The World Green Economy Summit (WGES) 2026 opened on Wednesday, October 22, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, drawing thousands of delegates from around the world. The first day focused on waste management and the circular economy, AI-powered water and desalination technology, and environmental finance.
Timothy Clarke, chief executive of Dubai's Warsan Waste Management Centre, told delegates it was time to stop calling it "waste" altogether, describing it instead as "a hugely valuable resource." He said the facility processes 6,000 tonnes of unsorted waste from Dubai Municipality every day, with roughly 15 per cent of that volume made up of single-use packaging.
Anssi Mikola, co-founder of River Recycle, said his company currently operates clean-up projects on 20 rivers worldwide and is working to expand that to 30. Darren Kimura, chief executive of AI technology firm AISquared, spoke about the role artificial intelligence can play in optimising energy and water use across industries.
Speakers repeatedly stressed that the shift to a green economy cannot rest on governments alone — industries and individual consumers also need to factor sustainability into everyday purchasing decisions. Now in its latest edition, WGES brings together clean-energy experts, investors and policymakers from across the globe each year, cementing Dubai's role as a hub for international dialogue on environmental and resource challenges.