Gensler at COP28

Explore insights from the conference convening leaders, partners, and clients to accelerate sustainable solutions.
The Gate - Dubai International Finance Centre, Dubai aerial view
The Gate – Dubai International Finance Centre, Dubai

As the leading global design firm, Gensler attended COP28 in Dubai to work together with government leaders, partners, and clients to inspire sustainable solutions for a resilient future.

Gensler Dubai panel group shot
Day 1: Economy Middle East interview with Gensler Global co-Chair Andy Cohen
Day 2: Smarter, Cleaner Cities for the Future Panel with Gensler Global co-Chair Andy Cohen
Day 2: Panel with Gensler Global co-Chair Andy Cohen in Innovation Zone
Gensler ESG Consultancy Director Juliette Morgan speaks at the Big 5 Global Leaders’ Summit.
Day 3: Gensler Global co-Chair Diane Hoskins speaking at McKinsey Sustainability event
Interview with Gensler Global co-Chair Andy Cohen in Green Zone
COP28 Green Zone convened leaders, partners, and clients
Day 9: Gensler Regional Managing Principal Xiaomei Lee speaking on panel
Diep Nguyen-van Houtte and Diane Hoskins shaking hands
Gensler Dubai hosted a series of COP28 events
Gensler Dubai audience
Gensler Dubai aerial view of panel
Gensler Dubai panel group shot
Day 1: Economy Middle East interview with Gensler Global co-Chair Andy Cohen
Gensler Global co-Chair Andy Cohen talks to a reporter at Economy Middle East.
A crowd of people in front of a large sculpture.

COP28 Wrap Up: Bringing People Together for Global Collective Change

This year’s UN Climate Conference revealed that the world must come together to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
Aerial view of a city.

Gensler’s Andy Cohen on How the Buildings and Cities of the Future Can Achieve Net Zero

MEED featured an exclusive interview with Andy Cohen at COP28, who discussed why sustainable design is key to cutting carbon emissions.
MEED Middle East Business Intelligence
Willis Tower aerial cityscape

ZAWYA Interviewed Gensler’s Andy Cohen at COP28 in Dubai

Cohen discussed reshaping cities with net zero buildings, designing 20-minute cities, and how Gensler is converting older office buildings into housing and various other uses.
ZAWYA
A group of people sitting in a room with a large screen.

COP28 Day 3 Recap: Designing for a More Resilient Future

One key theme to emerge from our conversations at COP28 in Dubai is the need to create a culture of sustainability in every project we take on and every space we design.
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COP28 Speaking Events
The Business Case for Sustainability in the Built Environment
date
[Past Event] December 4th, 11:00am-12:00pm (GMT+4)
Location
Concrete Future Pavilion, Blue Zone
SUMMARY
Global leaders from world leading companies will share what they are doing to deliver low carbon projects across the built environment from commercial office space to urban transport systems to critical water supply infrastructure to mass housing.
PARTICIPANTS
Moderator: Dr. Andrew Minson, Concrete and Sustainable Construction Director, GCCA. Panelists: Diane Hoskins, Global co-Chair, Gensler; Marta Guzzafame, Partner, BCG; Jose Luis Blasco, Chief Sustainability Officer, Acciona; and Fernando Gonzales, President, GCCA

Watch the panel.
Building a Net Zero Future: Promoting the Demand for Low-Carbon Building Materials
date
[Past Event] December 5th, 10:30-11:30am (GMT+4)
Location
Concrete Future Pavilion, Blue Zone
SUMMARY
Providing low-carbon cement and concrete can be a major solution to housing and infrastructure of the future. This event provides a unique opportunity to discuss how to accelerate the deployment of low carbon construction materials with policymakers and construction value chain leaders.
PARTICIPANTS
Diane Hoskins, Global co-Chair, Gensler; Dr Nicola Kimm, Chief Sustainability Officer, Heidelberg Materials; Isabelle Spiegel, Global Head of Environment and Member of the Executive Committee, VINCI; and Rana Ghoneim, Chief of the Energy Systems and Infrastructure Division at UNIDO

Watch the panel.
Smarter, Cleaner Cities for the Future
date
[Past Event] December 5th, 3:00-3:20pm (GMT+4)
Location
The Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre, Climate Action Innovation Zone
SUMMARY
What are the key technologies driving the development of smart cities, and how can they improve the quality of life for urban residents? What role do local governments and regulatory bodies play in shaping urban sustainability, and how can we work towards more effective and equitable policies? What innovative sustainable design practices are transforming urban landscapes, while promoting healthier environments?
PARTICIPANTS
Andy Cohen, Global co-Chair, Gensler; Rogier van den Berg, Global Director for Sustainable Cities, WRI; and Kristen Siemen, VP Sustainable Workplaces and Chief Sustainability Officer, General Motors

