Opening Keynote Session | 9am
Keynote Video Presentation:
Virginijus Sinkevičius, EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans & Fisheries, European Commission (confirmed)
Keynote Presentation:
Stephen Quest, Director General, Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission (confirmed)
Keynote Presentation:
Markku Markkula, Vice President and Rapporteur for “A new Innovation Agenda for Europe”, European Committee of the Regions (confirmed)
Session 1: Climate Action in Europe – Current challenges and future opportunities | 9.30am
To remain a global climate and technology leader, Europe must overcome key economic and social challenges. This session will focus on these key challenges and the opportunities presented by overcoming them. Speakers are encouraged to give particular attention to ways we can achieve a more simplified regulatory environment, faster and easier access to finance for tech and climate entrepreneurs, and a more equitable and just outcome for all citizens and businesses, leaving no-one behind.
- What benefits will a simplified regulatory environment offer and how will this accelerate climate action and transform Europe into a truly green economy?
- What are the public and private sectors doing to help speed up access to finance?
- How is the EU taking action to address the skills related challenge posed by the digital and green transition and a rapidly evolving economy?
- How are cities and Member States working with industry and the EU institutions to maximise EU climate goals?
- What are the advantages of a unified approach to climate action?
Moderator: Dr. Heather Grabbe, Senior Fellow, Bruegel (confirmed)
Spakers:
Ville Niinistö MEP, Rapporteur for LULUCF Regulation; and Shadow Rapporteur for Renewable Energy Directive; Member of the ENVI Committee, Group of the Greens, European Parliament (confirmed)
Maria Teresa Fabregas Fernandez, Director, Recovery & Resilience Task Force, European Commission (confirmed)
Raido Roop, Strategy Director – European Green Capital 2023, City of Tallinn (confirmed)
Britta Behrendt, State Secretary for Climate Protection and the Environment, City of Berlin (confirmed)
Morning Break & Networking | 10.40am
Session 2: Technology, digitalization, and the Clean Energy Transition | 10.55am
Technology plays a key role in driving the clean energy transition and recent innovations have ensured the efficiency and affordability of new renewable energy systems. Furthermore, breakthroughs in energy storage technologies have addressed the intermittency challenge of renewable sources, enabling a more reliable and consistent energy supply. This session will look at the different technologies that are supporting the clean energy transition, including, but not limited to, smart grid technologies, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies and low-carbon fuels. Speakers will also consider how the EU and Member States are implementing policies to drive the clean energy transition, including the establishment of a grand coalition of stakeholders and the Commission’s proposal for a Net Zero Industry Act. Participants will also explore the work that still needs to be done for Europe to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. This includes the EU’s highly anticipated 2040 milestone targets set to be announced in early 2024.
- What technologies are supporting the clean energy transition?
- How is the EU driving innovation in clean energy technologies?
- How are these technologies anticipated to support the EU reach its 2040 milestone targets and the pathway for Europe to become a climate-neutral continent by 2050?
- What initiatives are helping to overcome a fragmented innovation and regulatory landscape?
- What impact will the Net Zero Industry Act have on EU climate and clean energy goals?
Moderator: Leon De Graaf, Head of Climate Practice, #SustainablePublicAffairs (confirmed)
10:55am – 11:05am: Opening Presentation: View from the Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA)
Paloma Aba Garrote, Director, Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency, European Commission (confirmed)
11:05am – 12:10pm: Panel Discussion
Speakers:
Vincent Berrutto, Head of Unit, Digitalisation, Competitiveness, Research & Innovation, DG ENER, European Commission (confirmed)
Rodrigo Fernandes, Director for Empowering Sustainable Development Goals, Bentley Systems (confirmed)
Philip Lenders, Director, PwC Belgium (confirmed)
Aušrinė Vitkutė, Mission Cities Coordinator, Climate Neutral Vilnius, City of Vilnius (confirmed)
Networking Lunch | 12.10pm
Session 3: Going circular – achievable solutions for government to tackle the global e-waste challenge | 1.20pm
The amount of global e-waste is increasing at a dramatic rate, and it is contributing to a staggering increase in global health and environmental issues. Yet, governments are playing a significant role in addressing the e-waste problem by leveraging circular solutions and sustainable procurement processes.
Participants will discuss a recent proven example implemented by the Dutch Government and consider how the actions of a few governments can have a hugely positive impact globally.
- Why is electronic waste management relevant for governments?
- What role can governments across the EU play in addressing the issue of electronic waste through procurement?
- What role does e-waste management have in circular electronics?
- What lessons can be learned from the proven example recently implemented by the Dutch Government?
- How are governments applying circular thinking to their own procurement processes and what more needs to be done?
- How does e-waste impact the global south and how can Europe reverse its impact?
- What solutions are available to support governments implementing circular business models?
Moderator: Rika Nakazawa, Technologist and Best selling author
Speakers:
Joost De Kluijver, Founder, Closing The Loop
Barton Finn, Purchaser Engagement Manager, TCO Development
Session 4: Future Connectivity and Climate Action | 2.00pm
Future connectivity solutions and systems provide the infrastructure and capabilities necessary to enable a greener and more sustainable society. This session will explore the energy efficient nature of future connectivity solutions, and the environmental impact of their applications, including, but not limited to, the benefits of smart transportation and autonomous vehicles, smart manufacturing, precision agriculture and energy-efficient buildings.
