Euractiv Partner Content – Details, episodes & analysis

The demand for sustainable mobility is growing rapidly while at the same time, the fight against climate change and atmospheric pollution has emerged as one of the paramount challenges for the European transportation sector. According to the EU Sustainable & Smart Mobility Strategy, the gradual change and modernization of European transportation should give way to a fundamental transformation. The scenarios presented in the EC’s strategy, aligned with those supporting the 2030 climate target plan, suggest that—with the right level of ambition—the combination of policy measures detailed in this strategy can achieve a 90% reduction in transport sector emissions by 2050.

Air transport is increasingly perceived as one of the key carbon-intensive sectors. It's often labelled a hard-to-abate industry, primarily because of technological limitations that make it difficult to directly reduce carbon emissions. The recently adopted EU policy measures and regulations, intended to make transport more sustainable, have established a stringent framework for the aviation value chain. In the absence of revolutionary net-zero aviation fuel and propulsion technologies, the aviation sector faces a monumental task to achieve the carbon dioxide emission targets set by the European Green Deal, among other EU strategies and policies.

Currently, the largest infrastructure project in Europe is being built in Poland - Centralny Port Komunikacyjny. CPK is a planned multi-modal transport and interchange hub that will integrate air, rail and road transport in the region. As part of the project, a new airport and a major rail hub will be built in the centre of Poland, connecting CPK with the rest of the country and other European countries via newly constructed high-speed railway lines.

In its commitment to combating climate change and fostering a shared green future, CPK has embedded sustainability into its investment programme from the very beginning. The aim is to transform the mobility industry in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe. Highly ambitious climate mitigation and pollution reduction targets have been set during the planning and design phases, positioning CPK to become the first "Net-Zero Ready" airport in the region upon its inauguration. This undertaking aims to set new standards for green airports globally.

This unique sustainable strategy will be showcased by CPK in collaboration with LOT Polish Airlines at the event titled "Sustainable Journey: Navigating the Future of Aviation". The presentation, which will bring together representatives from the European Commission, CPK (the new Polish airport investor and its future operator), LOT (the Polish national air carrier), IATA (The International Air Transport Association), and industry experts, will culminate in a panel discussion. This debate will focus on ensuring European aviation's sustainability without undermining its global competitiveness and will also contemplate potential solutions, opportunities, and recent proofs of concept.

Organised by: CPK
Media Partner: Euractiv

Despite numerous initiatives to curb methane emissions, concentrations continue to rise, posing the greatest threat to passing irreversible climate tipping points. In the face of ever-rising temperatures and worsening impacts of climate change, swift and bold leadership to reduce global methane emissions remains the most urgent low hanging fruit available to policymakers.

The passage of the EU’s first bloc-wide legislation on methane emissions is underway. One of the key issues for trialogues will be the question of what the EU can – and should – be doing about methane emissions beyond its borders.

In recent years, the EU has leveraged its buying power to encourage global leadership and action against climate change, establishing import rules to curb the negative impacts of deforestation, biofuels, and carbon-intensive products. With the EU importing over 90% of its oil and gas, it now has an opportunity to drastically cut methane emissions in the energy sector by establishing an EU Methane Import Standard in the forthcoming Methane Regulation.

On the flipside, legislation that only accounts for domestic methane emissions would be a major step back from the oft-stated goal of the Von der Leyen Commission for the EU to lead from the front on this issue.

With many important questions surrounding the feasibility, legality, and broader impact of such a standard, this event will bring a diverse group of policy-makers, NGOS, academics, and industry stakeholders together for a constructive discussion on how the EU can best tackle methane emissions abroad. The event will showcase CATF and Carbon Limit’s new report on this issue, and build clarity around the legal, regulatory, and technical steps needed to create a comprehensive, effective, and WTO-compliant standard.

Agri-food sector contributes to a great extent to climate change – 1/3 of all food purchased is wasted, 1/3 of all GHG emissions comes from the food industry and only 1/3 of the freshwater withdrawals are attributed to other sectors of the economy. We need to rethink our food system and in order to do that in a successful way we need innovators coming from various backgrounds, having different experiences that will provide unique solutions. Diversity is a prerequisite of the innovative food system transformation.

On the International Women’s Day EIT Food would like to tackle the gender aspect of diversity and discuss how cross-gender collaboration may have positive impact on the agrifood sector!

