ALLAN JACOB (DUBAI)

Sustainable ventures and businesses with products and services that help mitigate global warming are making their presence felt at COP28.

There’s new purpose, and urgency, unlike previous environment summits, and the UAE has been working assiduously over the last year like no COP Presidency has ever done before, behind the scenes and in public.

The efforts are bearing fruit and, this year, 150 such ventures are being showcased at the Startup Village Green Zone at Expo City Dubai. What caught attention, however, was that most of these companies believe that it is part of their social responsibility. Profits will come, they said almost in unison.

The UAE is fast emerging as the world’s renewable energy champion under the guidance of its wise leadership led by President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, pushing for urgent solutions from governments and industries, which is encouraging, said business and startup leaders to Aletihad on the sidelines of the conference, which is already breaking records for historic commitments led by the UAE.

In fact, the UAE is putting money where its words are, and at last count, committing to $30 billion for a climate fund, and $100 million for the Loss and Damage Fund to cover the costs for the developing world’s speedy transition to clean energy sources.

This is where startups with social responsibility spring into action from COP28. Climate action needs innovative solutions and these ventures are getting bolder and better at flaunting their innovative solutions at the conference that got into its stride over the weekend under the UAE’s dynamic Presidency.

What’s different at this COP28 is that environment-friendly startups are not mere side-shows, they are finding pride of place at the conference venue. Founders of these ventures were charged as they met prospective investors and policymakers, popping in and out of back-to-back meetings and networking sessions.

On the weekend, the Green Zone at the venue was brimming with clean ideas and concepts and some founders of these ventures said that it’s time that their voices are heard, and solutions taken seriously, while being implemented on a broader scale by governments and industry for millions to benefit.

From water filtration ventures, plant-based packaging, and T-shirt recycling – yes, you heard that right – COP28 companies have a solution for every environment issue the world faces today.

“The costs, though marginally higher, could be worth it if the execution is done right, and done now,” said Sue Snyder, the CEO of Environment Water Minerals, an established US-based firm that is looking to expand in the UAE.

The company is into smart and sustainable ways to filter water. Any water – brackish, saline – and that which is extracted from the oil drilling process can be made fit for consumption, said Snyder.

Japanese company JEPLAN, through its BRING initiative, makes companies cooperate with each other and with consumers to recycle clothing.

“We also recycle bottles using our proprietary PET chemical recycling technology,” explained Takahashi Yasuko, the company’s sales head.

Another social enterprise that made heads turn at the venue was Avani, a company founded in Bali, Indonesia, that has a strong UAE presence. “I am not plastic,” the company proclaims as it displays eco-friendly packaging products ranging from food boxes and coffee cups made from cornstarch and cassava that are biodegradable.

The company’s UAE arm, Avant Eco Middle East, has also received Dh2.5 million in funding from the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF).

Founders of ventures like Thomas Pang, the CEO of Neuron, said they are building digital brains for a smarter and sustainable world, starting with devices for buildings of the future.

“Our devices help track consumption of electricity, while also keeping homes and buildings secure while tracking pollution levels,” claimed Pang.

Even air-conditioning could get cooler and cleaner in the future with less emissions if the technology from Concept Studio is adopted. The Hong Kong-based company, with an office in Abu Dhabi, said there’s huge potential in their technology, an innovative temperature control system that works using radiant heat transfers on special panels developed by the company.

Founded just three years ago by Paul Y. C. Chang, the firm hopes for a breakthrough at COP28, and said its technology reduces energy consumption by 50 per cent compared to AC systems that are now in use, ensuring cleaner indoors, the company claimed.

The social-sustainability story is indeed going strong at COP28 Startup Village. In fact, it’s taking wings.