WGES 2026 roundtable calls for investment-ready projects to accelerate green economy

Ministers and international officials discussed ways to mobilise green investments and convert climate commitments into bankable projects during a ministerial roundtable at the 12th World Green Economy Summit (WGES) in Dubai.

The session, titled “From Ambition to Bankable Action – Mobilising Green Investments for a Resilient and Inclusive Global Economy”, was opened by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the World Green Economy Organization.

The summit was held on October 21 and 22 at Dubai World Trade Centre under the theme “From Success to Scale: Showcasing the Green Economy”.

Participants included UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak; Senegal’s Minister of Environment and Ecological Transition Aliou Gori Diouf; Nigeria’s Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal; and Palau’s Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and the Environment Steven Victor.

Also attending were Ibrahim Mimrah, Maldives Minister of State for Climate Change, Environment and Energy; Bader Wael Bader Al-Ajeel Al-Askar, Secretary-General of the Arab Towns Organization; Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability; and Hasan Suver, Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change, representing the COP31 Presidency.

Bérengère Boëll, United Nations Resident Coordinator for the UAE, and other UN officials also attended.

Roundtable focuses on financing green projects

Al Tayer said the global green transition requires governments to translate climate commitments, green economy strategies and targets into projects capable of attracting investment and delivering measurable results.

He said the priority was to develop investment-ready projects, establish effective partnerships and mobilise capital at the scale needed to support the transition.

The roundtable examined how promising ideas could be converted into bankable projects and connected with financing for implementation.

Al Tayer also highlighted the importance of ensuring that green investments generate broader economic and social benefits.

He said bankability should extend beyond financial returns to include green job creation, opportunities for small businesses and young people, and the fair distribution of benefits.

The approach, he said, applies across the key pillars of the World Green Economy Summit.

UAE highlights climate finance accessibility

Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to making climate finance available, accessible and affordable, particularly for emerging markets and Small Island Developing States.

She said the commitment aligns with the UAE Consensus and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change climate finance architecture.

The discussions underscored the importance of connecting climate ambitions with financing mechanisms and projects that can support a resilient and inclusive global economy.