CATF at Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Climate Week ... - Clean Air Task Force

CATF at Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Climate Week: Identifying opportunities for clean energy impacts and advancing global decarbonization efforts in the region - Clean Air Task Force

CATF at Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Climate Week: Identifying opportunities for clean energy impacts and advancing global decarbonization efforts in the region

Riyadh – Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is participating in a series of high-level engagements at the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Climate Week next week, emphasizing the need for the region to work toward a future that focuses on climate action and innovation to advance decarbonization technologies. CATF will be highlighting the complexities of addressing the climate challenge and sharing opportunities for the region to advance the full range of solutions needed to position itself for leadership in a net-zero emissions world.

“The MENA region is making progress in positioning itself as a long-term leader in clean energy innovation, and a hub for clean manufacturing and innovation in areas like carbon capture and sequestration, zero-carbon fuel production, and methane mitigation,” said Olivia Azadegan, MENA Energy Transition Director at CATF. “We’re looking forward to engaging leaders at this Climate Week in Riyadh, in the lead-up to COP28 – where the region will once again have an opportunity to showcase its climate ambition and action.”

MENA Climate Week is one of several regional climate weeks taking place around the world, leading up to COP28 in Dubai that is taking place between November 30 and December 12, 2023.

“The MENA region represents one of the world’s largest energy hubs, but it is also facing widespread vulnerability to significant growing climate impacts,” said Lee Beck, Europe and Middle East Senior Director at CATF. “Given its substantial energy and financial resources, technical knowledge, and its position as a global energy supplier, there is a clear need and opportunity for leadership in the region to advance solutions that reduce emissions while increasing energy access and economic strength. To meet the unique climate challenges in the region, it is imperative that we engage with local leadership and other major stakeholders around a shared regional approach to advancing global decarbonization at scale.”

CATF experts will be on the ground throughout the week participating in high-level stakeholder convenings, and speaking at the following public events:

The Role of Critical Minerals, Metals and Materials in the Energy Transition

Date and time: Monday, October 9 at 2:00pm

Location: Theater 2, The Boulevard, Riyadh

Hosting: Atlantic Council

CATF Speaker: Lee Beck, Senior Director, Europe and Middle East

Three Stakeholder Perspectives: Abatement in the Paris Agreement (Geologic Net Zero)

Date and time: Monday, October 9 at 4:00pm

Location: Zone 3, Action Hub Event

Hosting: CATF, Oxford University, AEON

CATF Speaker: Kurt Waltzer, Senior Advisor

The Role of Clean Hydrogen and CCUS to Achieve Climate Ambitions in MENA

Date and time: Tuesday, October 10, all day

Location: APEX Center

Hosting: KAPSARC, IEF

CATF Speaker: Lee Beck, Europe and Middle East Senior Director

Creating a Business Case for Carbon Management through Policy Action

Date and time: Wednesday, October 11 at 3:00pm

Location: Jazan

Hosting: CATF, CEM, GCCSI, KAPSARC

CATF Moderator: Olivia Azadegan, MENA Energy Transition Director

CCUS Climate Technology: Driving Decarbonisation in Cement and Steel

Date and time: Thursday, October 12 at 10:30am

Location: Zone 1 – Plenary

Hosting: CATF, CEM, GCCSI, KAPSARC

CATF Speaker: Olivia Azadegan, MENA Energy Transition Director

Fireside Chat with CCUS Financiers

Date and time: Thursday, October 12 at 12.45 pm

Location: Zone 3, Action Hub Event

Hosting: CATF, CEM, GCCSI, KAPSARC

Net Zero Knowledge Consortium Event

Date and time: Thursday, October 12 at 12:00pm

Location: The Boulevard, Riyadh

Hosting: Atlantic Council, KAPSARC

CATF Speaker: Lee Beck, Europe and Middle East Senior Director

If you are interested in meeting with a CATF expert in Riyadh, or to learn more about their work over the phone, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Press Contact

Troy Shaheen, Communications Director,

About Clean Air Task Force

Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With 25 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.