Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi


Organized by Arab Forum for Environment & Development (AFED)
And Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi
In cooperation with: UNEP and WBCSD

Under the patronage of:
H.H. Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi

WHY AN ARAB CORPORATE ENVIRONMETNAL RESPONSIBILITY SUMMIT?
How can the business community in the Arab region respond to environmental challenges? Are Arab corporations ready to function in an era where the quality of their footprint has become a determining factor to gain the consent of the society?
The Arab Corporate Environmental Responsibility Summit will attempt to answer these questions, and draw an indigenous plan for appropriate action.
Hosted by HH Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the regional event will convene in the capital of the UAE, not only a hub of bustling business activity, but also a center of serious environmental initiatives.
The meeting will provide a platform for business leaders from Arab countries to share views and experiences about corporate environmental policies and programmes. A high-level round table will discuss and adopt a declaration on Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) and Cleaner Production (CP). Beyond discussing the concept, necessity and plans, the Summit will debate successful regional experiences and set guidelines for future action.
To enhance the debate, leading global organizations active in the field will also be participating, including the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The event is organized by the Arab Forum for Environment and Development (AFED), in cooperation with the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi. It launches AFED’s activities aiming at building strong Corporate Environmental Responsibility and Cleaner Production programmes among corporations active in the Arab region, harmonizing environmental measures and promoting a common market for environmentally-friendly products.

SPEAKERS
A one-day Summit grouping business leaders and experts, to debate best corporate environmental policies and practices. Expert insight from: Mostafa Kamal Tolba father of sustainable development, AFED President and former Executive Director of UNEP, Shafqat Kakakhel UN Assistant Secretary General and Deputy Executive Director, UNEP, Jürg Gerber COO of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), coordinating environmental action of the world’s top 170 corporations, Sylvie Lemmet Director of UNEP’s Division of Technology, Industry and Economics, a pioneering world centre on cleaner production, Ahmed Al Noaimi CEO of Alba Bahrain, the largest aluminium smelter in the world, and more. Also: Best in-class case studies from: Aramco, Etisalat, Adnoc, ALDAR Real Estate, Juhayna Food Industries, Petrofac.

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY AND CLEANER PRODUCTION
Corporate Environmental Responsibility (CER) and Cleaner Production (CP) are part of the overall Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). CER is generally defined as the duty to cover the environmental implications of the company’s operations, products and facilities, eliminate waste and emissions, maximize the efficiency and productivity of its resources, and minimize practices that might adversely affect future generations.
A growing number of companies have discovered concrete value and competitive advantages of taking environmental initiatives, for example in areas such as pollution prevention, energy efficiency, environmentally oriented design, supply-chain management and industrial ecology. These trends have largely been driven by increasing demand for transparency from stakeholders, and perceived consumer demand for environmental quality

THE VENUE: EMIRATES PALACE
International Conference Centre of Abu Dhabi

The Summit convenes at the Emirates Palace, a landmark that's a wonder to behold. Emirates Palace Conference Centre is the most luxurious and technologically advanced meeting facility in the region. The conference facilities include an auditorium, a ballroom and an extensive range of over 40 meeting rooms, a Media Centre and Business Centre.

PROGRAMME

09:00 - 10:00 Registration, get-together

10:00 - 10:30 Opening