This year, our annual conference* brings together leading names from the worlds of business, academia and politics to discuss and debate critical climate change issues and their impact on the economy and industry as a whole.
The topic will be tackled through three different lenses:
Global lens: a review of challenges and impacts related to climate change worldwide and the urgent need to adapt international policies and companies’ business models to promote a more sustainable economy, while not forgetting the significant international cooperation challenges that any response poses.
European lens: what are the new European Commission’s ambitions and what actions can be undertaken to tackle climate change? What opportunities will the Green Deal bring?
Luxembourgish lens: with a specific focus on the concrete impact on our local economy and industry, but also a look at how the country can and should play a leading role in sustainable finance.
Agenda
The conference will be held in English
08:15 – 08:45
Welcome coffee and registration
08:45 – 09:00
Welcome and introduction by Carlo Thelen, Director General, Chamber of Commerce
09:00 – 09:20
Designing a national economic policy that serves both the people and the environment by Franz Fayot, Minister of the Economy
09:20 – 09:45
European Green Deal – EU’s Ambitious Growth Strategy by Yvon Slingenberg, Director in DG Climate Action, European Commission
09:45 – 10:30
Energy policy in a changing climate: the new frontiers by Michael Grubb, Professor of Energy and Climate Change & Research Director, UCL Institute of Sustainable Resources
10:30 – 11:00 – Break
11:00 – 11:15 – What climate change means for your business? by John Parkhouse, Chief Executive Officer, PwC Luxembourg
11:15 – 12:00 – The industry point of view – Challenges and opportunities in this context
Fireside chat with:
Alexandre Affre, Deputy Director General, BusinessEurope
Ludovic Dardinier, Managing Director, Primary Metal, Hydro Aluminium Clervaux S.A.
Georges Rassel, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Group Management Board, Paul Wurth S.A.
Moderated by Dr. Gaston Trauffler, Head of Industrial Policy, FEDIL
12:00 – 12:20 – Sustainable finance, why Luxembourg? by Denise Voss, Chairwoman, LuxFLAG and Director, Franklin Templeton
12:20 – 13:00 – Climate change through an Economic Consensus, by Luxembourgish influencers by Vincent Hein, Economist, Fondation IDEA and Sarah Mellouet, Economist, Fondation IDEA
The Fondation IDEA will provide insight on the results of its second Economic Consensus and convey some of the key conclusions of its annual report on the current economic and social situation in Luxembourg and Europe.
IDEA’s Economic Consensus aims to reveal and analyse the points of view of selected panel of social partners and economic decision-makers, as well as policy makers based in Luxembourg. They have been questioned about the main economic developments in Luxembourg, in Europe and beyond for the coming years, as well as about the economic and political challenges and the relevant responses to these challenges.
This year’s Economic Consensus is focused on climate change. Should a carbon tax be introduced at the EU’s borders? Should some European aid be provided on condition of compliance with climate commitments? Should we move away from “Tanktourismus” in Luxembourg? Will we achieve climate goals both in Europe and in Luxembourg by 2030?
The responses of our panel of decision-makers will be analysed during this session and even confronted live with the opinions of the participants in the Journée de l’Économie.
From 13:00 Lunch.