Decarbonising global industry by 2070. Sustainable food systems and nutrition. COVID-19: What does this mean for the fight against climate change? European energy transition. Future of jobs and skills in a climate neutral Europe. Indian renewable energy. Climate adaptation agenda in times of uncertainty. Energy poverty in Energy Community countries. Find out about these and more online events of the week!
27 April, 10:00 – 11:00 AM CEST
“Heating & cooling planning made easier – online training” (by HOTMAPS)
HOTMAPS is an open source online software, which allows you to provide within 5 minutes a first estimation of heating and cooling demand in your region and the potentials of local renewable energy to cover this demand. By using more detailed data, thanks to its calculation modules, you can elaborate comprehensive heating and cooling strategies. The Hotmaps toolbox has been especially designed to support the elaboration of SECAP (Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans). This is a preparatory webinar to explain the training programme and the guiding materials (training itself takes place on 4-12th May).
27 April, 10:00 – 11:30 AM CEST and 4:00 – 5:30 PM CEST
“Where next: key trends and disruptions for the decade ahead” (by World Business Council for Sustainable Development)
In this webinar you will be provided with an overview of the findings from WBCSD’s Vision 2050 Refresh. Vision 2050 (released in 2010) is a landmark piece of work that laid out a pathway to a world in which nine billion people are able to live well, within planetary boundaries, by mid-century. In 2019, WBCSD decided to revisit its this Vision – 10 years on, as not as much progress was made against the Vision 2050 pathway as required. 40 companies are working with WBCSD to bring the pathway in line with the SDGs, update it to reflect some of the great changes that have unfolded, and prioritize the critical actions that business could drive during what the UN has called the “decade of delivery”…
27 April, 10:15 AM – 5:30 PM CEST
“Energy and Resources Forum” (by Zero Emission Group, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne).
The online conference bringing together key stakeholders in science, business, and politics to envision a sustainable energy future within the resource boundaries of our planet. Main topics covered: Ecosystem services, Mobility, Digitalization, Renewable Grids, Building Sector, Nuclear Energy.
27 April, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CEST
“Integration of electric vehicles in areas of extreme heat” (by International Energy Agency)
As EV technology continues to progress and its market share grows, economies worldwide are increasing their uptake of vehicles. This includes countries characterised by hot and harsh climates where there can be some common challenges with respect to the integration of electric vehicles in their road transport systems. For example, the potential impacts of high temperatures on the degradation of batteries and charging infrastructure. Solutions developed in one country therefore may be relevant to others. The following webinar provides outcomes and insights from a research project in Qatar.
27 April, 2:00 – 4:00 PM CEST
“European Energy Transition: an agenda for the Twenties” (by Florence School of Regulation)
The Twenties have started. A Green Deal has been conceived, just some months after the ink dried on the Clean Energy Package for all Europeans. An unprecedented and global pandemic is haunting billions of people and has altered our lives in a few weeks. Will the ambitious overarching Green Deal project be affected by the sudden health crisis and its imperatives? Where are we on the Clean Energy package implementation, on regionalization, but also on the climate agenda with a proposed new cross border carbon mechanism?…
27 April, 2:00 – 6:00 PM CEST
“Implications of COVID-19 for Public Health and the Sustainable Development Goals” (by Sustainable Development Solutions Network)
The COVID-19 global health pandemic is rapidly changing the ways we live and work. In the age of sustainable development and at a time when the world is working towards achieving the SDGs, this disease is complicating SDG implementation efforts as well as posing a real risk to achieving targets on communicable disease, education, life expectancy, and decent work. This virtual conference will examine the implications of COVID-19 for public health and the SDGs, as well as make recommendations on science-based responses. Discuss successful public health interventions, how to ensure responses promote health equity and reduce inequality, and look at different scenarios for ending isolation and returning to normal.
27 April, 2:00 – 5:00 PM CEST and 28 April, 2:00 – 5:00 PM CEST
“Accelerating action for Sustainable and Circular Value Chains in Garment & Footwear” (by UNECE)
This virtual policy dialogue is being held under the UNECE project ‘Enhancing Transparency and Traceability of Sustainable Value Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector’, to convene the multi-stakeholder project experts’ groups. The purpose is to review progress on the key project outputs and brainstorm on the next steps for the development of the policy recommendation, the technical standards for transparency and traceability of information exchange in the textile and leather value chain, and the implementation of the first project blockchain pilot for traceability and due diligence in the cotton industry.
