The Sustainability Forum Middle East (SFME) has launched the ‘Sustainability Futures Lab,’ a new initiative designed to link university students with real-world climate action priorities and advance human capital development in the region.
The programme, powered by KPMG in Bahrain and supported by the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE) and the Higher Education Council (HEC), challenges university students to develop innovative solutions inspired by the forum’s agenda.
The SFME 2026 will convene more than 400 regional leaders on January 27-28 in Manama, under the patronage of Oil and Environment Minister and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs Dr Mohammed Bin Daina. The event’s theme is: ‘Advancing Alignment, Innovation, and Implementation for Energy and Climate Transformation.’
The Sustainability Futures Lab invites student teams to an intensive programme culminating in a seven-day innovation sprint and a final pitch to a judging panel. The challenge will centre on four key themes: Climate Finance, Tech for Net Zero, Nature and Carbon Markets, and Capacity for Delivery.
Jamal Fakhro, managing partner at KPMG Bahrain, said developing the next generation of leaders “is essential to accelerating and sustaining national and regional climate goals.”
Zahraa Taher, founder and organiser of SFME, added that the lab aims “to bridge education and real-world climate action” while contributing to the kingdom’s human capital development agenda.
The forum is supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as a strategic partner, alongside forum partners including Alba, Asry, and the American Chamber of Commerce Bahrain (AmCham Bahrain).
&uuid=(email))