WHEN? Tuesday 20, October 2020 at 14h30 – 16h00

The future EU budget and the Next Generation EU brings together 1.824 bln EUR for the period 2021 – 2027. 30% of this sum will be used on the road to reach EU carbon neutrality by 2050. Building on this climate commitment, the workshop aims to discuss the role of capital cities and regions in the green transition. Capital cities and regions face specific challenges related to implementation and financing policy measures but at the same time have many opportunities to introduce effective climate policy.

These ambitious environmental goals can be achieved primarily through investments into cleaner forms of transport, into renovation of buildings, in investments into environmentally friendly technologies. Complex, long-term strategies must be carried to achieve comprehensive and sustainable results. Financing such strategies and projects will be challenging in times of the economic slowdown caused by the COVID-19 crises. As ESI funds may be one source of financing, the workshop will also elaborate on ITI, CLD and other territorial instruments.The workshop will be divided into two blocks in which we concentrate firstly on setting sound, long term strategies, financing ambitious climate initiatives and implementing environmental policies. In the second bloc, concrete projects from leading European cities will be presented. Each of the block will be followed by a Q&A session allowing the audience to join the discussion.

MODERATOR:

Jens Müller, Air Quality Manager, Transport and Environment, Belgium.

SPEAKERS:

• David Dorosz, Deputy Mayor for Climata and Development, City of Budapest, Hungary.
• Petr Hlubuček, Deputy Mayor of Prague for Environment, Infrastructure, Technical Amenities and Security Issues, City of Prague, Czechia.
• Katarina Luhr, Vice Mayor for Climate and Environment, City of Stockholm, Sweden.
• Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor for Environement and Energy, Greater London Authority, United Kingdom.
• Guntars Ruskuls, Head of the Riga Board of Strategic Management, Riga Board of Strategic Management, Latvia.
• Pascal Smet, Secretary of State for external Relations, Brussels Capital Region, Belgium.

PARTNERS:

• Bratislava self-governing Region
• Brussels Capital Region
• City of Berlin
• City of Budapest
• City of Prague
• City of Riga
• City of Tallinn
• City of Vienna
• City of Zagreb
• Greater London
• Helsinki-Uusimaa Region
• Madrid Region
• Stockholm Region EU Office

PRACTICAL INFORMATION:

Language: English (EN)
Virtual platform: Zoom
Code: 20WS1614V
Format: Workshop
Theme: Green Europe

REGISTER:

Link to event on European Week of Regions and Cities website.