Lessons from a crisis – How to achieve a climate neutral, energy secure and prosperous transition for Europe and the business sector? 10.00-12.00 CET, 25 January 2023

A dialogue between policymakers and business networks for a climate neutral economy.

Watch the round table

Read the roundtable event report

Context and background  

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.  

This event was an opportunity to reflect on the progress made during the past year. Speakers presented 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 reflected 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 included:

• Yvon Slingenberg, Director of Strategy, Analysis and Planning, Directorate General for Climate Action, European Commission
• Ruth Reichstein, Policy Advisor, I.D.E.A, European Commission
• Pascal Canfin, Chair of the Environment Committee, European Parliament, Renew
• Nicolás González Casares, Member of the European Parliament, S&D
• Tomas Lindman, Deputy Director General for International Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, Sweden
• Peter Wittoeck, Head of Climate Change Department, Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Belgium
• 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
• Sabine Nallinger, Managing Director, Stiftung Klimawirschaft
• Rasmus Valanko, Managing Director, Systems Transformation, We Mean Business Coalition
• Martin Porter, Executive Chair, CISL

If you have any questions about this event, please contact Romain.Pardo@cisl.cam.ac.uk.

Read about our past events and resources:

Event report: Business networks for a Climate Neutral Economy - Stimulating progressive business action with the Fit for 55 Package.

Events: Corporate Leaders Groups at COP27, Sharm El-Sheikh, 6-18 November 2022.

Event: Green Growth Summit 2022, Monday 10 October, 12.30 - 16.30 (CET.

REPowerEU letter: More than 150 business leaders call on EU to strengthen energy security by accelerating green transition.