Programme

To speed up industry transition and bridge the gaps to meet the Paris agreement’s goals, we need to set a clear, global framework to unlock the necessary deployment of clean energy technologies. Clean energy is the backbone of the transition to net-zero. New production capacity but also more transmission grids are necessary. What are the challenges and recommendations to get there?  

The transition to clean energy hinges on clean energy technology supply chains and this is becoming increasingly relevant when it comes to longer gestation infrastructure development like power grids. As the energy transition accelerates globally and the share of electricity in the energy system increases from 20% to over 50% by 2050, we are looking at a four times increase in generation capacity and a three-fold increase in transfer capacity across our grids.  When it comes to power grids, there are increasing concerns if supply chains could cope with the massive needs to address capacity and complexity across the value chain, from critical minerals and components like semiconductors to key products like transformers, switchgear, high voltage cables and HVDC equipment. The IEA estimates that USD $1.2 trillion of cumulative investment would be required to bring enough manufacturing capacity online by 2030 for the world to stay on track to meet its climate and energy goals. Announced investments still only cover around 60% of the total investment needed. It is also increasingly evident that while approaches such as re-shoring and friend-shoring are being considered global supply chains would be essential for success if we are to address scale and speed.During this session, panelists will discuss current clean energy supply chain challenges, potential solutions and wider considerations such as national, regional and global industrial strategies as well as incentives and stimuli to spur investments and help accelerate the energy transition.

Export credits are instrumental in expediting the green transition by providing crucial financial support for sustainable projects and initiatives. However, it's imperative that these credits are allocated to the right kind of projects, prioritizing those that have been thoroughly assessed and align with environmentally responsible practices. Join us in a panel discussion to explore the role of export credits in the green transition.

This panel will explore how different stakeholders (government, technology developers and society) might respond to the challenge of achieving global net-zero emissions and what the uncertainties are.

What is the future of scope 3 emissions? We often speak to the challenges that enterprises are navigating to deliver the transition towards net zero, and seize the opportunities that lie therein. In this panel, you will hear about the solutions. How enabling technology will provide seamless exchange of carbon data. 

This session will discuss the EU Green Deal and the impact on EU trade relations with the rest of the world. Special focus will be on how exporters in low- and middle-income countries may be affected by the climate-related EU’s Green Deal legislation. 

UN’s latest Global Stocktake report shows that the world is simply not doing enough. Promises are not kept, commitments are watered down and there’s a general lack of urgency in the face of the climate crisis. 

Climate change stands as one of the foremost challenges of our era, and the urgency to act is paramount. In our pursuit of the 1.5°C target, we must harness every available avenue and rally private investment and financing. In the operationalization of the Article 6 in relation to corporates’ voluntary claims, the chosen design and specified rules could have a significant implication on how much private capital that will be available.  

A seminar at the forefront of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). The EU and many private sector companies will rely on permanent carbon removals to meet their net-zero targets. Given the growing importance of these permanent removals, several key initiatives are moving forward within the EU, including the establishment of a framework for carbon credits and the development of a strategy for industrial carbon management. The seminar will shed light on the increasing demand for carbon removal credits, discuss how permanent removals can support the achievement of net-zero targets, increase your knowledge of BECCS and place the technology in a larger European context.  

In the battle against climate change, the imperative to remove carbon from the atmosphere has never been more urgent and the capital markets will play an important role in accelerating the deployment of carbon removal technologies and initiatives across the globe to ensure we have sufficient capacity by 2050. By participating in this panel discussion, you will gain valuable insights into how capital markets can become powerful catalysts for financing the scale-up of carbon removals. We will also discuss the carbon market’s actions to accelerate up-scaling of the carbon removal market, with a focus on financing decarbonization and responsible leadership across the ecosystem.  Together, we can help combat climate change and protect our planet for future generations. 

Decarbonizing global steel production is widely accepted as both urgent and immensely challenging. This event seeks to illustrate these challenges and potential solutions by presenting the findings of a new research project by the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI).

Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and Labour & Employment, India, and Romina Pourmokhtari, Minister for Climate and the Environment, Sweden, are hosting this official side that will inform about the objectives of the next phase of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition (2024-2026), LeadIT 2.0.  