Gender-based inequalities are prevalent, especially in rural areas. Women living in rural areas have fewer possibilities to access productive resources and accumulate human capital in order to grow economically, compared to men. They also often lack the power and agency necessary to benefit from and have control over economic activities, as well as to participate and be represented in rural institutions, organizations and public life. The EU is committed to improving this situation, among others through the EU Rural Action Plan, by supporting the uptake of female entrepreneurship, women’s participation in decision-making and the provision of adequate services in rural areas.

The work of EU countries on the inclusion of women and vulnerable groups in rural areas will be supported to improve the availability, accessibility and affordability of quality education and care services for children and other dependents in rural areas, as announced in the European Commission’s Gender Equality Strategy 2020-25.

EIT Food connects the world of agriculture and rural areas with innovative startups and agtech solutions. This is why the recently published European Innovation Agenda with a strong emphasis on women entrepreneurship and bridging the gender gap in deeptech startups provides additional perspective to the discussion. Women remain underrepresented in both deep tech startups and in investment funds despite clear correlations between company growth and the presence of diverse teams, including women, in leadership positions. In 2020, technology companies with female-only founders captured just 1.7% of the capital raised in European VC markets, and the difference between male-led companies and those with mixed and/or female founders remained significant in terms of both capital raised and the number of deals.

What needs to be done to bridge this gap in agtech and foodtech? What role shall both women and men play in this process? Why do we need more women among agrifood startup founders?

Let’s discuss it during the online panel on the International Women’s Day!

Organised by: EIT Food
Media Partner: EURACTIV

On January 24, 2023, the event ‘Decarbonizing the aviation sector: Aeroporti di Roma presents an Italian best practice,’ was hosted at the European Parliament (Room ASP1G1), organized by Aeroporti di Roma (ADR).

The purpose of the event was to explore at the European level the aim of the “Pact for the Decarbonisation of air transport”, promoted by ADR with the purpose to collect and disseminate scientific knowledge, through the support of experts from the academic world, by systematizing resources and skills from different sectors and realities active in the decarbonization process.

The Pact was presented last April to the Italian Chamber of Deputies, with the patronage of two of the main Ministers in Italy and ENAC. The first Annual Congress of the Pact for the Decarbonisation of Air Transport was held at Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Rome Fiumicino, on September 21st, 2022.

Now, given the European legislative context (ReFuel Aviation, ETS Aviation, Single European Sky+, etc.) ADR believes it would be vital to give the Patct visibility also in Brussels, showing how industrial players, institutional stakeholders, trade associations and the third sector are brought together with the aim of defining a road map to support the green transition and the climate neutrality objective of the entire sector in 2050; indeed, all the above actors are part of the Pact’s Steering Committee and are involved in its discussions and activities, including public events and round tables.

For more information regarding the Pact, it is possible to visit the website dedicated to the initiative at the following link: www.decarbonizzazionetrasportoaereo.it

Organised by: Aeroporti di Roma
Media Partner: EURACTIV

Data that flows between Europe and the United States underpins the countries’ $7.1 trillion economic relationship and helps solidify the broader transatlantic alliance. Protecting the fundamental rights of EU citizens with strong privacy protections is foundational to individuals' confidence and trust, and a reliable data transfer mechanism is crucial for transatlantic businesses across all sectors of the economy.

As the EU and U.S. implement the new EU-US Data Privacy Framework, join global technology association ITI, EU policymakers, and other experts at this Hybrid Conference explored how the Transatlantic Data Privacy Framework can support Europe's economy and safeguard the privacy and civil liberties of Europeans.

Organised by: ITI (The Information Technology Industry Council)
Media Partner: EURACTIV

There are 25 million SMEs in Europe, employing 100 million people. Half of the EU’s GDP comes from SMEs.

Unfortunately though, there is very strong evidence that SMEs experience high levels of cyber attacks.

Cyber-attacks are not about large companies only – SMEs are targets too….

EIT Digital, the Global Digital Foundation and Huawei is now producing a Q&A guide promoting cybersecurity for SMEs in Europe.

This guide will help improve awareness levels for staff working in SMEs about cybersecurity and how to mitigate risks from cyber-attacks.

For food safety purposes and market demands for bioenergy production, it is paramount that the agricultural sector worldwide becomes more climate resilient. As temperatures rise, rainfall patterns change and pests and diseases mutate, food and farming systems face increasing threats.

This webinar focused on solutions to reduce the climate footprint of livestock raising – an issue of major concern to both Brazil and Ireland.

In Ireland, agriculture accounts for over 37% of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. Recently, the Irish government set a ceiling for emissions in the sector, requiring a 25% reduction by 2030 compared to 2018 levels.