- How can 5G-enabled technologies support Europe’s climate action goals?
- What connectivity solutions are supporting the decarbonisation of industries?
- How are policymakers working with industry to support the roll out of future connectivity solutions? What additional support is required?
- How is the European Commission’s Green Industrial Plan supporting the speedy transition to climate neutrality?
Moderator: Peter Dunn, Director of European Relations, Cullen International (confirmed)
2:00pm – 2:10pm: Opening Presentation: View from DG CONNECT
Pearse O’Donohue, Director, Future Networks, DG CONNECT, European Commission (confirmed)
2:10pm – 3:15pm: Panel Discussion
Speakers
Johannes Theiss, Team Leader – Policy Coordinator, DG CONNECT, European Commission (confirmed)
Filipe Batista, Coordinator Digital and Telecommunications, Portuguese Permanent Representation to the European Union (confirmed)
Valentin Steinhauer, Senior Manager, European Affairs, Deutsche Telekom (confirmed)
Laura Fernandez Cavas, Sustainable Finance and Climate Change, Telefónica (confirmed)
Afternoon Break & Networking | 3.15pm
Session 5: Leveraging Artificial Intelligence to support the EU’s climate goals | 3.30pm
We are starting to see the impact of AI across many areas of society, including the workplace, economy, and the technologies we use each day. However, how can we leverage AI to support a more sustainable future? This session will explore the potential of AI in supporting EU climate goals. Participants will consider some of the applications of AI and the positive impact these can have in helping to support climate objectives. Participants will also discuss the transparency and human element that is required to ensure we use AI responsibly.
- How important will AI’s role be in helping governments meet their climate objectives?
- To what extent can AI support the goals set out by the European Green Deal?
- What AI applications can best contribute to climate objectives? Where will we see the most success?
- How can AI applications be best used in urban mobility, smart cities and smart agriculture?
- What role should policymakers and industry both play in ensuring transparency and human oversight to ensure responsible use of AI?
- How are EU institutions, cities and Member States working with industry to ensure a harmonised approach to AI-related policies, and how will this build a more sustainable and greener future.
Speakers:
Gustav Kalbe, Director, Digital Excellence & Science Infrastructure, DG CONNECT, European Commission (confirmed)
Jeremy Rollison, Head of EU Policy & Senior Director, European Government Affairs, Microsoft (confirmed)
Bernard Lebelle, CEO, The Green Link (confirmed)
Beatriz Sanz Saiz, Global Data and AI Leader, Partner, EY Consulting (confirmed)
Representative, European Parliament (tbc)
Session 6: Using Space-based technologies for a Green Future | 4.45pm
With the window of opportunity closing, space-based technologies and applications offer enormous, new potential for supporting a greener future on Earth by revolutionising our approach to tackling a number of environmental challenges. This session will bring together different stakeholders from the policy and industry communities to explore how they are working together to maximise the positive impact of space based technologies on supporting the EU’s wider climate goals.
- How can space offer solutions for a decarbonised, green economy?
- What space-based technologies and applications are supporting a greener future?
- What role can space play in monitoring green targets?
- How can EU space programmes support the European Green Deal goal of a greener industry?
- How is the data gathered from space-based technologies supporting urban development?
- What role can space-based solar power play in the green energy transition?
- What needs to be done to ensure the European space sector thrives ?
Speakers:
Lea Pavlovic, Policy Manager, Access Partnership (Moderator – confirmed)
Dušan Chrenek, Principal Advisor – Digital for the Green Transition, DG CLIMA, European Commission (confirmed)
Niklas Nienaß MEP, Group of the Greens, European Parliament (confirmed)
Sanjay Vijendran, Lead – SOLARIS initiative on space-based Solar Power, European Space Agency (confirmed)
Additional speakers to be confirmed
Networking Reception | 5.45pm
More information to follow
Stephen Quest, Director General, Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Commission 
Pearse O’Donohue, Director, Future Networks, DG CONNECT, European Commission 
Britta Behrendt State Secretary for Climate Protection and the Environment, City of Berlin ![Raido Roop_1[18] copy](https://techforclimateaction.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Raido-Roop_118-copy.png)
Dušan Chrenek Principal Advisor, Digital for the Green Transition, DG CLIMA, European Commission 
Vincent Berruto, Head of Unit for Digitalization, Competitiveness, Research and Innovation, DG ENER European Commission 
Rodrigo Fernandes Director, Empowering Sustainable Development Goals, Bentley Systems 
Joost De Kluijver Founder, Closing the Loop 
Lea Pavlovic, Manager, Space and Spectrum Policy, Access Partnership 
Suzana Carp, Deputy Executive Director, Cleantech for Europe 
![BentleyLOGO_BLK_complete[32]](https://techforclimateaction.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/BentleyLOGO_BLK_complete32.png)
