SES 2023
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About SES 2023
Student Energy Summit 2023 was about Reimagining the Future. We welcomed the world to Abu Dhabi as over 600 young people gathered from around the globe to connect with peers and collaborate with industry leaders, government, and interdisciplinary innovators.
Participants shared their visions for the energy transition and gained exposure among the world’s brightest minds entering the energy sector.
Impact by Numbers
IMPACT AND ENGAGEMENT
SES 2023 at COP 27
In November 2022, the SES 2023 team joined COP27 in Egypt as part of the UAE delegation. They hosted their first public event at the UAE Pavilion with 40+ attendees, featuring speakers from UNIDO, TAQA, and IRENA discussing youth empowerment in energy. Team members also participated in panels at the Youth and Minderoo Foundation Pavilions, meeting with high-level officials, including IRENA’s Director-General and COP28’s Director-General.
SES 2023 at ADSW
In January 2023, the team participated in Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. They hosted two key events: one at the IRENA Pavilion focusing on young people’s needs in energy transition, and another at the Youth 4 Sustainability Pavilion on intergenerational collaboration.
Over 80 people attended these events. The team also met with the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure’s Undersecretary.
SES 2023 at SPIREC
In February 2023, the team joined the International Renewable Energy Conference in Madrid. They contributed to the SPIREC Declaration and participated in sessions on renewables and citizen engagement.
The events attracted 70+ attendees and focused on youth capacity building and inclusion in the energy transition.
SES 2023 at WUC
In May 2023, Co-Chair Mira Aljallaf joined the World Utilities Congress Youth Steering Committee. SES hosted a Women in Energy panel with representatives from TAQA, Bezos Earth Fund, and IRENA, launching their Essay Competition.
The Youth Energy Forum brought together 40+ participants for discussions on the utilities sector’s future.
SES 2023 at CEM14
In July 2023, Arya Kanade attended the G20 Clean Energy Ministerial in India. The event showcased global clean energy advancements and included ministerial meetings focused on scaling low-carbon fuel production.
SES delegates participated in discussions on youth empowerment and networked with global representatives.
SES 2023 at MENA Climate Week
In October 2023, MENA Climate Week featured a session on women and youth in the energy sector. The discussion highlighted contributions to industry growth in the MENA region and explored challenges and opportunities in the UAE.
The session emphasized stakeholder collaboration for a more inclusive energy industry.
SES Youth Circle at New York Climate Week
The SES 2023 Youth Circle took place on September 21 at the Intercontinental Exchange Office. Keynote speaker Francesco La Camera joined experts from various organizations for discussions on energy transition priorities. The event included a partnership announcement with Bezos Earth Fund and reinforced SES 2023’s mission to amplify youth voices in sustainable energy.
The Summit
Every day of SES 2023 focused on a different topic critical to the energy transition. Check the live stream to learn more!
Day 1 – Reimagining Communities
The theme of the first day focused on the social aspects of the energy transition and its impact on people and their communities. Access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy was a critical enabler for quality of life. Yet, the modern energy system was the main contributor to greenhouse gas emissions that threatened the survival of life on the planet as we knew it. The energy system was not equal. There were still 800 million people without access to electricity and over 2 billion people without access to clean cooking. Through hearing from experts and engaging in workshops, participants collaborated on solutions and heard youth perspectives on this topic.
Day 2- Reimagining cities, Industries and Infrastructure
Currently, more than 50% of the world’s population lives in cities, and this figure has continued to increase in the years. Especially in the Middle East, where the population was highly urbanized, this came with various challenges, including securing water, food, and cooling solutions. Other issues related to urbanization included the rapid growth of informal settlements in some cities and infrastructure vulnerability to natural disasters. By looking at cities around the globe, we engaged in roundtables and workshops to see how we could transform those challenges into opportunities.
Day 3- Reimagining Progress
Reimagining progress involved rethinking and shifting the way we defined, measured, and pursued societal advancement. Ultimately, Reimagining Progress acknowledged that progress was not linear and that the pursuit of economic growth at the expense of the planet was not sustainable. We needed to strive for a more inclusive and equitable society, where everyone had access to clean and reliable energy and other resources. Reimagining progress also involved recognizing the interconnectedness of global issues, such as climate change and the energy crisis, and that those issues required joint global efforts.