27 April, 6:00 – 7:00 PM CEST
“Connecting the Crises: COVID-19 and Climate” (by YOUNGO)
COVID – 19 has disrupted the life of millions of people and introduced huge uncertainty for many. Governments, INGOs, NGOs, and private industries have come into solidarity to put urgent actions – to overcome this pandemic.
The sudden outbreak has put environmental actions on hold with the prohibition of strikes as well as the postponement of COP 26, and IUCN Congress, which questions the future of the ongoing climate action movement. It has become highly important to unravel what this pandemic will bring this year while climate movements were supposed to be the first priority of the governments, INGOs, NGOs, and private industries.
Climate activists all over the world struggle with the current situation. This webinar brings together climate & health activists.
27 April, 6:00 – 8:00 PM CEST
“From 5 to 75: Lifelong Learning in a Circular Economy” (by Circular Berlin, TU-Berlin, Zero Waste Your Life, MiFactori and AMD Berlin)
For a circular economy to take off, we need to embed circular thinking and skills training within each level of our education system. From elementary school to professional development, and everything in between, this meet-up will share what education professionals are doing now to integrate circular economy in their curriculum. Discussion will also focus on what else is needed in Berlin and beyond to strengthen circular economy education.
28 April, 9:00 – 9:50 AM CEST
“Impacts of COVID-19 on the Global Environmental Agenda” (by Geneva Environment Network)
The Geneva Environment Dialogues special COVID-19 series discusses the impacts of the pandemic on the global environmental agenda. Experts are concerned that the world is losing critical time to turn around alarming trends in biodiversity loss, climate change, sound management of chemicals and other environmental threats. You can watch the event live on facebook.
28 April, 10:00 – 10:30 AM CEST
“Renewables for refugee settlements: Sustainable energy access in humanitarian situations” (by IRENA)
In response to the alarming numbers of displaced people around the world and their unreliable access to sustainable energy, IRENA collaborated with UNHCR in assessing energy access in four refugee settlements in Iraq and Ethiopia, in an attempt to identify ideal renewable energy solutions to reduce diesel consumption and costs and provide the refugees with clean, reliable and cost-efficient energy for their everyday purposes.
28 April, 10:00 – 11:30 AM CEST
“Shining Beyond subsidies: Launch of SolarPower Europe’s new Finance Workstream” (by SolarPower Europe)
Europe is committed to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. This unprecedented challenge will require the massive deployment of solar installations, leveraging significant amounts of investments over the coming decades. Ahead of the launch of SolarPower Europe’s Finance workstream, this webinar will identify new business models creating opportunities for solar developers in a post subsidy era and explore the contribution of European Investment Bank programs to bridge the investment gap.
28 April, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM CEST
“The future of jobs and skills in a climate neutral Europe” (by Corporate Leaders Groups Europe)
Join MEP Pilar del Castillo Vera and representatives from the European institutions to discuss how policymakers and businesses can anticipate, adapt and harness some of these megatrends in order to create jobs and increase competitiveness while putting the EU on track to climate neutrality by 2050 and delivering the Green Deal.
28 April, 12:00 – 1:30 PM CEST
“How to operate and use building services during the COVID-19 crisis” (by BuildUp EU)
This webinar will explore with top experts key notions about indoor environments (Indoor Environmental Quality, IEQ), how building services can help prevention and mitigation today and furthermore enable and facilitate the lockdown reversal, and how to best let go of our old habits and create new long-lasting ones, especially during times of crisis and moreover always for maximising health, wellbeing, productivity etc.
28 April, 12:30 – 2:30 PM CEST (4:00 – 6:00 PM IST)
“Advancing the Climate Adaptation Agenda in Times of Uncertainty” (by Energy and Resources Institute and World Adaptation Science Programme)
Adaptation to climate change is essential and it is the only response available for the impacts that will occur over the next several decades before mitigation measures can have an effect. Societies, organisations and individuals have been adapting to changing conditions for centuries but the advent of climate change brings new challenges. The Covid-19 emergency has ushered in a new era, where it has become all the more essential to adapt to and plan for an uncertain future…
28 April, 1:00 – 2:00 PM CEST
“Understanding and Assessing Risk of Drought Impacts” (by United Nations University – Institute for Environment and Human Security, University of Freiburg)
After learning about impacts of droughts, different types of drought hazards, and ways to detect and monitor them, this webinar introduces the concept of drought risk and shows why it is important and how to assess risk. After a theoretical explanation, the topic is illustrated by two examples drawing on the work of the speakers. Drawing on those examples, and a systematic review of existing drought risk assessments, the webinar will also provide insights on progress that has been made as well as persisting challenges in understanding and assessing drought risk, and give an outlook on potential ways forward.
