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The World Bank Group’s Roadmap for Climate Action in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), which runs from 2021 to 2025, aims to drive climate action and a green recovery in the region. MENA is one of the most vulnerable regions to climate change, enduring extremely high temperatures, desertification, water scarcity, degraded marine, coastal ecosystems, and high levels of fossil fuel dependency.
The roadmap outlines four key transformation areas to build low-carbon, resilient societies:
- Food systems, water security, and resilient natural capital
- Energy transition and low-carbon mobility
- Climate-smart cities and resilient coastal economies
- Sustainable finance for climate action
What are the primary policy and structural constraints facing MENA countries in achieving climate-smart, sustainable, and inclusive growth? What would it take for MENA countries to develop the whole of government and whole of economy approaches to addressing climate change? What are the areas for the MENA countries to accelerate regional cooperation for collective action towards building a sustainable and resilient future? What actions could countries take to crowd in financing for green investments including from the private sector for more ambitious climate action?
MEI is pleased to join the World Bank in welcoming four panels of experts for a two-day event exploring these strategic questions.
Wednesday, March 9
10:00 – 10:15am
Opening Remarks
Paul Salem President, MEI
Ayat Soliman Regional Director, Sustainable Development, Middle East and North Africa, World Bank
10:15 – 10:45am
Key Messages from the Roadmap for Climate Action in MENA
Adeel Syed AbbasRegional Coordinator, Climate Change, World Bank
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Climate-Smart Approaches to Natural Resource Management
Kholoud Al-Ajarma Anthropologist, Photographer, Human Rights Advocate
Nagaraja Rao HarshadeepGlobal Lead, Environment, Natural Resources & Blue Economy Global Practice, World Bank
Kaveh Madani Head of Nexus Research Programme, United Nations University
Carole Megevand Sector Leader, Sustainable Development, Maghreb and Malta
Lia Sieghart (moderator) Practice Manager, Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy (ENB) Global Practice, World Bank
12:30 – 1:30 pm
Strategic and Optimal Approaches for Green Investments
Jill Dauchy Founder and CEO, Potomac Group
Vahid Fotuhi Founder and Chief Executive, Blue Forest
Lama Kiyasseh
Investment Officer, IFC
Karen Young (moderator) Senior Fellow and Director of Program on Economics and Energy, MEI
Thursday, March 10
9:00 – 10:00am
Achieving Economic Growth Through Energy and Transport Decarbonization
Arturo Ardila Gomez Global Lead for Urban Mobility and Lead Transport Economist, World Bank
Scott Livermore Chief Economist, Oxford Economics Middle East
Maged Mahmoud
Technical Director, Lead Renewable Energy Advisor, Regional Center for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency (RCREEE)
Monali Ranade Senior Energy Specialist, World Bank
Ashok Sarkar Senior Energy Specialist, World Bank
Husam Mohamed Beides (moderator) Practice Manager, Energy and Extractives Global Practice, World Bank
10:30 – 11:30am
Enhancing Climate Resilience in Urban Environments
Aline BussmannCo-Driector, CEWAS
Karim ElgendyUrban Sustainability and Climate consultant & Founder, Carboun
Nuha Eltinay
Representative, MENA Region, Resurgence
Mohammed Mahmoud (moderator) Director of Climate and Water Program, MEI
11:45 am – 12:00 pm
Closing Remarks
Mohammed Mahmoud Director of Climate and Water Program, MEI
Adeel Syed AbbasRegional Coordinator, Climate Change, World Bank
Outlook for Sustainable Agriculture in North Africa: Report Card Assessment
