EUKI Academy Networking Conference 2024
On this page you can find all the documents, publications and videos resulting from the EUKI Academy Networking Conference 2024.
The EUKI Networking Conference 2024 took place in Berlin from 14th to 15th of May. It brought together key players in European climate action, with the aim of facilitating higher levels of progress and transformation. Doing so means mobilising a joint effort towards our common goal – a green future.
Report: Joining Hands to Drive the Green Transition Forward
Here you can find the report in the form of a newspaper with concise summaries of the workshops, panels, discussions and sessions:
Live Recordings
Conference Day 1 (14 May 2024)
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- Welcome by Nele Bünner, Director European Climate Initiative (EUKI)
- Keynote by State Secretary Sven Giegold, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
- Exchange with State Secretary Giegold and the EUKI Community: Anna Niemczyk, Senior Researcher, Institute of Power Engineering – National Research Institute; Iryna Holovko, Advisor, adelphi research GmbH; Miklos Marton, Climate & Energy Transformation Officer, MTVSZ – FOE
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Keynote by Dr Simon Marr, Head of Division European Climate Policy, European Climate Initiative, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK).
Presentation of EUKI Success Stories: Adrianna Borowicz, Journalist and Alumna of the EUKI German-Polish Climate Fellowship; Aleksandra Szmurlik-Dominguez, Coordinator of Partnerships and Projects, WiseEuropa; Yasen Georgiev, Managing Director, Economic Policy Institute; Zsofia Pej, Climate Program Leader, Energiablub Climate Policy Institute
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The session addressed the changes and potentials in climate action that have been or will be brought about by the progress of machine learning, AI, and other digital innovations. The focus lied on opportunities for the climate change mitigation field to develop and increase its impact by embracing technological advancements.
Dr Lynn Kaack’s keynote presentation on machine learning in climate projects can be found here.
Dr Lynn Kaack, leading expert in the field of AI and Climate Change, gave an overview of possible applications of machine learning and AI for the field of climate change mitigation. Based on scientific findings, she focused on the practical implications of these developments.
Francesca Bria, innovation economist and digital policy expert, talked about the potentials of digital innovations to accelerate the green transition in European cities.
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Europe’s economies are struggling, concerned voices warn of deindustrialisation, and the EU is debating how responsibilities for the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors should be distributed. But there is a strong will to transform in many sectors, like in the construction and the automotive industry. Across Central and Eastern Europe, companies and businesses are trying to innovate in order to survive in an inevitable net-zero economy. This session brought together representatives from different industries, civil society, research, and the policy level to discuss needs and potentials of the industrial decarbonisation.
Kateřina Davidova’s keynote presentation on the needs and potentials of the industrial decarbonisation can be found here.
Malte Bornkamm, Head of Department Market Framework for Industrial Decarbonisation, International Cooperation, Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK)
Michaela Hletkova Ploszekova, Head of Environmental Department, Volkswagen Slovakia
Carolin Boßmeyer, Head of Liaison Office Berlin, Senior Manager Government Affairs, Heidelberg Materials
Monika Martišková, Senior Researcher, Central European Labour Studies Institute
Kateřina Davidova, Senior Climate Policy Expert, Centre of Transport and Energy
Conference Day 2 (15 May 2024)
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While there is certainly discussion, perhaps controversy, around the implications of increased ambitions, analyses show that Europe is lagging behind on its net-zero goal and needs to provide a strong framework for reducing greenhouse gas emissions beyond 2030. Although we are yet to see how the European Parliament positions itself on this issue, the European Commission has taken a clear stance. In the recently published communication and impact assessment, the Commission recommends a 90% reduction of emissions compared to 1990 levels by the year 2040. This session focused into the background of this consideration, and its ramifications for different CEE countries and sectors.
