Smart Freight Centre at COP28

COP28 creates a unique opportunity for the world to unite and align on climate action. Logistics emissions are set to increase 42% by 2050 according to the International Transport Forum at the OECD, contributing to the global climate threat. Smart Freight Centre (SFC) will join the conversation at this year’s climate summit held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and seek to align with relevant industry stakeholders towards sector decarbonization.

Below, you can see a list of sessions hosted by SFC and our partners. We hope to see you there or welcome you virtually.

If you have any questions regarding the events below, please email us at info@smartfreightcentre.org. If you are attending COP28 and would like to meet us at the conference, please fill in this form and we will reach back out to you.

Events we are co-hosting:

Accelerating Logistics Decarbonization and Green Corporate Fleets

Hosted by: CALSTART, The Climate Pledge, Government of The Netherlands, SFC
Date and time: 5 December, 11:00 - 12:00 GST
Location: World Green Economy Organization (WGEO) Pavilion, Blue Zone
This event does not require pre-registration, but there are limited seats in the room.

This session will unite private and government stakeholders to discuss challenges, opportunities and collaborative actions for logistics decarbonization, emphasizing topics such as “Book and Claim” and global efforts in electric truck adoption, infrastructure and finance.

The first panel will focus on the challenges and opportunities faced by the private sector to decarbonize logistics, including the potential of “Book and Claim”. A deep dive on truck electrification will explore how global shippers are taking action and can work together to encourage higher investment on electric truck supply, charging infrastructure, and finance mechanisms to convert capital into operational expenses (e.g., transportation as a service, leasing).

The second panel will discuss how industry leadership can support government policy ambition and vice-versa, including important regional perspectives from North America, Europe, and China.

Event Structure

Keynote Speech by Christoph Wolff (CEO of Smart Freight Centre) – 10 minutes
Panel discussion #1: Challenges and opportunities in decarbonizing logistics – private sector perspectives – 25 minutes
Panel discussion #2: How industry and government can work together to accelerate logistics decarbonization – 25 minutes

High-Level Event: Financing Transport Decarbonization at Scale

Hosted by: CALSTART, SFC, Government of The Netherlands
Date and time: 5 December, 14:00 - 14:45 GST
Location: UNFCCC, Blue Zone, SE Room 6
This event does not require pre-registration, but there are limited seats in the room.

This official UNFCCC side event event will focus on accelerating the decarbonization of the transport sector, specifically emphasizing active mobility and zero-emission buses and freight vehicles.

Executive Roundtable: Accelerate Your Logistics Decarbonization Journey

Hosted by: SFC, Pledge
Date and time: 6 December, 8:00 - 10:30 GST
This is an invite-only event: request to be invited here.

This roundtable, hosted during COP28 on Transport Day, will bring together private sector players such as carriers, Logistics Services Providers and shippers to discuss best practices and trends that can help companies achieve their Net Zero goals.

Transport Reception on the Dubai Harbor

Hosted by: Transport Decarbonization Alliance
Sponsored by: University of California Berkeley Law's Center for Law, Energy, and the Environment (CLEE), and Accelerating to Zero (A2Z) Coalition
Date and time: 6 December, 20:30 - 22:30 GST
Location: A boat from Dubriani Yachts, Boat Rental & Yacht Charters Marina at the Dubai International Marine Club
Register here. Limited spots available.

Come join the Transport Decarbonization Alliance for a COP 28 evening reception on a boat on the Dubai Harbor. This floating reception is a chance to meet and learn from professionals from around the globe working to decarbonize their transportation systems.

The reception is complimentary but space is limited due to the size of the boat, so RSVP today to guarantee your spot. In addition, attendees must RSVP and arrive right at 8:30pm local time to secure their spot on the boat.

Complimentary food and drink will be served.

Events we are speaking at:

Collective for Clean Transport Finance High-Level Event

Hosted by: The Collective, WBCSD
Date and time: 4 Dec, 16.15-18.00, GST
Location: Blue Zone
This is an invite-only event

During this in-person meeting, government leaders, corporate executives, and financing institutions principals will align on collective actions on clean transport and signal their support and engagement in global projects on electric buses, zero-emission medium and heavy-duty freight, and two and three-wheeler electrification.

Christoph Wolff, CEO of Smart Freight Centre, will be delivering the closing remarks.

Towards Post-Fossil Mobility

Hosted by: Neste
Date and time: 5 December, 15.00-17.00 GST
Location: Finnish Pavilion

Christoph Wolff, CEO of Smart Freight Centre, will be on the discussion panel.

Shifting Mindsets for Radical Collaboration (Supply Chains, Competitors)

Hosted by: Sustainable Innovation Forum
Date and time: 5 Dec, 17:25 – 18:05 GST
Location: Climate Action Innovation Zone, Madinat Jumeirah, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud St, Al Sufouh 1, Dubai

Sophie Punte, Founder of Smart Freight Centre and Member of the Board of Directors, will moderate the discussion panel.

Fireside Chat 4 on Critical Issues Related to Transport Mitigation Through Demand Aggregation

Hosted by: SLOCAT
Date and time: 6 Dec, 10.00-12.30 GST
Location: GCA Zone Amphitheatre 1 or 2

The GCA Action Agenda plenary will showcase progress in decarbonising human settlements and transport. It will platform the Buildings Breakthrough, the plastics treaty, transport as a demand sector for clean energy and the nexus between transport, cities and energy. Building on the challenges and solutions identified in the Global Stocktake (GST), it will facilitate the delivery of GST outcomes by strengthening collaboration and integrating action across sectoral stakeholders, policy makers and subject matter experts.

Sophie Punte, Founder of Smart Freight Centre and Member of the Board of Directors, will be on the discussion panel.

COP28 Presidency Land Transport Roundtable

Hosted by: SLOCAT
Date and time: 6 Dec, 13:00-14:30 GST
Location: Al Saih Roundtable

The COP28 Presidency Land Transport Roundtable will showcase the existing actions taken, challenges and solutions for a more equitable, accessible, healthy, green, sustainable and resilient transport future.

Cristiano Facanha, Director of Road Freight Electrification, Smart Freight Centre, will be on the discussion panel.

Decarbonization in the Transport Sector

Hosted by: DHL, German Ministry for Digitalization and Transport
Date and time: 6 Dec, 16.30-18.00 GST

Sophie Punte, Founder of Smart Freight Centre and Member of the Board of Directors, will moderate the discussion panel.

Fueling net-zero aviation: How can we clear the runway for Sustainable Aviation Fuels’ take-off?

Hosted by: Topsoe
Date and time: 6 Dec, 17.00-18.00 GST
Location: Blue Zone, Business Pavilion

This side-event will bring together stakeholders across the value chain to discuss how best to upscale sustainable aviation fuel production in the years and decades to come for carbon neutral flying.

Christoph Wolff, CEO of Smart Freight Centre, will participate as a speaker.