Abu Dhabi symposium highlights new push for climate adaptation funding in the Global South

The 9th Annual Angel Rising Investor Symposium recently took place at Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), bringing together over 150 investors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and climate innovators. The main focus was on pushing forward climate resilience efforts, particularly across the Global South. Organized by startAD, a global accelerator based in Abu Dhabi, supported by Tamkeen, and anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi, alongside VentureSouq, a leading venture capital firm in the MENA region, the event zeroed in on unlocking much-needed capital and speeding up innovation in ClimateTech.

The symposium was held in collaboration with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) and received backing from major ecosystem players including the Global Climate Finance Center (GCFC), Ethara, and Carta. It served as a crucial platform for closing the gap between climate innovation and investment, especially in adaptation strategies. This theme feels especially relevant now, considering how vulnerable the Middle East and the broader Global South have become to climate change. Plus, the region has historically seen modest investments in climate-tech, especially compared to the urgent needs.

Right at the start, H.E. Shaikha Mohamed Al Mazrouei, who heads the Integrated Environmental Policy and Planning Sector at EAD, highlighted some of the region’s biggest challenges around climate adaptation. She referenced Abu Dhabi’s recently launched Climate Change Adaptation Plan covering 2025–2050, aiming to build resilience in ecosystems, communities, and economies over the long haul. She also pointed out something rather startling, despite how dire the situation is, “Middle East investors allocate less than 2 percent of their global climate-tech investments to companies based in the region,” and most of the funding tends to focus on mitigation rather than adaptation efforts. According to her, this imbalance makes it even harder for promising adaptation solutions to get the capital they need, widening the innovation gap.

Throughout the event, a dynamic lineup of regional and international experts discussed how financial mechanisms, regulations, and newer technologies can come together to boost climate resilience projects. Panel participants included prominent figures like Qais Al Suwaidi, Vice President of Innovation and R&D at TAQA Group; Zain Tarawneh, ClimateTech Lead at Hub71; and Amy Lehoczky, Director of ESG at G42. The chats ranged from topics like using tech in climate adaptation, attracting early-stage investments, and even leveraging AI for carbon accounting and energy optimization , really cutting-edge stuff.

Nihal Shaikh, Associate Director of startAD, stressed the importance, well, maybe the urgency, of investing in ClimateTech, especially in regions most at risk. She cited studies projecting up to a 64 percent loss in GDP for many communities in the Global South if strong resilience measures aren’t adopted. “The climate transition is a trillion-dollar growth opportunity,” she said, underlining Angel Rising’s aim to make ClimateTech investments more understandable, manage risks better, and connect the dots between capital and innovation.

Sonia Weymuller, Co-Founder and General Partner at VentureSouq, also weighed in, emphasizing that the symposium really showcased how vibrant and growing the climate innovation scene is in the region. She pointed out that for real progress, we need investment strategies that are inclusive, bringing together early-stage funding and solid policy support, especially for the Global South. This idea came through strongly in many sessions that discussed blended finance, regulatory incentives, and ecosystem development.

Since launching back in 2015, Angel Rising has gathered more than 900 investors and over 100 ecosystem leaders. Notable collaborations include involvement from major institutions like the Gates Foundation and J.P. Morgan. Its ongoing mission is to boost investor education and grassroots capacity, for example through programs like the Conscious Investor Fellowship, which trains high-level investors to align their portfolios with environmental impact and risk reduction.

Looking ahead to 2025, the symposium reaffirmed the UAE’s commitment to climate action beyond global forums like COP28. The goal is to attract global expertise and investments into building resilient food, water, and energy systems that serve the needs of the Global South. Abu Dhabi’s position as a bridge between global finance and local innovation came up repeatedly, highlighting its role as a regional hub for ClimateTech investment and scaling solutions regionally and globally.

On an organizational note, startAD is a trailblazing accelerator providing tailored, impact-oriented support to startups and corporates. Backed by Tamkeen and connected with NYU Abu Dhabi, the program has a solid track record, its alumni have raised over $270 million and created thousands of jobs worldwide. VentureSouq, supported by prominent regional sovereign wealth funds, leverages thematic investment vehicles to grow technologies that tackle emerging market challenges, including ClimateTech and FinTech.

All in all, the 9th Angel Rising Investor Symposium underscored just how urgent it is to address the funding gap for climate adaptation in the MENA region and the Global South. By encouraging dialogue among investors, innovators, and policymakers, it reinforced the idea that building resilience needs a comprehensive, well-funded, and coordinated approach. This vision aligns closely with the UAE’s broader strategy for a sustainable economic transition, powered by innovative technology, strategic partnerships, and decisive leadership on climate issues.

Source: Noah Wire Services