From 9^th – 11^th November, 2022, SEED will host and participate in several high-level events during COP27, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, in Sharm-El-Sheikh in Egypt. COP27 aims to drive forward the international discussion on climate change and lead to concrete steps for climate adaptation and mitigation actions. During the conference, SEED will host and participate in several side-events to highlight the potential and raise awareness about the challenges for eco-inclusive small and medium-sized enterprises, the gamechangers of on-the-ground climate action, as well as the need and opportunities for scale up and impact through the “Coalition for Innovation, Circularity and Entrepreneurship”.

A Collective Action Catalyst for an SME-led Circular Low-Carbon Transition: The Coalition for Innovation, Circularity and Entrepreneurship (CICE):

10^th November 2022, 10:00 – 11:00 (Egypt); In: ICC Pavilion, Blue Zone, at ICC Make Climate Action Everyone’s Business Forum, register here

Despite increased awareness of the urgency to act on climate change, today’s policies and solutions do not match the scale of the planetary crisis. Confronted with this reality, many SMEs have taken the matter in their own hands, driving innovation locally through entrepreneurship towards a more inclusive and circular economy. Despite their major contributions, they do not receive the recognition, nor the support that they deserve.

In this event, SEED and its partners will present and discuss the newly developed Coalition for Innovation, Circularity and Entrepreneurship (CICE), that will enable SMEs, scale-up and replicate their good practices, provide a Voice for SMEs and enhance system-wide innovation and collective green climate action.

Moderated by Arab Hoballah, SEED’s executive director, the discussion will be joined by Tarek Alkhoury/UNEP, Yoko Watanabe/UNDP, Zitouni Ould-Dada/FAO, Mette Lund/ILO, Vanessa Erogbogbo/ITC and Annachiara Scandone/UNIDO.

For more information and to register, please click here.

Coalition pour l’Innovation, la Circularité et l’Entreprenariat (CICE) : Un Catalyseur d’Action Collective Pour une Transition Circulaire Basse en Carbone avec les PMEs

11th November 2022, 15:00 – 16:00 (Egypt), Pavilion de la Francophonie, Blue Zone, register here

Together with the Institute of the Francophonie for Sustainable Development, SEED will organise an event on the Coalition for Innovation, Circularity and Entrepreneurship (CICE) in French.

In this event, SEED and its partners will present and discuss the newly developed Coalition for Innovation, Circularity and Entrepreneurship (CICE), that will enable SMEs, scale-up and replicate their good practices, provide a Voice for SMEs and enhance system-wide innovation and collective green climate action.

The event will also discuss timelines and value added of the Coalition’s envisioned launchpad approach, linking innovative approaches and SME support to create an enabling framework based on evidence, peer-exchanges and joint action agendas.

The event will be opened by Cécile Martin-Phipps/Institut de la Francophonie pour le Développement Durable and Arab Hoballah/SEED, who will moderate the panel including Zoritsa Urosevic/UNWTO, Moustapha Kamal Gueye/ILO, Laure du Teilhet/ASEF and Pamela Jouven/SME Climate Hub.  

For more information and to register, please click here.

Entrepreneurship for Responsible Climate Action and Resilience: Small-scale enterprises, gamechangers to reach net zero

11^th November 2022, 12:00 – 13:00 (Egypt); online event, at ICC Make Climate Action Everyone’s Business Forum, register here

SMEs are key drivers of sustainability and the green transition everywhere in the world. According to a recent publication by the OECD, there will be “No net-zero without SMEs”. Therefore, it is crucial to empower SMEs. This must include capacity building and investment to enable concerned communities. It requires collaboration, leadership and good governance.

The event will demonstrate, with practical cases and success stories from various SMEs SEED has been working with, the potential and necessity to engage with and enable SMEs contributing to local and national processes to build forward better. The event will highlight the importance of well-designed collaborations and the necessity to enable and catalyse innovations.

The event will be opened by Adriana Zacarias Farah/UNEP-GO4SDGs and Arab Hoballah/SEED who will then moderate the panel discussion that will be joined by, Michael Laerman/Ecopreneur, Friedrich Barth/Global Entrepreneurship Centre and Reina Otsuka/UNDP, as well as innovative entrepreneurs, including Brighton Chabana/Kalahari, Hana Purnawarman/Sampangan and Mukisa Emmanuel/Clinela Solar.

For more information and to register, please click here.

Recipes for Change: How a sustainable food system can curb carbon emissions, EU Side Event

9^th November 2022, 12:30 – 13:30 (Egypt), Hybrid Event, register here

The food and agriculture system are crucial for the green transition. As the world’s largest employer, the agriculture sector is key to realise the promises of the SDGs. However, the agriculture sector is also a major contributor to global environmental problems.

This event discusses the shifts in consumer behaviour and food production towards more sustainability. Moreover, the event showcases how the European Union has been supporting this transition in partner countries.

Arab Hoballah/SEED will moderate the panel that includes Carla Montesi/EU Directorate-General for International Partnerships, Mukashev Azamat/ Kyrgyz Ministry of Agriculture, Nguyen Bao Thao/Vietnam Rural Industries Research and Development Institute, Karim Elwakkad/Sekem Development Foundation and Zinaida Fadeeva/SWITCH-Asia.

For more information and to register, please click here.

We are looking forward to having you with us at COP27!