COP28, held in Dubai, UAE, from November 30 to December 13, 2023, was the largest UNFCCC climate summit in history, attracting over 85,000 participants, including more than 150 Heads of State and Government. A key outcome was the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund, aimed at supporting vulnerable nations facing climate-related losses. The summit also concluded the first Global Stocktake under the Paris Agreement, assessing progress toward climate goals and emphasizing the need for increased action. 

For the first time, the link between climate change and biodiversity loss was made clearly, thanks to the role of Razan Al Mubarak, the UAE’s High-Level Climate Champion and President of IUCN. Al Mubarak highlighted the urgent need for nature-based solutions and the preservation of ecosystems, pushing for commitments to address both climate change and biodiversity loss, including over $1 billion in funding for nature-climate projects.

Representing Roland Berger, Karim spoke on multiple occasions during the two-week event. He also served as a jury member for a climate tech and sustainability startup competition and, alongside his team, received an award from the leadership of Emirates Nature-WWF for their work on the valuation of ecosystem services and the conservation of coastal lagoons in the UAE, which was presented in a private ceremony.

Additionally, Karim had the chance to meet with Ray Dalio and his crew on OceanX, the world’s most advanced ocean exploration, research and media vessel (docked in Dubai during the event).

Karim also spoke at and moderated the following 3 key sessions focused on the link between climate change and biodiversity, covering: 

  1. Circularity as a key solution to biodiversity loss and climate change
  2. Nature-based-Solutions (NbS) and local knowledge to enhance adaptation efforts
  3. Climate and biodiversity financing and disclosure strategiesThe first session “Circularity as a key solution to biodiversity loss and climate change”, designed and moderated by Karim,included the following global leaders in conservation and circularity:

    On Nature Day, Karim led a fire-side chat with Rokiatou Traore, on Nature-based-Solutions (NbS) and local knowledge to enhance adaptation efforts. Rokiatou is a passionate green/social entrepreneur from Mali and a young negotiator at COP28 (for agriculture and food security) who founded Herou Alliance, a sustainable agroforestry business that provides a variety of plant based products from climate resilient species like the moringa tree while empowering women and local communities. Rokiatou is also part of the Open Forest Protocol and working (then) to plant 10 million trees in Mali and beyond. Her project was also in the process of receiving funding through carbon credits.

    On his last day at COP28, Karim moderated a panel on “climate and biodiversity financing and disclosure strategies” at the Estonia Pavilion joined by the following panellists:

    Looking ahead, Karim is building on the connections forged during the event, collaborating with like-minded leaders to drive innovative strategies and solutions that address the interconnected challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss.