The RHU Office of the President hosted the fifth lecture in the Nazik Rafik Hariri Distinguished Lecture Series on April 29, 2025, featuring Dr. Gus Eghneim, Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance and Sustainability Officer at PROENERGY. The lecture, titled “Sustainability and the Global Energy Transition: Current Realities & Future Disruptors,” explored sustainability’s critical role in shaping our global future.
Dr. Eghneim emphasized that sustainability is a moral imperative, defined as ensuring that actions today do not compromise the needs of future generations. He discussed its evolution from addressing environmental issues to encompassing social and economic dimensions.
Dr. Eghneim’s lecture traced sustainability’s evolution from environmental concerns to broader social and economic impacts. He emphasized ESG as a key framework aligned with the UN SDGs and discussed global drivers like climate change, inequality, and green tech. He also highlighted trends like carbon neutrality and ESG investing, while noting challenges such as greenwashing and geopolitical tensions. He stressed the need for both systemic change and individual action.
The event concluded with a thoughtful Q&A session, where attendees had the opportunity to engage with Dr. Eghneim on practical steps to contribute to sustainability in their own fields.
The Nazik Rafik Hariri Distinguished Lecture Series continues to provide a platform for thought leaders to engage with the RHU community, fostering dialogue and education on critical global issues.