28 April, 1:00 – 2:00 PM CEST
“The Role of Youth and Civil Society in Shaping the MENA Energy Transition – Projections on COVID19 Recovery Opportunities” (by ATA Insights)
The region of the Middle East and North Africa is considered to have a huge potential for solar and wind energy as an alternative to its traditional dependency on imported fossil fuels. Participate to understand the role of renewable energy as a catalyst for socioeconomic development through the MENA region and how the youth and civil society are active in shaping the renewable energy economy and climate policies. Hear how to lead a transition to renewable energy and migrate away from the regional dependency on fossil fuels as the main policy to drive growth in a post-COVID recovery.
28 April, 1:00 – 2:00 PM CEST
“India Wind Energy Market Outlook & Impact of COVID-19” (by Global Wind Energy Council)
As the world’s fourth-largest onshore wind market by installations, India has 37.5 GW of wind capacity as of 2019. Two fundamental drivers are in place to sustain market growth: rising energy demand and political ambition. Join the webcast to learn more on what the future holds for India’s wind energy industry and how we can address key bottlenecks to ensure the country meets its ambitious renewable energy goals. Experts will also address how COVID-19 is impacting the Indian wind market, the effects of the ongoing lockdown, future demand-side and supply-side risks and where industry stands today.
28 April, 2:00 – 3:00 PM CEST
“The EU and the Modernisation of the Energy Charter Treaty: What Could it Mean for Climate Action?” (by EU Law & SD)
The webinar will focus on the process of modernisation that the Energy Charter Treaty is currently undergoing, with the active participation of all its Parties. Given the important role that the energy sector plays in relation to both contributing to climate change and providing mitigation solutions, the reform of the ECT presents a unique opportunity to ensure that the new text of the Treaty facilitates and increases investments in the energy sector in a sustainable way.
28 April, 2:30 – 3:30 PM CEST
“Sustainable Food Systems and Nutrition: Making Agriculture and Food Systems Nutrition-Sensitive” (by FAO and UN-ESCAP)
Objectives of the webinar: 1) explain the linkages between agriculture, food systems and nutrition; 2) describe existing opportunities for integrating nutrition into food system policies, investments and programmes; 3) explain the importance of sustainable nutrition-sensitive food systems. The webinar is a part of series aimed to give practitioners the opportunity to interact with international experts, United Nations officers, University professors, researchers and fellow participants, throughout the world.
28 April, 3:00 – 4:00 PM CEST
“Future of Food – beyond the hype” (by Forum for the Future)
Join this webinar to understand whether recent excitement in sustainable protein adds up to a future-fit food system (as reviewed in our Future of Food report), start to explore how the pandemic is now stretching that system to its limits and discuss what food industry can be doing to shape better outcomes long-term. This webinar is relevant for anyone operating in the food industry, particularly for sustainability professionals or those with a focus on nutrition, sourcing, innovation or strategy.
28 April, 3:00 – 4:00 PM CEST
“Teach about Raw Materials with Minecraft” (by Geological Survey of Sweden)
Join in on a webinar focused on teaching about raw materials using one of the most popular games in the world – Minecraft. The project BetterGeoEdu aims to develop teacher material for primary school using the Minecraft and BetterGeo to disseminate knowledge about raw materials, circular economy and sustainability. BetterGeo is a modification to Minecraft created by the Geological Survey of Sweden adding realistic geology to Minecraft, for example by adding new rocks, minerals and metals, as well as realistic ways to find these. The mod also introduces environmental impacts and new tools and items to help you in the game. The webinar will show the tools first hand and discuss on the future possibilities of teaching using computer games.
28 April, 3:10 – 4:00 PM CEST
“Petersberg Climate Dialogue XI: High-Level-Segment” (by German Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety)
The Climate Change Conference COP 26 has been postponed to 2021. This year, the Petersberg Climate Dialogue will not take place in its usual format. This time the ministers of 30 countries will meet online. At the invitation of Federal Environment Minister Svenja Schulze, high-level government officials will discuss which measures could pave the way for a green recovery from this economic crisis. Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres are scheduled to give speeches and answer questions from the ministers. Follow the speeches and discussion via live stream (including English translation) here.
