The Bezos Earth Fund has announced
its headline sponsorship of the 2023 Global Student Energy Summit (SES 2023), under
the theme “Reimagining the Future”, hosted by New York University Abu Dhabi
from November 28th to December 1st, 2023. This historic event will take place
at the margins of COP28, bringing together 650+ young people from over 150
countries with industry leaders and energy experts, championing youth
participation in driving a just and equitable clean energy future.
SES is the world's
largest youth-led energy event, ensuring equal gender representation and diverse
perspectives with 40% of attendees experiencing their first international
conference. The summit provides a
transformative space for collaboration on energy solutions, engaging over
30,000 young people in virtual and in-person capacity-building and digital
engagement sessions leading up to SES 2023.
Andrew Steer, President
and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund, expressed enthusiasm for this groundbreaking
partnership, stating, " Since its founding in 2009, Student Energy has
become the world's largest youth-led organization working on energy, empowering
a network of 50,000 young people in over 120 countries accelerating the
transition to a sustainable and equitable energy future. Our support of SES
2023 aligns seamlessly with Bezos Earth Fund’s mission to foster innovation,
collaboration, and action in the realm of clean energy. The youth-led
initiatives and start-ups emerging from this summit are pivotal in driving
systemic change, and we are proud to be part of this movement."
As the next generation of
energy sector leaders, young people are presented with a challenge and unique
opportunity. According to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net-Zero
Emissions Scenario, over 30 million jobs will be created in low-carbon technologies
by 2030. However, the Energy Transition Skills Report, conducted by Student
Energy in partnership with Ørsted, indicates that 47.6% of the survey’s 2,000
youth respondents lack awareness about existing job opportunities. With over
half the global population under 30, young people need training to participate
in the energy sector to bridge labor shortfalls, promote economic development
and social welfare, and support climate resilience in the most vulnerable
communities.
The summit serves as a
catalyst for action and entrepreneurship, supporting 15 youth-led clean energy
start-ups in priority regions through training and seed funding. “Climate
change is an issue that affects each and every single one of us, and there are
millions of young people all around the world who share the same feeling of
frustration but still manage to find the drive to fight for change. SES23 is a
platform to not only connect us with each other, but also sit at the table with
representatives of governments, companies and institutions during these 3 days,
whilst fostering a lifelong connection to join forces and increase global
efforts of accelerating the adoption of renewable energy,” said Lydia Sanz
Lozano, Co-Vice Chair of Programming, SES.
Additionally, SES 2023
acts as a launchpad for youth climate activists and advocates, training and
supporting delegates to join a COP28 delegation that amplifies key messages
from SES 2023 through partner-driven events. SES will be coming to the Middle East
for the first time, highlighting the vision of the UAE's energy transition.
Nicole Iseppi, Managing
Director of Global Energy Innovation at the Bezos Earth Fund, added, "Leveraging
the strategic location and timing of SES, we will support up to 40 SES
delegates to attend COP28. Our partnership provides students with the
opportunity to engage in the UN proceedings and will enrich the conversations
at the highest level of climate change negotiations by ensuring that a diverse
group of youth leaders are at the table. We have a responsibility to support
young innovators and elevate their voices on the global stage. SES 2023 is not
just a summit; it's a platform for tangible change, and we are excited to be a
part of it."
SES 2023 key missions
include:
1. Decent
Jobs & Economic Development: SES will provide a platform for students to
learn about career pathways in the energy sector, gain new industry-relevant
skills during workshops and upskilling sessions, and connect with potential
employers and mentors/experts from the global energy industry.
2. Scaling
Solutions through Youth Innovation: SES 2023 will unlock an ecosystem of
youth-led enterprises by delivering Innovation Jams. This initiative will
provide business development training and small-scale seed funding for projects
that meet Student Energy’s impact assessment framework.
3. COP28
& Inclusive Decision-Making: SES 2023 team is closely coordinating efforts
with the 2023 COP28 Presidency team to synergize programming and themes,
addressing significant barriers that prevent young people's voices from being
heard at decision-making roundtables.
The Bezos Earth Fund,
founded by Jeff Bezos, is the largest philanthropic commitment ever to fight
climate change and protect nature. The fund supports organizations and efforts
working on innovative solutions to climate change, aiming to contribute to a
cleaner, greener, and more sustainable planet. The Bezos Earth Fund works with
others to monitor 50 key transitions required in this decisive decade, driving
systems change across climate, biodiversity, and human development.