Lessons from a crisis – How to achieve a climate neutral, energy secure and prosperous transition for Europe and the business sector?

All across Europe, business networks have been working actively to increase climate ambition recognising the economic, social and environmental benefits of the transition towards a climate neutral, resource efficient and sustainable Europe. 

In January 2022, a roundtable brought together these business networks and policymakers to reflect on how businesses can support Europe’s transition towards climate neutrality and the Fit for 55 Package can deliver this transition. 

The past year saw a great number of policy developments as the EU and its Member States had to deal with the economic and energy related consequences of the war in Ukraine, with the RePowerEU plan, while negotiating the Fit for 55 Package.   

The event will be an opportunity to reflect on the progress made during the past year. Speakers will present solutions developed by businesses to scale up the production and demand for renewable energy, boost energy efficiency, accelerate the decarbonisation of industry and stimulate green investments. They will reflect on how policies can enable businesses to scale up solutions to deal with the current climate and energy crisis while increasing the sustainable competitiveness of the EU’s economy moving forward.  

The event was chaired by Ursula Woodburn, Head of EU office, CLG Europe. Speakers include: 

• Pascal Canfin, Chair of the Environment Committee, European Parliament, Renew 
• Yvon Slingenberg, Director of Strategy, Analysis & Planning, Directorate General for Climate Action, European Commission 
• Tomas Lindman, Deputy Director General for International Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, Sweden 
• Ana Struna Bregar, Chief Executive Officer, CER Slovenia 
• Bjørn K. Haugland, Chief Executive Officer, Skift Business Climate Leaders 
• Gonzalo Sáenz de Miera, President, Spanish Green Growth Group, and Global Director of Climate Change and Alliances, Iberdrola 
• Nina Ekelund, Executive Director, Haga Initiative 
• Ondřej Boreš, Corporate Affairs Director, VELUX Czech Republic 
• Rasmus Valanko, Managing Director, Systems Transformation, We Mean Business Coalition 
• Sabine Nallinger, Managing Director, Stiftung KlimaWirtschaft – German CEO Alliance for Climate and Economy  
• Martin Porter, Executive Chair, CISL