28 April, 3:30 – 4:30 PM CEST
“Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance in Emerging Markets: How will Emerging Markets Countries and Companies Fight Coronavirus and Climate Change?” (by Reuters)
The WTO forecasts global trade to fall this year by between 13% and 32%; to fight the virus and ensure economic survival, national resources have been stretched to breaking point. Do emerging markets have the fiscal space to combat a recession, Covid-19 and Climate Change? How are emerging market climate change best practices changing in light of the fight against Covid-19 and global recession? Will sustainability-based stimulus packages be ‘de facto’ or ‘de jure’ and can they revive growth and deliver financial returns in the wake of Covid-19?
28 April, 4:00 – 5:00 PM CEST (10:00 AM EST)
“Launch of report on Decision-making on Belt and Road projects: what role for sustainability?” (by Initiative for Sustainable Energy Policy)
Chinese overseas investment associated with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has predominantly flowed into fossil fuels and other forms of high-carbon infrastructure across the developing countries. While a growing number of voluntary standards and networks seek to “green” the BRI, it is not yet clear how these will influence the decisions and incentives of key actors in China and recipient countries developing BRI-related projects. A new report from ISEP at Johns Hopkins University, the Blavatnik School of Government at the University of Oxford, and the ClimateWorks Foundation seeks to better understand how sustainability considerations do and do not enter into decision-making around BRI projects.
28 April, 4:30 – 6:00 CEST
“Company Practice on Communicating Carbon Neutrality Goals and Achievements: How to Avoid Misunderstandings” (by World Environment Center and DFGE Institute)
In the light of a growing number of companies communicating ambitious decarbonization plans, there is a risk that business decision-makers and stakeholders alike get confused about what Carbon Neutrality means and how the term differs from Net Zero emissions. Furthermore, many are not sure to what extent Carbon Offsetting is a legitimate way to respond to the Paris climate agreement of 2015. So how are leading companies communicating their decarbonization programs? What are the differences between industry sectors and what can be expected? How to define Carbon Neutrality vs. Net Zero? How do companies make sure that carbon offsetting doesn’t replace ambitious reductions from their own operations and value chains? Join speakers from Microsoft, Volkswagen, WRI/SBTi and Institute for Energy, Ecology and Economy to discuss these questions.
28 April, 5:00 – 6:00 PM CEST
“Capitalism and Climate Change: How Markets Protect the Environment” (by Austrian Economics Center and British Conservation Alliance)
Capitalism and environmentalism are often portrayed as mutually exclusive. If we want to protect nature and fight climate change, governments have to control the economy, spend trillions, and punish polluters. Right? This webinar presents a new vision that challenges the regulatory, anti-capitalist narrative dominating the environmental debate. Maybe the market economy, innovation, and entrepreneurship – coupled with healthy dose of eco-optimism – are the best way forward. Maybe what we really need is a Green Market Revolution. Come along and find out why.
28 April, 6:00 – 7:00 PM CEST (12:00 PM EST)
“Mitigation Deterrence” (by Institute for Carbon Removal Law and Policy)
In this webinar results from a project called “Assessing the Mitigation Deterrence effects of Greenhouse Gas Removal technologies” by Lancaster University UK will be presented. Mitigation deterrence (MD) is where the pursuit of (for example) greenhouse gas removal delays or deters other mitigation options. The project is aimed at analyzing such effects and explores under what conditions Greenhouse Gas Removal technologies can be used with as little risk of mitigation deterrence as possible.
29 April, 9:30 – 10:30 AM CEST
“Aggregation of building renovation projects in an area-based approach: the experience in Hauts-de-France Region” (by EuroACE)
From webinar series focusing on concrete experiences at regional and local level in the framework of energy renovation of buildings which should be scaled up through this initiative. In this webinar project manager at the Permanent Representation of Hauts-de-France Region to the EU will shed light on the ‘Pass Renovation’ and other linked tools within the framework of Hauts-de-France regional program supporting private homes renovation.
