Mumbai, India – Mukesh Ambani, the CEO of Reliance Industries, has been selected as a member of the international advisory committee for the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28). The committee, consisting of 31 experts from various sectors and regions, will provide guidance and counsel to the presidency of COP28, which is set to take place in Dubai, UAE.
Ambani’s inclusion in the advisory committee is a testament to his commitment to steering Reliance Industries towards renewable energy and diversifying the company’s operations away from traditional crude oil refining and petrochemicals. With his expertise and leadership, Ambani aims to contribute to collaborative and transformative action across adaptation, mitigation, finance, loss and damage, food and agriculture, and nature-based solutions.
The COP28 UAE Advisory Committee, composed of individuals representing policy, industry, energy, finance, civil society, youth, and humanitarian action, features a diverse group of thought leaders from countries across six continents. The committee comprises 65% members from the Global South, reflecting the importance of inclusive representation and perspectives in addressing climate challenges on a global scale.
In an announcement on the COP28 UAE presidency website, the committee’s role was defined as providing guidance and counsel to the COP Presidency both in the lead-up to COP28 and beyond. The committee’s contributions will support the overarching goal of the conference: to inspire action that drives global transformation toward a low-emission and climate-resilient world.
The international advisory committee for COP28 also includes renowned figures such as Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock; Joe Kaeser, Chairman of Siemens’ supervisory board; Badr Jafar, President of Crescent Petroleum; Bob Dudley, former CEO of BP; and Fu Chengyu, Chairman of China Petrochemical Corporation.
Among the notable members of the committee are Sunita Narain, an eminent climate campaigner from India, and global leaders such as Laurent Fabius, former French Prime Minister and president of COP21; Olafur Grimsson, former President of Iceland; Sir John Rose, Deputy Chairman of the Rothschild Group and former CEO of Rolls-Royce; Daniela Rus, Director of MIT Computer Science and AI Lab; and Hilda Heine, former President of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.
The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, incorporating COP28, is scheduled to be held from November 30 to December 12 in Dubai, UAE. The conference will encompass various important meetings, including the fifth meeting of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Paris Agreement (CMA 5) and the 18th meeting of the COP serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP 18).
As COP28 approaches, the COP27 Egyptian presidency and the incoming COP28 presidency are engaging in informal consultations with governments at ministerial, head-of-delegation, and technical levels to lay the groundwork for a successful conference. The aim is to foster ambitious climate action, facilitate implementation, and drive global transformation towards a low-emission and climate-resilient world.
Mukesh Ambani’s appointment to the international advisory committee of COP28 highlights his significant role in shaping climate action and sustainability efforts globally. His expertise and commitment to renewable energy are expected to contribute to the development of transformative solutions to combat climate change at this crucial juncture.