Interview: GE’s Roger Martella on paving the way to a sustainable future

Interview: GE’s Roger Martella on paving the way to a sustainable future

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Roger Martella, group vice president, chief sustainability officer – GE and GE Vernova, and the global head of Engagement, Government Affairs and Policy, GE Vernova, is a strong advocate of climate action.

During a recent conversation with Gulf Business, Martella shared how the UAE is setting an example in climate innovation and investment. He also talked about GE’s role in supporting decarbonisation and electrification, and why public-private sector collaboration is essential to climate progress.

Here are excerpts from the interview: with Roger Martella

You have expressed your admiration for the UAE’s efforts in driving transformative climate action, referring to it as the “UAE Effect”. Tell us more about it.

The global spotlight is on the UAE, and a key reason for it is that the country is hosting the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) later this year. But there’s more to it: the UAE is rapidly emerging as a leading global influencer of climate change, decarbonisation and energy transition. Historically, the US and EU have led this space and will continue to do so, but I see the UAE rising to that level, particularly in the Middle East and Africa.

As it works towards COP28 and its ambitious net zero goals,