The Brazilian livestock sector has incorporated increasingly sustainable practices. In April 2021, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) created the ABC+ Plan for the adaptation of agriculture to low carbon emissions systems. The observed trend in the Brazilian beef industry is to marginally increase the herd while reducing the grazing areas. This is achieved by: i) increasing the productivity of existing pastures; ii) enhancing herd health and nutrition; iii) improving animal management; and iv) implementing technology- intensive and integrated systems.

Furthermore, the renowned Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa) covered the Carbon Neutral Beef (CNB) brand and method of production, a seal which certifies beef produced using systems that neutralise methane gas emissions.

Rewatch this webinar to find out about challenges and best practices to reduce the environmental footprint of the livestock breeding with panellists from Brazil and Ireland. The event was an opportunity to open up a discussion forum between Brazilian and Irish stakeholders.

Organised by: ApexBrasil & the Embassy of Brazil in Dublin
Media Partner: EURACTIV

In this webinar we looked into how European satellite technology is used to effectively and strategically support and monitor Europe’s green transition. Experts in the field discussed what the needs in the future are likely to be – and who will deliver the technologies we will need.

Effective implementation of the European Green Deal is crucial for our common future. Earth observation through the EU Copernicus satellite programme is key for monitoring climate change and supporting climate mitigation and adaptation measures. Satellite technology enables efficient land use and planning, forest and water management and contributes to monitoring of erosion and fire risk. It is key for surveillance of environmental crime, detecting oil spills, and monitoring the marine environment including sea levels and sea ice coverage, as well as locating marine plastics.

In this webinar, we elaborated on experiences with satellite data as an enabler for the green transition. Furthermore, an expert panel discussed how the development of European satellite technology will increase our potential to reach the objectives of the European Green Deal, while contributing to increased resilience and security and to strengthening Europe’s position in the space field. The potential benefits for EU environmental and climate policies are considerable.

The goal of the webinar was to reach out to a broad audience interested in space policy and/or climate issues, including both policy makers, industrial actors and other stakeholders in both Brussels and Member States.

Organised by: The Mission of Norway to the EU
Media Partner: EURACTIV

Europe’s transition to a sustainable and digital society can only happen with a strategic approach to raw materials; from electric mobility and battery storage to renewable energy and energy-efficient buildings, all the way to defence applications, raw materials are essential/indispensable to achieve the EU’s 2050 climate-neutrality ambitions. Aluminium specifically is set to play a key role as the demand for electric vehicles, electricity transmission networks and solar panels increases. A study by KU Leuven shows that the EU energy transition will lead to a 30% increase in aluminium demand by 2040. In this scenario, increasing and preserving the capacity of Europe's low-carbon primary aluminium production, while boosting the recycling value chain is the only way Europe can meet the growing demand and achieve strategic autonomy.

In light of the risk of structural import dependencies, trade diversification alone – although necessary – will not suffice. To strengthen the resilience of domestic industries, other measures must be ramped up to help increase supply security, obtain more significant investments, and scale up recycling capacity to recover valuable secondary raw materials such as aluminium.

The Critical Raw Materials Act provides a unique opportunity to deliver a European industrial agenda supporting sustainable growth and strategic autonomy while ensuring raw materials production and transformation at the highest environmental and social standards. To guarantee success, concrete policy measures and investments will have to be considered for all the raw material industries, including those not deemed “scarce” or “rare”. Europe needs to develop a holistic, future-looking raw materials strategy that is capable of supporting societally critical industries and transition technologies alike

This roundtable debate, organised by European Aluminium in partnership with EURACTIV provided a platform for policymakers and industry stakeholders to exchange on the future of the raw materials industry in Europe, the opportunities and cornerstones of an effective Raw Materials Act - with a focus on the aluminium industry.

Organised by: European Aluminium
Media Partner: EURACTIV

In late 2021, the European Commission proposed the Methane Regulation, the first EU-wide legislation aimed at cutting methane emissions. As reducing methane emissions is crucial to slow down global warming, the EU should lead by the example and adopt ambitious requirements to address methane emissions in the energy sector. Since December 2021, however, the file has stalled in the European Parliament while ambitious measures found limited support or interest in the Council of the European Union. The Ukraine war also changed the energy discussions in Europe.

Both institutions are set to release their preliminary approaches to the file soon. This event is designed to highlight the importance of the regulation and the measures needed to reduce domestic and international methane emissions, and to reflect on the radical shifts in the European policy landscape as a result of the Ukraine situation and the Commission’s RePowerEU plan in response.

The event will bring together civil society, industry and policymakers into moderated panel discussions.

Organised by: Clean Air Task Force
Media Partner: EURACTIV