Yvon Slingenberg, Acting Deputy Director General of DG CLIMA and Director in DG CLIMA for ‘Strategy, Analysis & Planning”
Dr. Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf, Head of International and European Governance, Senior Fellow, Ecologic Institute
Christophe Jost, Senior EU Policy Officer, CEE Bankwatch Network
Martin Vladimirov, Director, Energy & Climate Program, Center for the Study of Democracy
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This session offered a forward-thinking perspective which showcases innovative solutions emerging from the startup scene, illustrating the pivotal role of sustainable innovation in tackling pressing climate
and energy crises. These innovations not only confront challenges but also create unique opportunities, fostering a greener, more resilient world. By highlighting the contributions of young minds and
entrepreneurial spirits, this session shall install hope and determination to address current and future environmental challenges.Livia Kalossaka, Climate Lead, Creative Destruction Lab, and EU Young Energy Champion 2023
Impressions
Workshops
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Description
The workshop tackled energy communities and their relation to energy poverty. Topics were presented from various aspects (legal, financial, social) and participants got an opportunity to actively participate within group work.
Results
The results of this workshop can be found in the EUKICON24 Report on page 23.
Facilitators
Ivan Duilo & Zvonimir Anić, Society for Sustainable Development Design (DOOR), Croatia
EUKI project: LoGyCo – Setting Basis for the Establishment of Local Citizen EnerGY COmmunitiesMarko Starčević, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FSB), Croatia
EUKI project: SunSharing – Supporting Solar Energy Communities in SEE -
Description
How can renovation passports support renovations that deliver on energy savings? EUKI projects Renocally and OUR-CEE present the ‘performance gap’ and renovation passports as essential considerations for high performing renovations in CEE.
Results
The results of this workshop can be found in the EUKICON24 Report on page 25.
Facilitators
Rutger Broer, Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE), Germany
EUKI project: Renocally – Municipal Renovation Action PlansAura Oancea, Energy Policy Group (EPG), Romania
EUKI project: OUR-CEE -
Description
The workshop combined theory and practice by linking an exchange with researcher and AI expert Dr Lynn Kaack with a contribution by the DUET EUKI project. Kaack looked at how the rapid advances in data and machine learning can influence climate action work. For the latter,
Hanna Lewandowska gave an introduction into how innovative solutions can realistically be implemented on local levels.Results
The results of this workshop can be found in the EUKICON24 Report on page 24.
Facilitators
Hanna Lewandowska, Energy Management Office, City of Bydgoszcz, Poland
EUKI project: DUET – Driving Urban Energy TogetherDr Lynn Kaack, Co-Founder and Chair, Climate Change AI, and Assistant Professor, Hertie School, Germany
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Description
Local governments are at the forefront of a transformative journey. Local long-term climate neutrality strategies, that guide the cities in the process, are critical for reaching the necessary socio-ecological transformation and managing a fair transition to local net-zero emissions.
One of the key tools, which are critical to drive the necessary socio-ecological transformation & manage a fair transition to local net-zero emission, are the Local Long-Term Climate Neutrality Strategies (LLCS) that will guide the cities in the process.Results
The results of this workshop can be found in the EUKICON24 Report on page 26.
Facilitators
Ewa Iwaszuk, Fellow, Ecologic Institute, Germany
Iwona Korohoda, Project Manager, Association of Municipalities Polish Network „Energie Cités“, Poland
Izabela Kuśnierz, Project Manager, The Association of Municipalities Polish Network „Energie Cités“, Poland
EUKI project: Ready4NetZero – Long-term Climate-Neutrality Strategies in Towns and Cities -
Description
During this workshop, participants looked into the benefits and challenges of industrial decarbonisation using offshore wind energy.
Results
The results of this workshop can be found in the EUKICON24 Report on page 23.
Facilitators
Opening
Martin Vladimirov, Director, Energy and Climate Program, Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD)Session
Stanislav Anastasov, Member of the Energy Committee, Bulgarian National
Assembly
Pawel Czyzak, Regional Lead – CEE, EMBER
Cristina Simoli, Director, Offshore Energy and Nature, Renewable Grids Initiative
Ben Sass, Head of Project Development Offshore, PNE AG
Lukasz Dabrowski, Marshal’s Office, Pomeranian Offshore Platform
Moderator: Marius Koeppen, Analyst, Energy & Climate Program, Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD) -
Description
A workshop focused on strategising sustainable futures for regions in transition after the 2021-2027 financial framework is over. Working on identifying challenges and developing remedies.
Results
The results of this workshop can be found in the EUKICON24 Report on page 26.
