Abu Dhabi forum paves way for nature-positive growth

ABU DHABI / WAM

The inaugural day of the highly anticipated Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Forum, themed “Nature-Positive Growth”, began on Wednesday with remarkable insights and discussions from industry leaders, experts, and visionaries.
Held on October 4-5, and sponsored by Dolphin Energy Limited as lead sponsor, with Aldar named strategic partner and Pyramedia Group as the event’s media partner, the forum focuses on the imperative need to address the overarching climate catastrophe through sustainable business practices.
On behalf of Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD), Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director of Environment Information, Science Outreach Management Sector at EAD, said, “This forum is a very important event, bringing together the Abu Dhabi stakeholder community to discuss the pressing challenge of climate action and devising tangible, practical, realistic and innovative solutions that can be fully implemented and executed on the ground in our bid to curb climate change through a unified approach. It is more vital than ever that businesses, markets, and society cooperate closely to respond to environmental challenges and find collective ways to accelerate progress, while fostering collaborative opportunities for nature-positive growth and sustainable development.”
In the face of multiple global crises, the forum takes a bold step towards shifting attention from immediate challenges to the longer-term perspective of climate change and nature loss. Business leaders, policymakers, and thought influencers congregated to deliberate on the real risks and potential consequences that climate change poses to the future success of organisations across the globe.
The Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Forum 2023 serves as a pivotal platform to explore innovative approaches that businesses, markets, and societies can collectively adopt to address these uncertainties. The event aims to uncover pragmatic solutions and strategies that will not only counteract the challenges but also drive opportunities for nature-positive growth in unison.
Speaking at the event, Obaid Abdulla Al Dhaheri, CEO, Dolphin Energy Limited, Lead Sponsor Opening Address, said, “Being ‘Nature Positive’ offers a new, constructive and inclusive business environment because it allows the opportunity to demonstrate good governance, to contribute to the development of a stable society and the chance to follow a new, economic model for growth. It has allowed us to collaborate, innovate and be more transparent.”
Furthermore, ADSG, supported by EAD, announced the winners of the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Awards 2023 after a successful Gala Dinner event on Tuesday 3rd October 2023 at which Craig Bennett, CEO of The Wildlife Trusts and Honorary Professor of Sustainability and Innovation at the Alliance Manchester Business School, delivered a keynote speech.
The annual Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Awards recognised key sustainability initiatives and achievements across participating organisations in the region.

The winners were selected from a panel of four independent expert judges comprised of:

• Dr Jenny Davidson, Senior Lecturer and Climate Change Academic Fellow, Newcastle University Business School, United Kingdom.
• Mr Dexter Galvin, Chief Commercial Officer, CDP.
• Dr Fauzia Jabeen, Professor of Management, College of Business at Abu Dhabi University and Visiting Professor, Burgundy School of Business, Dijon, France.
• Mr Abdullatif Albitawi, Vice Chair, Energy Institute (EI) Middle East.

Ahmed Baharoon, Executive Director of Environment Information, Science Outreach Management Sector and Huda Al Houqani, Director of the ADSG presented Awards to the following individuals and organisations:

• Best Sustainability Initiative – Abu Dhabi Ports Group
• Best Sustainability Report – Schneider Electric
• Sustainability Manager of the Year – Eissa Al Jenaibi, Adnoc Gas
• Sustainability Leader of the Year – Shargiil Bashir, First Abu Dhabi Bank
• Best Sustainability Communication Programme – Schneider Electric
• Best Energy Management Initiative – ADNOC Gas

In addition, Dolphin Energy was awarded the honour of Award of Remarkable Commitment to the ADSG for the organisation’s longstanding support of the ADSG and its programmes.
Fourteen ADSG Members were also presented with Recognition Certificates for Sustainability Reporting: Dolphin Energy, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Aldar Group, Emirates Global Aluminium, Adnec Group, Taqa, Cleveland Clinic – Abu Dhabi, Schnieder Electric, BESIX, Masdar – Abu Dhabi Future Energy, HSBC, Etihad Airways and Aramex.
This year’s Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Awards took place in a particularly significant year, the UAE Year of Sustainability and the ADSG’s 15-year Anniversary, which is marked by a commemorative video and a publication documenting the history of the ADSG entitled Pioneering Sustainability: 15 Years of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group.
Othman Al Khouri, Acting Executive Director – Abu Dhabi Ports Group, the organisation awarded with Best Sustainability Initiative 2023, said, “Winning the Abu Dhabi Sustainable Business Leadership Award 2023 for Best Sustainability Initiative is a momentous recognition for AD Ports Group. This accolade signifies the culmination of our sustained efforts to champion marine biodiversity conservation, especially through our decade-long commitment to protecting the Ras Ghanada coral reef. Our Group is dedicated to continuing the pursuit of pioneering sustainable practices and investments that propel not only our growth, but also contribute to the ecological balance and well-being of our environment. We are steadfast in our belief that acting responsibly and proactively can foster a sustainable future for generations to come.”
Ahmed Mohamed Alebri, Chief Executive Officer of Adnoc Gas, said, “We appreciate the commitment of all the skilled professionals who submitted their achievements for the ‘Best Energy Management Initiative’ award. Adnoc Gas has consistently recognised the paramount importance of energy management and has continuously championed initiatives in this domain, fully aware of their potential to significantly decrease CO2 emissions across company operations. Energy Management initiatives hold a critical position in advancing Adnoc’s ambitious objective of net-zero emissions by 2045.”
Alebri, continued, “We extend our congratulations to all industry experts who took part in the respected ‘Sustainability Manager of the Year’ award. Recognising the urgent need to enable the energy transition and combat climate change, Adnoc Gas senior management places a paramount emphasis on integrating sustainability into the company’s strategic vision and plans. Furthermore, this work presents excellent opportunities for our colleagues to showcase their proactive capabilities and their commitment to sustainable operations, enabling them to reach new heights in their careers. We encourage industry professionals to incorporate energy-saving and emissions-reducing practices, as sustainability is now an integral component of energy companies’ strategies.