Noted business leader and philanthropist Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan bin Khalifa Al Nahyan today met key figures at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) to discuss collaborative efforts in the advancement of climate change research.

Sheikha Shamma visited the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, established in 2008 with the aim of bringing together international experts across finance, geography and political economy to tackle climate change.

Sheikha Shamma, also an accomplished author, has founded multiple organisations that are accelerating the sustainability agenda in the Middle East.

She has played an integral role in developing national climate action strategies, building a circular economy in the UAE, and forging pathways to gender balanced boards.

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Sheikha Shamma participated in high-level discussions with Lord Nicholas Stern, Chairman of the Grantham Research Institute; Bob Ward, Policy and Communications Director, Josh Burke, Senior Policy Fellow, and Viktor Roezer, Research Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute.

All parties emphasised on the importance of strategic collaboration in mobilising finance for sustainability initiatives and the critical role that the upcoming UN Climate Change Conferences (COP27 and COP28), in Egypt and in the UAE, are set to play.

It was agreed that COP28, in particular, would be a global stocktaking opportunity for governments to evaluate progress in delivering on their Net-Zero promises.

The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to developing a framework that will catalyse the growth of energy saving and climate tech projects in the UK and the UAE.

Sheikha Shamma said: “The climate crisis poses an irreversible threat to our planet and it is imperative that we seek new avenues to manage and mitigate the effects as much as possible through mutual collaboration.

"I look forward to continuing these discussions and welcoming the LSE team to the Middle East for the upcoming COP conferences.”

Bob Ward, Policy and Communications Director at the Grantham Research Institute said: “It was a great pleasure to meet Sheikha Shamma and to hear about her plans to promote more investment in sustainability.

"She is clearly very passionate about her work. We look forward to exploring potential areas of collaboration and support.”

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