Facilitators
Mateusz Kowalik, Polish Green Network, Poland
Valentina Troendle, Lausitzer Perspektiven, Germany
EUKI project: Cooperative Transition of Polish and Bulgarian Coal Regions -
Description
In 2031, when the EU -55% emissions target should have been met, today’s 10-year-olds will be adults.
Their climate-neutral future is planned and started already, but will it be achieved?
An experiment took place in the Cultural Capital of Europe 2023, Elefsina, Greece, when 350 pupils
aged 10-15 from Greece, Germany and the Western Balkans met to build a collective vision with their
ideas for the city that they dream of and want to live in. But how can this vision work? Will this endeavor
bring climate neutrality and quality of life for 2050 Elefsina? Can this methodology help meet any town’s
targets?Results
The results of this workshop can be found in the EUKICON24 Report on page 25.
Facilitators
Evi Tzanakaki, Project Manager, Centre for Renewable Energy Sources_CRES, Greece
EUKI project: Pupils’ Conference Elefsina
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Description
Standard indicators serve as metrics for measuring the overarching objectives of the EUKI. Such indicators are e.g. optional measurement of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduced or carbon stocks enhanced through the project’s activities. Participiants learned about methodological approaches to mitigation quantification and data availability.
Results
The results of this workshop can be found in the EUKICON24 Report on page 27.
Facilitators
Stefan Wehner, Founding Partner and Climate Project Advisor, the greenwerk. GbR, Germany
Sven Feige, Senior Consultant, Perspectives Climate Group GmbH, GermanyPresentation
EUKICON24_Enhancing Impact – Learning to Estimate Your Project’s Emission Reductions
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Description
The workshop focused on the impact, challenges, tools and brainstorming solutions for mitigating methane emissions.
Results
The results of this workshop can be found in the EUKICON24 Report on page 24.
Facilitators
Mihai Stoica & Raul Cazan, Association 2Celsius, Romania
EUKI project: An Integrated Approach to Methane Emissions Abatemen -
Description
The National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) are
crucial for the alignment between the energy and climate policies of CEE countries with the ambitious path to climate neutrality set by the EU for 2050. The workshop provided insight into the specific challenges faced by policy-makers on
the strengthening of the stakeholder engagement process and the level of inclusivity of the public
discourse when designing and deploying ambitious energy and climate policies within the NECPs, in
synergy with the Territorial Just Transition Plans (TJTPs), the Social Climate Plans (SCPs) and the
National Recovery and Resilience Plans (NRRPs).Results
The results of this workshop can be found in the EUKICON24 Report on page 27.
Facilitators
Remina Aleksieva, Analyst, Energy & Climate Program, Center for the Study of Democracy
EUKI project: Effective Implementation of NECPs in CEE
Speakers
Ruslan Stefanov, Program Director & Chief Economist, Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD)
Anne-Kathrin Richter, Head of Unit EU Energy Policy, Coordination, Federal Ministry for
Economic Affairs and Climate Action (Germany)
Kalina Tcolova, Analyst, Energy & Climate Program, Center for the Study of Democracy (CSD)
Meglena Plugchieva, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Bulgaria
Detlef F. Sprinz, Senior Scientist, Working Group Leader, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
Maris Pedaja, National campaigner, Estonia, CEE Bankwatch Network
Interviews
Raul Cazan; Association 2Celsius (Romania); Integrated Approach to Methane Emissions Abatement
Prof Igor Nedelkovski; GAUSS Institute (North Macedonia); Renewable Power-to-Heat in the Bitola Region
Anna Niemczyk; Institute of Power Engineering (Poland); RenewStart for Hydrogen Technologies
Dr Nils Meyer-Ohlendorf; Ecologic Institute (Germany); EU 2040 Climate Target: Level of ambition and implications
Adrianna Borowicz, Journalist and Alumna of the EUKI German-Polish Climate Fellowship
Speakers
Gallery
EUKI Project Posters
EUKI Academy Training
In this two-day training on purposeful partnerships and cooperation in Berlin, 20 participiants from the EUKI community tackled these questions among others. They were joined by experts who shared their knowledge on how to create, maintain and manage a purposeful partnership between different stakeholders. The focus layed on the interaction and exchange of experiences between EUKI partners through different formats, including experts’ input.