Scaling Climate Resilience In The Global South At The 9th Annual Angel Rising Investor Symposium

The 9th Annual Angel Rising Investor Symposium recently took place at Abu Dhabi Global Market. Organised by startAD and VentureSouq, the event focused on "Scaling Climate Resilience in the Global South." It brought together investors, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and climate innovators to discuss strategies for enhancing climate resilience.

Shaikha Mohamed Al Mazrouei from the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) highlighted the importance of adaptation. She stated, "At EAD, we see adaptation not only as an environmental imperative but also as a social and economic one. Earlier this year, we launched the Abu Dhabi Climate Change Adaptation Plan (2025–2050), a long-term framework to strengthen the resilience of our ecosystems, communities and economy."

Sonia Weymuller of VentureSouq emphasised the symposium's role in showcasing regional thought leadership. She noted that discussions were both solutions-driven and collaborative. "What stood out was a shared recognition that building climate resilience in the Global South requires an inclusive investment approach – one that combines early-stage capital with long-term policy commitment," she added.

Nihal Shaikh from startAD pointed out the economic necessity of investing in ClimateTech. He remarked that communities in the Global South face significant climate impacts with potential GDP losses up to 64% by century's end. Accelerating investment is crucial for both environmental and socio-economic reasons.

The symposium featured sessions like Leveraging Technology to Adapt to Climate Change. These explored how innovations in water, energy, and urban infrastructure can be expanded across the Global South. Discussions also covered how blended finance and digital platforms can de-risk early-stage investments.

Another session titled How AI is Supercharging Climate Solutions delved into artificial intelligence's role in climate modeling and energy optimisation. This session highlighted AI's potential in enhancing carbon accounting processes.

Policy Frameworks for Climate Innovation

The Policy as a Multiplier session gathered policymakers to discuss integrating adaptation into national agendas. They examined frameworks and financing mechanisms essential for fostering climate innovation ecosystems.

A networking session concluded the event, allowing investors, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to exchange insights. This provided opportunities for collaboration aimed at advancing climate resilience efforts.

With inputs from WAM