29 April, 10:00 – 11:30 AM CEST, 4:00 – 5:30 PM CEST
“The consequences of COVID-19: What the pandemic means for the decade ahead” (World Business Council for Sustainable Development)
COVID-19 now represents the worst public health crisis and certainly the deepest economic downturn of the modern era. It is revealing terrible vulnerabilities in public health systems and economies around the world, as well as how major disruptions can rapidly snowball through interconnected systems. Join the webinar to find out the vulnerabilities that COVID-19 is exposing, the ways in which it could shape the 2020s, explore the opportunity to reset capitalism and update the role of business in society.
29 April, 10:30 – 11:30 AM CEST
“Minimising the hidden costs of tourism in Mediterranean islands. Waste prevention actions and circular economy perspectives” (by ACR+)
The Mediterranean Sea is the world’s leading tourist region. The annual massive tourist wave toward the Mediterranean, largely concentrated within a short period, places a great burden on local infrastructure, especially for waste management. The growing attention to the potential of sustainable tourism as a lever to promote circular economy is at the basis of the BLUEISLANDS project, which is slowly coming to an end and is now ready to share its results.
29 April, 12:30 – 2:30 PM CEST (4:00 – 6:00 PM IST)
“Adaptation with a Human Face – Moving towards Climate Justice” (by Energy and Resources Institute and World Adaptation Science Programme)
The aim of the webinar is to view climate change adaptation through a human lens, furthering the discourse on safeguarding the rights of the most vulnerable people and on ensuring the equitable and fair sharing of burdens and benefits of climate change and its impacts. This dialogue will also highlight that the urgent action needed to adapt to climate change must be based on community-led solutions.
29 April, 12:30 – 2:00 PM CEST
“Taking action on the urban land-use and infrastructure dilemma” (by Urban Europe)
What role does urban design play in the food-water-energy nexus? How will the liveable and healthy city be achieved in the new decade- and post the Covid-19 pandemic? Even though there are no “one size fits all” answers to urban dilemmas around land-use, health and infrastructures, this webinar will explore some lessons learned.
29 April, 2:30 – 4:00 PM CEST
“Open Data for Smarter Cities” (by Interreg Europe and Policy Learning Platform)
Measuring energy and transport data allows for the design of better measures. Various projects put forward good practices on data collection for better management, both in the area of energy and mobility. Some cities have gone a step further and made all collected data on public services available and accessible, not only to the concerned public services, but also to the general public. Hoping to foster better energy and mobility management, and private sector innovation at the same time. This webinar will explore the more complete examples of open public data with examples from several Interreg Europe projects.
29 April, 3:00–4:15 PM CEST
“How to make the COVID-19 recovery sustainable, just and resilient” (by Stockholm Environment Institute)
Join the discussion to hear perspectives from decision makers, industry professionals and scientists on how to ensure a sustainable, just and resilient recovery from the disruption wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among invited speakers – Isabella Lövin, Minister for Environment & Climate and Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden.
29 April, 3:00 – 4:00 PM CEST (9:00 AM EST)
“A Virtual Dialogue on SDG17 and Public Private Partnerships: COVID-19 Response and Recovery in the Framework of the 2030 Agenda” (by UN DESA, IOE, USCIB, BPSD)
The unfolding pandemic crisis has challenged national governments, the international community and the business community in fundamental ways. All attention is now turned to solidarity in meeting urgent health and economic needs of people. Launching a global COVID-19 response is now an imperative and overarching focus for the United Nations, as it is for global business. This virtual dialogue will provide ideas about how public private partnerships can be catalyzed and scaled up to advance the 2030 Agenda and inform the future work of the High-level Political Forum.
29 April, 3:30 – 4:30 PM CEST (9:30 AM EST)
“Build Back Better: Cities at the Frontlines of COVID-19 Impact and Recovery” (by World Resources Institute)
Cities are not only at the forefront of the COVID-19 pandemic, they are also likely to see lasting changes from it, from their physical form to economic and community structure. As governments reassess priorities and consider stimulus packages, the imperative for more resilient, inclusive, green cities is greater than ever. This requires a different approach to how investments are allocated, prioritized and designed, putting cities, settlements and communities at the heart of these processes. WRI Ross Center will bring together key urban experts to discuss these challenges and the way forward.
