance: Funding to turn local action into broad climate resilience

Blue Zone, EU Pavilion

Holistic landscape restoration provides a solution to multiple interconnected challenges that face our planet. This session will talk about the findings of a paper that takes a novel approach to financing nature alongside local socio-economic and well-being needs. 

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A sustainable food systems approach to innovation for climate action

Blue Zone, UAE Pavilion

Food systems are a key component in climate action, and a sustainable food systems approach to innovation requires consideration of the system in its entirety, including the entities, elements, institutions and people involved, and all outcomes – economic, political, environmental, health and social.

This session, organised by Ireland’s Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the UAE Ministry of Climate Change, will be moderated by Daniel Zimmer, Director of Sustainable Land Use at EIT Climate-KIC.

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Challenges in the implementation of regenerative agriculture practices

Blue Zone, Spanish Pavilion
Co-organised by EIT Climate-KIC

This session shines a spotlight on a critical agricultural shift that aims to revolutionize the way we produce food while enhancing sustainability and ecological health. In an era marked by climate change and the need for more sustainable farming, this event addresses the hurdles faced in adopting regenerative agricultural practices.

The event underscores the significance of transitioning from conventional farming methods to regenerative practices that prioritize soil health, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration. It provides a platform for farmers, researchers, policymakers, and environmentalists to explore the complexities and obstacles inherent in this transition.

Through in-depth discussions, this gathering offers a comprehensive overview of the challenges faced in scaling up regenerative agriculture, including access to resources, market demand, and education. It aims to equip participants with a deeper understanding of the hurdles and potential solutions, fostering a roadmap for broader adoption of regenerative agriculture practices. “Challenges in the Implementation of Regenerative Agriculture Practices” is a pivotal moment in the ongoing effort to transform the way we cultivate the land and manage our natural resources.

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Design, digitalization and sustainable development: The role of creative arts and industries in sustainable industrial transformation

Blue Zone, UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub Pavilion
Led by EIT Climate-KIC

How can product and service design, digital design and human-centric tools like playfulness, collaborative creation and creative problem solving be strategically used to build bridges across industry and policy ecosystems?

This panel led by EIT Climate-KIC will bring together major industry representatives and policy makers across the world to present their current actions, share their knowledge on new design and creative arts education and digitalisation implementations – which are not only useful for current industry and policy stakeholders and decision makers, but also for the generation to come.

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How to clothe 10 billion people sustainably

Blue Zone, UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub Pavilion
Led by EIT Climate-KIC

In a world racing against the clock to mitigate climate change, the fashion industry stands at a critical crossroads. It is a sector that touches lives globally, making its sustainability non-negotiable as we look to clothe a growing population. EIT Climate-KIC is committed to galvanising transformative change across diverse sectors to meet our climate targets.

This session led by EIT Climate-KIC will serve as a showcase for technological and systemic advancements—from sustainable materials to AI-driven supply chain management—that have the potential to reshape the fashion industry for the better.

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How to co-create a climate safe future with localisation of SDGs, culture, youth & technology

Blue Zone, UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub Pavilion
Co-organised by EIT Climate-KIC with DigitalArts4Climate

The session will be showcasing the DigitalArt4Climate program as a good practice case for the engagement of the creative community, youth and local communities and net zero cities in ambitious climate action.

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Narrative and storytelling in service of climate action: Describing the future we want and winning the story war

Blue Zone, UNFCCC Global Innovation Hub Pavilion
Led by EIT Climate-KIC

For years, we believed that knowledge alone would drive climate action, but emissions continue to rise despite robust science. The problem isn’t a lack of information but a shortage of imagination. To make knowledge actionable, it must be accessible, usable, and inspiring, offering a meaningful vision of the future we want. The climate movement has struggled to create this vision, resulting in a crisis of imagination fueled by negative narratives and vested interests. To address this, we need a new positive narrative that engages our emotions and culture, involving artists, scientists, psychologists, and more to reshape our perspective and inspire meaningful change.

This panel led by EIT Climate-KIC will bring together expert storytellers, influencers, advertisers, filmmakers, creative and performing artists and leaders working in policy and politics to debate how, where and when to create representations of a sustainable future: the stories and images that we need in order to be moved to create a sustainable world together. The session will discuss how we can enable collaboration across sectors, geographies and spheres of influence to embed images and stories that normalise the many ways in which we can live in balance with one another and within planetary boundaries.