The goal of this workshop is to explore the social, economic, political, cultural, and infrastructural challenges of energy transition in the Gulf countries and commencing a transition towards more sustainable lifestyles with a focus on innovation and technology in realizing clean energy viable options for an oil-rich region like the gulf.
Possible topics for the workshop include but are not limited to:
1. How can the aims and objectives of energy transition be achieved in the Gulf region and what are the opportunities for cross-national learning?
2. Are there instructive case studies of country-specific analysis of current metrics, including political and socioeconomic drivers for energy transition and climate change?
3. What opportunities exist for fostering social innovation and enhancing well-being in the Gulf region and for encouraging grassroots experiments to facilitate more environmentally sustainable and socially equitable lifestyles?
4. What policies have thus far been implemented to enable energy transition in the Gulf region (including with reference to climate change)?
5. What is the scope for considering strategies that encourage shifts towards a circular economy (regenerative system)? What are the consequences of these developments for lifestyles and human security?
6. Renewable energy as a solution beyond combating climate change, but has wider implications on agriculture, industry, water, food security and employment.
7. The Role of governments, business, academia and civil society in the transition.
