A decisive move by Bezos Earth Fund to champion youth participation in driving a just and equitable clean energy future.
In a groundbreaking move, the Bezos Earth Fund has assumed the headline sponsorship role for the 2023 Global Student Energy Summit (SES 2023), themed “Reimagining the Future.” Hosted by New York University Abu Dhabi from November 28th to December 1st, this historic event is set to coincide with COP28, bringing together 650+ young visionaries from over 150 countries to collaborate on fostering a just and equitable clean energy future.
The SES 2023 stands as the world’s largest youth-led energy event, exemplifying diversity with 40% of registered attendees experiencing their first international conference. A transformative space for collaboration, the summit will engage over 30,000 young people virtually and in-person, leading up to SES 2023, providing capacity-building and digital engagement sessions. This year’s SES is expected to serve as a Launchpad for 15 youth-led clean energy start-ups.
Andrew Steer, President and CEO of the Bezos Earth Fund, expressed excitement about this pioneering partnership, stating, “Student Energy has become a beacon of change, empowering a network of 50,000 young people in over 120 countries. Our support of SES 2023 aligns seamlessly with the Bezos Earth Fund’s mission to foster innovation, collaboration, and action in the realm of clean energy. The youth-led initiatives emerging from this summit are pivotal in driving systemic change, and we are proud to be part of this movement.”
Recognizing the crucial role of young leaders in the energy sector, the summit addresses a significant challenge highlighted by the International Energy Agency’s Net-Zero Emissions Scenario. The report indicates that over 30 million jobs will be created in low-carbon technologies by 2030, yet the Energy Transition Skills Report, conducted by Student Energy, reveals that 47.6% of the survey’s 2,000 youth respondents lack awareness about existing job opportunities.
With over half of the global population under 30, young people require training to participate in the energy sector effectively. This is essential to bridge labor shortfalls, promote economic development, ensure social welfare, and support climate resilience in 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. Lydia Sanz Lozano, Co-Vice Chair of Programming at SES, highlighted the global impact, saying, “SES23 is a platform to connect us with each other, sit at the table with representatives of governments, companies, and institutions during these 3 days, fostering lifelong connections to increase global efforts of accelerating the adoption of renewable energy.”
In addition to fostering entrepreneurship, SES 2023 serves as a launchpad for youth climate activists and advocates, training and supporting delegates to join a COP28 delegation. This ensures the amplification of key messages from SES 2023 through partner-driven events and marks the first time SES comes to the Middle East, highlighting the vision of the UAE’s energy transition.
Nicole Iseppi, Managing Director of Global Energy Innovation at the Bezos Earth Fund, emphasized the strategic location and timing of SES, noting, “Our partnership provides students with the opportunity to engage in the UN proceedings and enrich the conversations at the highest level of climate change negotiations. 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 aims to address key missions;
- Decent Jobs & Economic Development: SES will provide a platform for students to learn about career pathways in the energy sector, gain industry-relevant skills, and connect with potential employers and mentors/experts from the global energy industry;
- 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;
- COP28 & Inclusive Decision-Making: SES 2023 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.
Founded by Jeff Bezos, the Bezos Earth Fund ( https://www.bezosearthfund.org/ ) 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.