16 October 2018 – The 2018 GGP Summit, ‘From Here to 2050: taking the long-term view for innovation and transformation’ brought together over 80 Ministers, policy makers, key thinkers, and business leaders, alongside EU Commission officials and Members of the European Parliament, to take stock and discuss the opportunities, challenges and next steps to building an economy fit for the 21st century.
The discussions were shaped by three panels. The first looked at the international and scientific context, asking what’s happening around the world and what still needs to happen. On the day of the summit the IPCC published their Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5ºC. Lead author of this report, Dr Paolo Bertoldi provided an overview of the key outcomes of the report, emphasising the need for maximum peaking at 1.5 and net zero emissions by 2050.
Director for the Green Growth Partnership, Eliot Whittington said:
“Today we heard from the IPCC how big the challenge of climate change is but we also know there are other challenges about how we renew our economy, how we develop the industries of the future. This is a moment when we can hear about exiting examples of what’s possible and think about the choices we have to make to seize the best possible future for everyone.”
The second panel discussed action already taking place from business, cities, regions and others, with reflections from José Mendes – First Secretary of State for Environment, Portugal on the country’s plans for the decarbonisation for transport by 2050 and from Eric Soubeiran, Danone’s Global Nature and Climate Senior Director, Danone stressing the need for transformation of the agriculture system in order to achieve a sustainable climate resilient future.
Reflecting on the event Mr Soubeiran said:
“Corporations need to interact with policy makers to have a framework that creates the right market conditions with the right conditions and incentives for them to invest in the low carbon economy. These dialogues are therefore absolutely crucial.”
The third panel focused specifically on the opportunities and challenges ahead for Europe and how we can work together to build a strong and sustainable 21st century economy. Speaking on the panel, Rt Hon Claire Perry MP – Minister of Climate Change and Energy, United Kingdom three key areas the UK is focusing on for collaboration in the transition to a low carbon economy including transforming systems, transforming finance through the G20 task force and through innovation.
The following attendees spoke at the event:
Chair: Jure Leben, Minister for the Environment and Spatial Planning, Slovenia
Dr Paolo Bertoldi - Lead Author, IPCC Special Report on 1.5 Degrees
Changhua Wu – Director China/Asia, Rifkin Enterprises
Richard Baron – Chief Executive, 2050 Pathways Platform
Karsten Sach – Director General, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, Germany
Jo Leinen MEP
José Mendes – First Secretary of State for Environment, Portugal
Jane Wilkinson – Head of Sustainable Finance, Luxembourg Stock Exchange
Eric Soubeiran – Global Nature and Climate Senior Director, Danone
Barry Lynham - Group Director of Strategy and Communication, Knauf Insulation
Fredrick Federley MEP
Laurent Michel – Director General on Energy and Climate at the Ministry for the Ecological and Inclusive Transition, France
Rt Hon Claire Perry MP – Minister of Climate Change and Energy, United Kingdom
Gonzalo Saenz de Miera – Director of Climate Change, Iberdrola
Mauro Petriccione – Director General, DG Climate Action, European Commission
Claude Turmes, Secretary of State, Luxembourg
