On Wednesday 6 December, transport will be on the agenda of the COP28, and the EU Pavilion will be all about transport too, with panels discussing the role and contribution of transport in fighting climate change at global level.
Topics will range from the climate change resilience of transport infrastructure and the importance of alternative fuels for greening aviation and maritime transport, to the role of hydrogen and critical raw materials to bring down transport emissions. Find the full programme below (timezone: GMT+4).
We hope you will be able to attend EU Transport Day, and evening reception.
Come and join us for a coffee as we get ready for the EU Transport Day.
Join us as we kick off the EU Transport Day with the European Commission’s Director-General for Mobility and Transport Magda Kopczyńska.
Climate change poses a serious threat to transport systems across the globe. As extreme weather events become more frequent, it is crucial that our infrastructure can withstand these challenges.
During this first EU Transport Day panel, experts will share their perspectives on the challenges we face in implementing the targeted adaptation efforts and investments needed to make our transport infrastructure more resilient to the impacts of climate change. They will discuss best practices for safeguarding roads, railways, bridges, ports and airports, and other critical infrastructure, against the impacts of climate change. Panellists will share their experiences, from the EU’s Trans-European Transport Network – the TEN-T – and other infrastructure worldwide.
The roundtable will be moderated by Herald Ruijters, the European Commission's acting Deputy Director-General for Mobility and Transport and feature speakers from a variety of organisations, including representatives from the World Bank, academia and the private sector. This global pool of expertise covers research, financing, policy-making, and construction of climate-resilient infrastructure.
This event will be of particular interest to policymakers, project promoters in the field of transport infrastructure, the transport and construction industry, engineers, researchers, and anyone who wants to learn more about how to climate-proof transport systems. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from leading experts in the field, ask questions, and network with peers from across the industry.
Panellists:
- Rachael Barza, Lead, Climate Adaptation and Nature Finance, EBRD
- Adam Elman, Head of Sustainability, Google EMEA
- Isabelle Spiegel, Global Head of Environment, Vinci
- Prof. Dr. Wim Thiery, Department of Water and Climate, Vrije Universiteit Brussels and IPCC contributing author
Moderator: Herald Ruijters, acting Deputy Director-General for Mobility and Transport and Director for Investment, Innovative and Sustainable Transport, European Commission
Sustainable, renewable, low and zero-GHG emission fuels are essential in bringing down emissions from the shipping sector. This second panel of the EU Transport Day will focus on the challenges and opportunities associated with transitioning to more sustainable fuels, as well as the regulatory framework needed to support their adoption and drive the demand.
Speakers will reflect on promising solutions and technologies, funding opportunities and investment priorities to promote scalability and the availability of renewable and low carbon fuels. They will look at how to build up on recent legislative developments at EU level, specifically those supporting decarbonisation and the uptake of sustainable alternative fuels in shipping, and the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) agreement to increase ambition on reducing emissions worldwide, to address the global challenges ahead. The FuelEU Maritime Regulation, recently adopted in the EU to drive the uptake of renewable and low carbon fuels in maritime transport, will serve as a starting point for a wider discussion on the need to work on an international framework that supports the uptake of such fuels in shipping, namely through a global GHG fuel standard.
The event brings together stakeholders with a key role in the development, production and uptake of sustainable fuels and new energy systems in shipping. It will be moderated by the European Commission’s Director-General for Mobility and Transport, Magda Kopczyńska.
The event will be of particular interest to policymakers, maritime transport professionals, the fuel production industry, engineers, and anyone who wants to learn more about the latest policy and technology developments on mitigating GHG emissions from ships. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from leading experts in the field, ask questions, and network with peers from across the industry.
The event will start with a fireside chat between Magda Kopczyńska and Bruno Carvalho Arruda, Deputy Head for Climate Action, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, followed by a panel discussion with the following panellists:
- Morten Bo Christiansen, Senior Vice President and Head of Energy Transition, A.P. Møller – Mærsk
- Alexander Feindt, Chairman, Renewable and Low Carbon Fuels Value Chain Industrial Alliance and Head of New Energy, RENK
- Sveinung Oftedal, Chair of the Intersessional Working Group on Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships, Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment
- Afke van Rijn, Vice-Minister for the Environment, the Netherlands
- Isabelle Ryckbost, Secretary General, European Sea Ports Organisation
Moderator: Magda Kopczyńska, Director-General for Mobility and Transport, European Commission
This event is dedicated to exploring the latest advancements in reducing aviation emissions. As part of the EU Transport Day, experts will share their insights into the challenges and opportunities linked to sustainable aviation fuels. They will reflect on promising technologies, the role of key stakeholders, as well as recent developments at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and at EU level (ReFuelEU Aviation).
Speakers will include representatives from the European Commission, ICAO, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the fuel supply industry and airlines.
Whether you are an aviation professional, a sustainability advocate, or simply interested in learning more about ongoing efforts to bring down aviation emissions, this event is for you. Participants will have the opportunity to hear from leading experts in the field, ask questions, and network with peers from across the industry.
Panellists:
- Harry Boyd-Carpenter, Managing Director Climate Strategy and Delivery, EBRD
- Giulia Chierchia, Executive Vice President, Strategy & Sustainability BP
- Jane Hupe, Deputy Director, ICAO Air Transport Bureau
- Francis Mwangi, Kenya Civil Aviation Authority
- Teresa Parejo Navajas, Head of Sustainability, Iberia
Moderator: Flor Diaz Pulido, Head of Unit Aviation Policy, European Commission
This session will delve into the challenges of the global interconnection of hydrogen valleys, ranging from how to scale up Hydrogen Valleys, efficient solutions for distribution and storage of hydrogen, and the role of ports worldwide. It focuses on the good practices and new frontiers of cooperation (and investment) to expedite the roll-out of hydrogen valleys around the world. The conclusions of the session will feed into the priority activities of the MI Clean Hydrogen Mission for 2024.
Moderator: Rosalinde van der Vlies, Director of the Clean Planet Directorate, European Commission
More information is available here.
This session will delve into the crucial importance of securing and sustainably managing the supply of critical raw materials, emphasising the need for international collaboration, technological innovation, and effective regulatory initiatives to secure a sustainable supply chain and advance the global energy transition.
Moderator: Rosalinde van der Vlies, Director of the Clean Planet Directorate, European Commission
More information is available here.
We’ll wrap up the EU Transport Day with closing remarks and an evening reception in the EU pavilion. Join us to meet and connect with our speakers and other professionals from various industries, expand your network, and exchange ideas.
We look forward to seeing you there!