Climate change will change everything; our environment, our societies, our economies. Nobody will be free of its consequences. The recent report from the IPCC has once again reminded us that time is running out if we are to limit temperature rises to levels beyond which would be unacceptable. Indeed, President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Accord has refocused attention, emphasizing the necessity for global cooperation to protect against climate change.

This debate explored what the business community can be doing to act now and what they see as necessary from the European institutions, member states, and businesses to move quickly towards concrete progress against climate change.

Agenda

18:00 – 18:30 Registration

18:30 – 18:35 Welcome & Introductory Remarks
– Eva Maydell MEP, President | European Movement International

18:35 – 19:00 Interview
– Edmond Alphandery, Former Finance Minister of France
– Linus Steinmetz, Activist | Fridays for Future
Interviewed by: Joe Lynam, Presenter | BBC

19:00 – 20:20 Panel Discussion
– Marie-Christine von Hahn, Executive Director External Affairs | Aurubis AG
– Veronika Pountcheva, Global Director Corporate Responsibility & Senior Vice President | METRO AG
– Linus Steinmetz, Activist | Fridays for Future
– Christopher Hurst, Director General | EIB
– Beatriz Yordi, Director for EU and International Carbon Markets | European Commission N.N., European Parliament
Moderated by: Katrina Sichel | Communications Specialist

20:20 – 20:30 Closing Remarks
– Christian Verschueren, Director General | EuroCommerce

20:30 – 22:00 Dinner (walking buffet)

The event was part of a series of discussions entitled ‘Prospects for Europe’, launched in March 2017 by the partners of the Wednesday Social, with the aim to foster debate on an innovative and sustainable vision for the EU, involving stakeholders from civil society, political institutions, and the business community.