29 April, 4:00 – 5:00 PM CEST
“Carbon neutrality (re)defined – Diving into the Net Zero Initiative Guidelines” (by the Net Zero Initiative)
The Net Zero Initiative along with a dozen of pioneer companies and a high-level Scientific Committee, releases its guidelines for organizations to contribute to the global net-zero. This new framework of corporate carbon neutrality will be presented during the webinar. The document suggests adopting a common language to all the stakeholders willing to manage their climate action in a sincere, transparent and constructive way, with the aim of reaching net-zero emissions worldwide, while being consistent with the existing tools and methods.
29 April, 5:00 – 6:00 PM CEST
“Recovering from Pandemic: Transforming cities through subnational leadership” (by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability)
Join representatives from New York City, Local 2030, ICLEI and global subnational representatives for a dialogue on subnational leadership on incorporating climate and sustainability goals into the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
29 April, 5:00 – 6:00 PM CEST (11:00 AM EST)
“How to Facilitate a World Climate Simulation Virtually” (by Climate Interactive and UMass Lowell Climate Change Initiative)
This webinar will provide insight into the World Climate Simulation, a mock-UN climate negotiation exercise that tens of thousands have participated in. This simulation exercise can help people better understand what is needed to address climate change and what is happening at the international level. During this webinar you will learn how to facilitate the exercise virtually, hear how others have been successful with online events, and be able to ask any questions you may have.
29 April, 5:00 – 6:00 PM CEST
“Challenges and opportunities for global economic recovery: sustainable, secure and resilient economies” (by DENA)
COVID-19 has led to a major demand shock, which is radically impacting global commodity markets, notably the oil sector. Maintaining energy security is critical, as the energy sector is vital for the health of the citizens and the economy and needs to continue functioning (along with water, food, health care and waste). Webinar speakers from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, International Energy Agency’s Executive Director Dr. Fatih Birol, German Energy Agency.
29 April, 5:15 – 7:00 PM CEST
“Sustainable Cities and Communities” (by ETH Zürich)
This event is a part of Sustainable Development Goals Public Lecture Series aiming to answer the question: what are the major challenges and chances related to sustainability? The United Nations Agenda 2030 and its 17 SDGs provide an opportunity for the international community to shape the course of sustainable development. Join to gain insights from cutting edge science and leading societal actors.
30 April, 6:30 – 7:45 AM CEST (10:00 IST)
“Indian renewable energy” (by MIIM and Indo-German Energy Forum)
Overview of the landscape, trends and success factors in the Indian renewable energy market with a focus on solar, wind energy and alternative fuels.
30 April, 9:00 – 9:50 AM CEST
“Impacts of COVID-19 on the Global Environmental Agenda” (by Geneva Environment Network)
The Geneva Environment Dialogues special COVID-19 series discusses the impacts of the pandemic on the global environmental agenda. Experts are concerned that the world is losing critical time to turn around alarming trends in biodiversity loss, climate change, sound management of chemicals and other environmental threats. You can watch the event live on facebook.
30 April, 11:00 – 11:45 AM CEST
“Achieving Mobility Behavioural Change – The Human Dimension” (by CIVITAS PORTIS)
This event is a part of webinar series exploring how to foster a change in mobility behaviour patterns and a shift towards the use of more sustainable modes. The project’s five cities – Aberdeen (UK), Antwerp (Belgium), Constanta (Romania), Klaipeda (Lithuania) and Trieste (Italy) – are seeking to achieve this in a variety of ways. The webinar will explore the awareness raising, campaign and incentive-based approaches that have been developed by Antwerp and Aberdeen since 2017. Participants will find out about the Smart Ways to Antwerp commuter campaign that has achieved a 20% decrease in car use amongst participating companies. Alongside this, they will discover how the City of Aberdeen is engaging with businesses to enable sustainable commutes. These insights will be contextualised with a brief history of behavioural change in urban mobility.
30 April, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM CEST
“Europe and the New Geopolitics of Energy” (by KU Leuven and EUCROSS)
The outset for this presentation is the historic Western World’s dependence on imported oil from the Middle East and on natural gas from Russia. As more diversified energy markets emerge, concerns over security-of-energy-supply are changing. The American shale oil and gas revolution makes the U.S. self-sufficient in fossil fuels and a net exporter of natural gas. Liquefied natural gas make natural gas markets global and diversifies EU imports. Renewable energy, increased energy efficiency, environmental and climate concerns reduce EU dependence on fossil fuels. The new geopolitics of energy changes positions of and relations to oil and gas exporters, and new concerns emerge. Continued common and diverging US-EU positions, and their energy policy implications, will be put forward.
