Parallel break-out session: Climate change and Energy

Three parallel breakout sessions will provide the opportunity to explore in greater depth three topics that are critical to the EU’s ability to achieve its global commitments and which will play a prominent role in the debate on the future of the EU27 as well as in its new relationship with the UK.

At EU level, we are grappling with the implementation of the Paris Agreement (to be further complicated by Brexit and the United States’ intended withdrawal from the agreement), as well as the 2050 Energy agenda. Likewise the UK and Scotland will need to review their own climate commitments post Brexit including sectors like land use and active travel.

This break-out session will address the following questions:

• How can the EU27 and UK’s existing commitment to the Paris Agenda translate into sufficiently ambitious policies and measures?
• How much more needs to be done to put world on track to a 1.5 degree target?
• What would be the most effective way for the EU and UK to continue cooperation on this topic?

Moderator:
•    Ewan Hyslop, Head of Technical Research and Science, Historic Environment Scotland
Rapporteur:
•    Tom Ballantine, Chair of Stop Climate Chaos Scotland

Speakers:
•    Katherine White, Head of Strategy and Projects, Energy and Climate Change Directorate, Scottish Government
•    Stefan Scheuer, Secretary General of the Coalition for Energy Savings
•    Claire Roumet, Executive Director, Energy cities
•    Paul Vertegaal, Head of Programme, Climate Buffers Coalition, the Netherlands
•    Chris Morris, Manager, Local Energy Scotland