Events

• Tine Heyse, Deputy Mayor of Ghent responsible for Environment, Climate and Housing
• Mathias De Clercq, Mayor of Ghent
• André Sobczak, Secretary General, Eurocities

• Claire Dupont, Professor of European and International Governance at Ghent University and Chair of the European Environment Agency’s Scientific Committee
• Milan Elkerbout, Research Fellow and Head of the climate policy programme at Centre for European Policy Studies

Local pathways to collaborate with industry for the energy transition
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered shock waves in global energy markets, leading to price volatility, supply shortages, security issues and economic uncertainty. The European Union has responded to this energy crisis with a series of measures under the RePowerEU Plan aimed at putting Europe on a path to energy independence as soon as possible. Accelerating the roll out of renewable energy and reducing the fossil fuel consumption in industry and transport have been identified as key priorities with recovery and resilience plans updated to reflect the new allocated financial envelope.
Cities at the forefront of the climate and energy crises play a crucial role in supporting EU and national climate objectives from bringing stakeholders together in one-stop-shops, to permitting industry and financing infrastructure. How can collaboration between cities and industry accelerate transformative system change? What role is there for cities in EU-level industry alliances?

Speakers

• Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO at SolarPower Europe
• Daan Schalck, CEO at North Sea Port Authority
• Eero Ailo, Adviser, Energy transition and local governance, DG ENER, European Commission
• Anni Sinnemäki, Deputy Mayor of Helsinki
• Mariusz Skiba, Deputy Mayor of Katowice

Closing remarks by Bart Somers, Vice-Minister president of the Flemish government, Minister of internal affairs and living together in diversity, and Mayor of Mechelen