30 April, 12:30 – 1:30 PM CEST
“Climate change impacts on agriculture, forestry, fisheries and coastal areas” (by COACCH)
The webinar will provide insights from the COACCH project: Co-designing the assessment of climate change costs. The final objective of COACCH is to produce an improved downscaled assessment of the risks and costs of climate change in Europe that can be accessed directly for the different needs of end users from the research, business, investment, and the policy making community. This objective is pursued by working with end users and developing an innovative science-practice and integrated approach of co-design of knowledge and co-delivery of outcomes with stakeholders. Webinar speakers from International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, Global Climate Forum, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research.
30 April, 1:30 – 2:30 PM CEST
“Replacing GDP by 2030: Towards a common language for the well-being and sustainability community” (by Graduate Institute Geneva)
How did Gross domestic product (GDP) become the world’s most influential indicator? Why does it still remain the primary measure of societal progress despite being widely criticised for not considering well-being or sustainability? Why have the many beyond-GDP alternatives not managed to effectively challenge GDP’s dominance? Rutger Hoekstra will present his roadmap to 2030, detailing how to create a multidisciplinary policy science which is based on a common accounting framework.
30 April, 2:00 – 3:00 PM CEST
“Why Community Power Matters in Times of Crisis – Industrialised Countries” (by World Wind Energy Association)
The webinar will present the status of community power in different parts of the world and will highlight the importance of community power for a rapid and complete switch to a renewable energy economy. Special consideration will be given to the socioeconomic challenges all countries are facing in light of the corona crisis. Experts will analyse and discuss why decentralised approaches such as community power have to be in the center of all long-term recovery programmes. Participation and inclusion will not only strengthen economies around the world but will also be key to address the climate crisis.
30 April, 2:00 – 3:00 PM CEST
“Energy Poverty: Novelties under the Clean Energy Package and possible measures for the Energy Community” (by Energy Community Secretariat)
The presentation will take stock of the legislative requirements for protecting vulnerable customers and addressing energy poverty in the Energy Community Contracting Parties. It will also provide an overview of the currently implemented measures in the Contracting Parties and beyond and, finally, provide some proposals on the further steps towards limiting energy poverty in the region. The participants will be invited to share their views on how to tackle the energy poverty in the Energy Community.
30 April 2020, 2:00 – 3:00 PM CEST
“Location Intelligence and Partnerships to support the Sustainable Development Goals” (by ELISE Action of the ISA² Programme)
In order to advance the well-being of our societies, efforts to achieve better, integrated and open data are as relevant as ever. With a view to understand geospatial data as a tool to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), this webinar will explore the links between location intelligence, ecosystems and SDG number 17 on partnerships, and how these elements brought together can unlock the potential of geospatial data in sustainable development. In this webinar speakers from KU Leuven and Deloitte Belgium will present the current state of play on the role of geospatial and location intelligence in achieving the SDGs, and examine how ecosystems and partnerships can fill the data gap.
30 April, 3:00 – 4:00 PM CEST
“Heat Decarbonisation: Lessons for the Smart Sector Integration Strategy of the EU to achieve the long-term climate goals” (by Agora Energiewende)
The heating of buildings accounts for almost one third of the European Union’s total energy demand. And most of that heat is provided by burning fossil fuels. With the European Commission currently developing a Smart Sector Integration Strategy in the context of the European Green Deal, it is timely to reflect on the transformative challenge of heat decarbonisation and to present principles for smart heat electrification in Germany and Europe.
30 April, 3:30 – 4:30 PM CEST
“Strengthening the case for mini-grids in Africa: Advancing climate objectives and sustainable development goals through mini grids and rural electrification” (by Africa LEDS Partnership)
This webinar will explore how a stronger focus on mini-grid-based rural electrification can increase climate ambition while delivering multiple sustainable development co-benefits. The session will showcase how mini-grids developers have actively promoted public goods and services. It aims at providing concrete advise for decision-makers for how to more effectively target development and climate objectives through mini grids-based energy access.