Watch the panel.
University of Pennsylvania Panel Event
date
[Past Event] December 5th, 3:00pm-4:00pm (GMT+4)
Location
UPenn Pavilion, Blue Zone
SUMMARY
This panel discussion will highlight carbon accounting, carbon capture, the subject of equitable transitions, and other solutions to global climate change.
PARTICIPANTS
Moderator: Stephen Hammer, Founding CEO of The New York Climate Exchange. Panelists: Diane Hoskins, Global co-Chair, Gensler; Genie Birch, Chair of Urban Research and Education, UPenn; and Lolita Jackson, Executive Director of Sustainable Cities at Sustainable Development Capital LLP
Design for a Radically Changing World
Date
[Past Event] December 6th, 8:30am-10:30am (GMT+4)
Location
Gensler, Warehouse 12, Alserkal Avenue, Al Quoz 1
SUMMARY
Join Gensler for a VIP breakfast panel event and a lively discussion about the future of our cities and what we need to do to ensure we are designing and building for extreme weather and natural disasters to ensure a resilient future.
PARTICIPANTS
Moderator: Juliette Morgan, ESG Consultancy Director, Gensler. Panelists: Paul King, CEO, Built By Nature; Sakina Hassanali, CEO, Hass Consulting; and Ana Hudson, Head of Sustainability and ESG, Saudi Entertainment Ventures
Reducing the Emissions of Cities Through Better Building Management and Clean Transport
Date
[Past Event] December 6th, 2:00pm-2:45pm (GMT+4)
Location
World Bank/IMF/Financial Times Pavilion, Blue Zone
SUMMARY
With cities being the largest emitters of GHG emissions globally, city leaders are now faced with the challenge of transforming how cities function. In order to decarbonize cities across the world, cars, public transportation and heating need to be electrified putting more pressure on electricity grids and supply. This panel will explore how city leaders can make this shift.
PARTICIPANTS
Moderator: Aime Williams, Climate Correspondent, Financial Times Panelists: Diane Hoskins, Global co-Chair, Gensler; Fiona Howarth, CEO, Octopus Electric Vehicles; and Scott Tew, Vice President, Sustainability & Managing Director, Trane Technologies
Grow@COP: Sustainable Innovation Scaleup Challenge, Presented by the Webit Foundation and UICCA
Date
[Past Event] December 6th, 4:45pm-5:00pm (GMT+4)
Location
UICCA Pavilion, Knowledge Hub, Green Zone
SUMMARY
Organized by UICCA and the Webit Foundation, Grow@COP is the culmination of the “Founders Games” — an innovation competition for companies with high-growth Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With an award fund of US$6 million, the Founders Games seek to attract and connect top climate change innovators; draw the attention of leading global impact investors; and amplify the value of COP28 by championing solutions with the potential to transform our world. On December 6, when finalists in the urbanization, built environment, and transportation space are pitching, Andy Cohen will kick off the program with an inspirational presentation on Shaping the Future of Cities and Mobility.
PARTICIPANTS
Andy Cohen, Global co-Chair, Gensler

Watch the panel.
ESG and Enterprise Carbon Accounting: Pathways for Enterprises to Net Zero
Date
[Past Event] December 9th, 9:15am-10:45am (GMT+4)
Location
EFC Pavilion, Expo City, Green Zone
SUMMARY
Leaders from top private enterprises, energy companies, and academia will discuss the concept of carbon accounting and green development, promote green technology innovation and green transition in enterprises’ climate change mitigation strategies, and advocate for international cooperation for innovative development.
PARTICIPANTS
Moderator: Han Wei, Director of Projects, President’s Office, Energy Foundation China. Panelists: Meng Li, Deputy Director, Didi Development Research Institute; Wang Chaoyang, President of Alibaba Cloud Global Data Center; Laurent Arribe, Senior Manager of Global Initiatives and Head of Beijing Office, Bay Area Council; Xiaomei Lee, Regional Managing Principal for Gensler Greater China; and Xu Jintao, Professor and Deputy Dean.
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Gensler at COP28
Diane Hoskins
Diane Hoskins
Global Co-Chair, FAIA
Andy Cohen
Andy Cohen
Global Co-Chair, FAIA
Tim Martin
Tim Martin
Managing Director, BREEAM Associate
Juliette Morgan
Juliette Morgan
ESG Consultancy Director, Principal
Ian Mulcahey
Ian Mulcahey
Cities & Urban Design Leader, Principal
Duncan Swinhoe
Duncan Swinhoe
Regional Managing Principal, RIBA
Steven Velegrinis
Steven Velegrinis
Design Director, LEED AP ND
Stephanie Kinnick
Dir. of Operations, AIA, LEED AP BD+C
Xiaomei Lee
Xiaomei Lee
Regional Managing Principal, LEED AP
 
COP28 Partnerships
Graphical user interface, logo.

Gensler is working with Climate Action to build partnerships between business, government and public bodies to accelerate international sustainable development and advance the "green economy."

Graphical user interface.

Gensler is partnering with the Global Cement and Concrete Association (GCCA) to position concrete to meet the world’s needs for a material that can build and support growing, modern, sustainable and resilient communities.

 
Gensler’s Past Participation
COP27: Decarbonizing the Future
Diane Hoskins at COP27 on Decarbonizing the Future
Gensler’s Green Materials Initiative at COP26
Gensler’s Green Materials Initiative at COP26
Strategic Initiatives
Morphable office concept

The Gensler Cities Climate Challenge (GC3)

Gensler's roadmap for helping out clients reach their carbon targets and achieving our goal of lowering carbon in every building in our portfolio.
NVIDIA outdoor walkway

Gensler ESG Report 2023

Gensler brings its scale and reach to help address the most challenging issues of our time. We believe design leadership is critical to reducing global carbon emissions, creating equitable cities, and building resilient communities.
A group of people sitting at tables.

Gensler Product Sustainability Standards 1.0

Gensler has made a commitment to reduce the carbon emissions on our projects by 2030. A critical step in that process is setting sustainability standards for the products that we specify every day on behalf of our clients.
Climate Action & Sustainability Practice Area
We offer sustainability consulting services and strategies for developers, building owners, and tenants who want and need to minimize their operational and embodied carbon for new or reused buildings.
Performance Assessment & Analytics
We provide insights and analytics so that clients can understand their carbon impact, energy consumption, performance, and ESG goals.
Certification Services
We advise and assist clients looking to achieve third-party certifications such as LEED, Fitwel, ILFI Zero, and BREEAM.
Sustainability Strategies
We help clients identify environmental and climate-related goals and develop climate action plans.
SUSTAINABILITY NEWS
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