Cities contribute 70 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions. As a consequence, cities play a key role in driving the green transition. What distinguishes cities that are leading the green transition? How do city forerunners implement actions with the scale, scope and speed needed to reach the goals set by the Paris Agreement? And how have they enabled stakeholder and citizen inclusion as part of the process? During this session, we welcome representatives from cities leading the green transition along with green city networks to discuss these questions and what can be learned from successful examples. 

Just Transition is the notion that a green transition must take into account intersectional socio-economic imperatives in order to bring forth a future that is both fair and sustainable for everyone. The ongoing climate, political, economic and social crises across the Middle East and North Africa have made such a process an absolute necessity.

As countries strive to achieve ambitious energy and climate goals, particularly through the integration of large volumes of renewables, grid interconnections become increasingly important. Today, interconnections linking different power systems within and between countries and regions allow electricity to flow according to patterns of supply and demand, while simultaneously enhancing system reliability, security, and resilience. In fact, increasing interconnection capacity is now becoming crucial as we focus on maximising the penetration of variable renewables globally. Europe has set the benchmark when it comes to interconnectors, being the world’s largest interconnected grid with more than 400 interconnectors and, according to ENTSO-E, 40 more planned by 2030. However, other regions are also progressing. The SIEPAC (Central American Electrical Interconnection System) project links the power grids of six Central American nations since 2013. Meanwhile, ASEAN countries created the ASEAN Power Grid programme in 1997 and the ASEAN Interconnection Masterplan Study has identified numerous benefits from increased interconnectivity.During this discussion, panelists will share lessons learned and experiences from developing major interconnection projects to accelerate the integration of renewables across geographies.

Viable Cities and the European Commission’s representation in Sweden in partnership with Sweden’s pavilion at COP28 are pleased to invite you to the sixth European Viable Cities Day on December 8, 2023 – a bridge between the Swedish and European efforts towards the mission of climate neutral and sustainable cities by 2030. With seven years to go to reach the mission of climate neutral cities, action is needed now. Radical implementation is of the essence. The movement to accelerate the climate transition and pave the way for many others is growing and gaining momentum. At European Viable Cities Day, 23 Swedish cities representing 40% of the Swedish population, six government agencies and high level representatives from business and academia gathers to make this happen. This year, Stockholm and Madrid have received the official EU Mission Label as the first two European capitals. During the event, there will be a special ceremony to highlight this achievement, as well as the signing ceremony of the Swedish Climate City Contracts. Viable Cities is a Swedish national innovation platform and Sweden's biggest initiative for Climate Neutral Cities, jointly funded by the Swedish Energy Agency, Vinnova and Formas. 

Why does sustainable forest management play a key role in battling the climate crisis and how can active forest management improve productivity: challenges and solutions from Sweden and South Africa, from a global south and global north perspective. 

Financing the transformation of road freight will show how the sector is booming with opportunities and the world shifts to new transportation systems. With technology at the forefront, it is possible to tackle a 4 trillion dollar market and impact 8% of global CO2 emissions.

Transitioning to clean electricity as the backbone of the energy system represents the cleanest and most efficient way to decarbonise. Massive deployment of clean power and electrification, enabled by grids, is one of the most important strategies in our race towards net zero. Globally we are looking at 4 times increase in generation capacity and a 3-fold increase in transfer capacity as the share of electrification in our energy system goes from 20% up to over 50% by 2050.This transformational change is achievable, but the sense of urgency must be realized by all. The solutions needed to accelerate clean energy transitions will require collaboration on all fronts. As the transport, buildings and industry sectors decarbonize, the interdependencies between these sectors and the power sector increase. Stakeholders from these sectors need to speak each other’s language to find new ways to break down silos and accelerate the energy transition. Different stakeholder groups from countries across the world must also leverage the opportunity to learn from each other, creating new business opportunities and faster pathways to net zero.Moving a resilient energy transition forward will entail replicating, scaling, and speeding up collaboration models. Panelists at this session will share opportunities, challenges and examples related to successfully collaborating across sectors, geographies, and stakeholders.

Technology and innovation are key accelerators towards reshaping the food ecosystem. To build future-fit food systems, capable of meeting the challenges of a growing global population, they are not merely desirable but imperative.