30 April, 4:00 – 5:00 PM CEST
“Energy Efficiency in COVID Stimulus Packages” (by International Energy Agency)
Governments are contemplating large stimulus packages that will shape their economic recovery efforts. To support governments around the world, the IEA has developed guidance and recommendations on the best energy and energy efficiency policy practices to employ in the short, medium, and long term to help strengthen economies and get markets back up and running. Join the webinar on the important role of energy efficiency in economic stimulus packages for creating jobs, driving economic growth, improving energy affordability, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
30 April, 4:00 – 6:00 PM CEST (7:30 – 9:30 PM IST)
“Climate Change and Health” (by Energy and Resources Institute and World Adaptation Science Programme)
As COVID-19 ravages through the global economy, challenging and shattering decade old ‘economy first’ stand of the countries of the world, there are few constants and parallels to be drawn with climate emergency. While it is too early to suggest possible linkages of COVID-19 to climate change, the pandemic especially brings to the fore, the exacerbated vulnerabilities to the lives and livelihoods of the already marginalised (urban poor, migrant population, farmers, informal economy workers) and displaced. This webinar seeks to emphasis on these pressing issues of climate shocks/change, its overlapping impacts with the uncertaintiesstemming from disasters and the role of adaptation in addressing the same, while addressing few key challenges.
30 April, 4:30 – 5:15 PM CEST
“Building the future: the wind power supply chain’s response to COVID-19” (by WindEurope)
Join the webinar to discuss the short and long term impacts on the supply chain of the current crisis. Gain insights on how the climate crisis should keep being the priority and how the European Green Deal should remain the focus now more than ever.
30 April, 4:30 – 5:30 PM CEST
“Hybridization and Electrification” (by Danfoss)
Curious about the connection between electrification and the climate goals? As our world transitions increasingly to electric power, global energy systems are decarbonating. We are witnessing the dawn of a new age of hybridization, renewables and intelligent power supply using energy storage. In practical terms this means we need new solutions: demand shifting, flexible demand, sector coupling and smart grid power conversion. Join to learn more.
30 April, 5:00 – 6:00 PM CEST
“COVID-19: What does this mean for the fight against climate change?” (by Climate Action)
In this webinar, global panel of sustainability professionals, health leaders and environmental policy experts (WHO, UN, European Environment Agency) will share insights on the following questions: What are the direct impacts of COVID-19 on our climate? How has COVID-19 impacted our ability to tackle climate change? What can we learn from Covid-19 to help with climate change? How can we ensure we rebuild ‘green’ after COVID-19? What should be the next steps for Governments after the COVID-19 crisis maintain momentum for climate action in 2020?
30 April, 6:00 – 7:00 PM CEST (12:00 PM EST)
“Net Zero by 2070: Decarbonizing Global Industry” (by Resources for the Future)
An interdisciplinary team of experts has found that it is possible—and critical—to bring industrial GHG emissions to net zero by 2070. Their comprehensive study, published last month in Applied Energy, assesses the range of technologies and policy interventions available to enable global industry decarbonization. The webinar will feature presentations from the co-authors of the study, as well as a discussion on the technologies, innovation areas, and policies that can help achieve net-zero industrial emissions.
1 May, 3:00 – 4:00 PM CEST
“Scaling up the Carbon Capture and Storage Market to Deliver Net Zero Emissions” (by Global CCS Institute)
Understanding how the carbon capture and storage (CCS) market is likely to develop over the coming years is of interest to a wide range of stakeholders. It can help inform the timing and design of policies introduced by governments, the scale of the market for potential investors, and the challenges associated with meeting long-term climate targets. Join Institute experts in conversation as they explain how they see the opportunities for CCS deployment and provide an overview of the near-term and longer-term developments in the CCS market.
1 May, 6:00 – 8:00 PM CEST (12:00 PM EST)
“Coming Together: Gender and Privilege in the Youth Climate Movement” (by The New School and Tishman Environment and Design Center)
How can youth activists from different backgrounds and genders empower each other and join forces for collective, safe and effective climate action? The aim is to bring together activists from different backgrounds, especially indigenous and non indigenous, to have a constructive conversation and come up with resolutions and ideas on how these groups can and should empower each other in their joint effort for climate sanity. Especially during times of organizational change due to Covid-19, which is making indigenous populations most vulnerable, how can we make sure we stand together with each other?
2 May, 3:00 – 4:00 PM CEST
“Translating hydrogen’s potential to real world solutions” (by Emanate)
Brought to you by three experts having hands-on experience in the domain, the series of two webinars shall cover: the production cycle of Hydrogen, hybrid use of Hydrogen in combination with other renewable energy technologies and its applications in industries that are otherwise difficult to decarbonize. Watch the second episode live here: