The Sustainable Innovation Forum will be the premier conference alongside COP18

The Sustainable Innovation Forum is set to be the premier event alongside the COP18 negotiations. With global attention set to be firmly focused on Qatar during the Conference of the Parties, the Sustainable Innovation Forum will concentrate on actions, solutions and leadership as well as the challenges and opportunities that exist for increased sustainable development.

The Forum will start at 14:00, December 6 at the Intercontinental Hotel, West Bay Lagoon, Doha and will feature opening keynote speeches from Sheikha Athba Bint Thamer Al-Thani, representing the state of Qatar; Dr Constantin Birnstiel, Head of Corporate Communications and Investor Relations and Chief Sustainability Officer at OSRAM; Nick Nuttall, Acting Director of Communications and Spokesperson at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Dr Rabi Mohtar, Executive Director of the Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI).

The Forum will once again feature high-level government and private sector panellists via three C-level plenary sessions to discuss how to greater mobilise public-private-partnerships (PPPs), the challenges of sustainable urbanisation with an ever-increasing population, and the latest advances in technology and innovation.

Plenary Panel I - Public-Private-Partnerships: Creating Effective Alliances for Building Green Economies will place special emphasis on emerging markets and nations. This plenary session will bring together government bodies, the private sector and the leading non-governmental organisations that are catalysing the increasing involvement of business within sustainable development. Panellists include Achim Steiner, Executive Director of UNEP, Ivonne A-Baki, Secretary of State for Ecuador and Dr Fadil Basyyoni, President of Saudi Asma Environmental Solutions.

Plenary Panel II - Sustainable cities: Examining the future for our urban population will  focus on the issues faced in both developed and developing urban landscapes and will include special emphasis on the Middle East region, bringing in expertise from the Emirates Green Building Council and Gulf Organisation for Research & Development. Panellists will include Arne Otto, Senior Vice President Corporate Strategy and Business Operational Excellence at OSRAM and will be moderated by Gino van Begin the Deputy Secretary-General of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability.

Plenary III - Technology and Innovation: Accelerating the green economy will focus on the green technologies and innovations that global businesses and industries are developing and integrating into the green economy and how these can be supported and accelerated by government.Panellists will include Gaurav Sood, Head of Crop Solutions at New Holland Agriculture in India, Capt. Chris Schroeder, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Environment & Fuel Projects at Qatar Airways and will be moderated by Farooq Ullah. Executive Director at Stakeholder Forum.

The Forum will also feature two UNEP & Siemens Practitioners Debates that will address the topics of sustainable development and technological innovation in the dialogue.

A highlight of the Forum will also be the Harvard Business Review Webinar / Panel Discussion in partnership with Future Influencers, a community initiated by Siemens. This discussion will bring together current and future influencers and will address energy and building a sustainable future.

 VIP closing speeches will be delivered by high level speakers including Barbara Kux, a Member of the Managing Board and Chief Sustainability Officer at Siemens AG, Daniele Violetti, Chief of Staff at the UNFCCC and Kaveh Zahedi, Deputy Director of UNEP’s Division of Technology, Industry and Economics.

 These will be followed by an outstanding networking opportunity and evening entertainment from exceptional Qatari musicians.

 Visit http://www.cop18qatar.com/agenda/ to see the updated agenda and details of the Sustainable Innovation Forum.