Bill Gates and US environment envoy John Kerry will join Emirati climate change expert speakers at a high-level Abu Dhabi event on Thursday.

Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Special Envoy for Climate Change, Sheikha Shamma bint Sultan, founder and chief executive of the Alliances for Global Sustainability, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, chief executive of Masdar, will also attend the panel.

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Talks will be held both virtually and in-person and will centre on the UAE's bid to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Speakers will explore how the economy can benefit from the green drive, how success can be measured and what steps must still be taken by governments, businesses and individuals to deliver on long-term eco goals.

Mr Gates will be part of an online discussion on the UAE's drive to reach net zero by 2050 and the wider role the Middle East can play in promoting sustainability, while Mr Kerry will tell of his country's fight to address the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

Topics on the agenda in November include efforts to mitigate climate change, to adapt to climate impacts, the need for increased climate finance, and clarity on loss and damage caused by environmental factors.

Read more: Masdar City, Zero Carbon to Advance Carbon Reduction in Middle East