Expert Forum – Liberal White Book Europe 2030
Zoom Meeting
20 August 2020, 09h30 – 13h45 (CEST)
ABOUT THE EVENT
Looking to the future of Europe, it is now certain that one of the priorities is to look at the long-term sustainability of our way of life, both in respect to the way we think about the economy but also how we can take care of the environment in which we live.
The EU’s institutions are committed to implementing the project of the European Green Deal that can provide a path to zero greenhouse gas emissions. The European Commission endorsed the 2050 climate-neutrality project, in the aim of reaching the objectives of the Paris Agreement, encouraging a circular economy and aiming to increase efficiency. Europe’s economy must be adapted to the needs of a more sustainable economic model based on circularity. Promoting new technologies in the area can lead to the creation of a healthy economy.
Multilateral instruments and agreements are needed to carry out a project of sustainable growth involving all EU member states. We need to support the progress already made towards a more sustainable economy and to reducing all of our environmental impact, while working together with citizens to spread a culture of responsibility towards sustainable development.
This Expert Forum aims to define a liberal agenda for Sustainability and Climate Change (SCC) for Europe 2030.
EVENT SCHEDULE
09h25 Participants connect to the online Expert Forum
09h30 Presentation of the Liberal White Book Europe 2030 project and the Expert Forum
- Daniel Kaddik, Executive Director, European Liberal Forum
09h40 Welcome words from the Patron
- Fredrick Federley, Member of the European Parliament, Renew Europe Group (TBC)
09h50 State of the art: what is happening to our environment?
Keynote speaker:
- Bjorn Lomborg, PhD, President, Copenhagen Consensus Center
Discussion topics:
- The main challenges for our environment
- The impact of human beings: data and science
- A problem affecting everyone: how to act together?
10h20 Break
10h25 Economy of Climate Change: the economy that must go into negative…emissions!
Speakers:
- Kern Alexander, Professor in Law and Finance, University of Zürich
- Rossella Bardazzi, Professor in Political Economics, University of Florence
- Per Mickwitz, Head of International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics, Lund University
- François-Régis Mouton, EU Affairs Director, International Association of Oil & Gas Producers (IOGP)
Followed by a discussion among all participants.
Discussion topics:
- A “green recovery” after the pandemic: crisis as an opportunity to act now for a better tomorrow
- Promoting “sustainable and green” entrepreneurship / PPP
- Energy Poverty in Europe
- New technologies to support SCC (biofuel, electric vehicles, CCS technologies, research, etc.)
11h25 Break
11h30 Sustainable Policies
Speakers:
- Juris Pūce, Minister for Environmental Protection and Regional Development, Government of Latvia
- Miniya Chatterji, Adjunct professor, Sciences Po (Paris), & CEO, Sustain Labs Paris
- Ana Iglesias, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Technical University of Madrid (UPM)
- Jorgo Riss, Executive Director, Greenpeace European Unit
Followed by a discussion among all participants.
Discussion topics:
- Pushing towards an integrated regulatory framework on Sustainability and Climate Change
- A common network to monitor efficiency and circularity
- EU Emission Trading System: cutting emissions efficiently and cost-effectively
- Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) implementation to support the circular economy
12h30 Break
12h35 Liberal Agenda for Sustainability and Climate Change
Possible speakers:
- Fred Steward, Emeritus Professor, University of Westminster, & Member, Policy Studies Institute (PSI)
- Tone Bjørndal, Project Officer, Nordic Council of Ministers, & former Secretary General, International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY)
- Political party representative
Followed by a discussion among all participants.
Discussion topics:
- Steps to push the European political agenda
- Youth engagement and the spread of the SCC culture
- A liberal agenda on Sustainability and Climate Change
13h35 Conclusions
13h45 End of Expert Forum
