In a groundbreaking year for clean energy, global expansion of renewable electricity capacity soared by 50% in 2023, reaching nearly 510 gigawatts – the fastest growth in three decades. Solar power led the charge, contributing three-quarters of this surge, with China standing out by installing as much solar capacity in one year as the entire world did in 2022. However, challenges like financing and deployment in emerging markets and developing countries must be addressed to meet the global COP28 objective of tripling renewables capacity by 2030. An optimistic scenario envisions a 21% boost in growth with improved policies, but obstacles such as unclear regulations persist. Nevertheless, key regions like the United States, the European Union, India, and Brazil are expected to double their use of solar and wind power by 2028. With the need for an increased biofuel usage by 2030 for a sustainable future:

• What next steps in the medium and long term will be key for the EU to achieve its climate and energy goals?
• What are the implications of this accelerated transition for the energy mix?
• How do we roll out the needed technologies at scale to meet 2030 and 2050 targets?
• How should the EU enhance international energy cooperation?

In the pursuit of combating climate change and achieving ambitious decarbonization goals, green hydrogen emerges as a game-changer across industries. Its versatility as both an energy vector and fuel makes it a linchpin in transitioning complex sectors away from fossil fuels. The European Union, recognizing its pivotal role, has integrated green hydrogen into its strategy for a climate-neutral Europe. However, the higher current costs and the imperative need for infrastructure expansion are still challenging this sector. Despite these hurdles, green hydrogen is not just a passing trend but a transformative force destined to play a vital role in fulfilling climate commitments and navigating the climate emergency. But beyond much-needed investments, many questions about the direction the EU’s hydrogen strategy should take:

• How can we decarbonise hydrogen production and scale up technologies?
• How can hydrogen help decarbonise heavy industries?
• What opportunities and challenges exist for businesses involved in the production, distribution, and utilisation of low-carbon hydrogen?

As the world grapples with the challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) emerges as a promising solution to capture CO2 produced from industrial processes and power generation before it is released into the atmosphere. CCS thus plays a pivotal for rapidly reducing industrial emissions, addressing hard-to-abate sectors and contributing towards achieving global climate goals. Despite its potential, challenges such as high costs, public acceptance, and infrastructure development need to be addressed for widespread adoption. As the world continues to seek sustainable solutions, CCS stands as a key player in the fight against climate change, offering a pathway to reduce emissions and transition towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future.

• Are there effective financial incentives or mechanisms to encourage industries to invest in CCS?
• What role should government policies play in promoting the adoption of CCS technology?

Two wars on Europe’s doorstep challenge not only its energy transition but also vital security interests and industrial competitiveness. Answers to critical questions need to be found in the next political cycle: How to accelerate the deployment of emerging clean technologies to overcome Europe's dependence on imported fossil fuels and close the funding gap? How to effectively protect existing and new critical energy infrastructure from attacks? It is time for a new approach to building Europe's energy resilience. This session will discuss how Europe can better anticipate and coordinate across different policy fields, including energy, security and industrial policy to address Europe's multitude of crises.

Amidst a backdrop of global challenges - from shifts in trade dynamics to climate change and energy crises - Europe's industrial landscape stands at a critical juncture. To fortify competitiveness, foster innovation, create high-quality jobs, and nurture leading companies, the continent faces the imperative of embracing a transition toward cleaner technologies through an ambitious Green Industrial Policy. While global powers like the US and China advance their industrial strategies and investment plans, the EU is in pursuit of an efficient approach that not only responds to these initiatives but also ensures the success of the Green Deal on an economic front. It is essential to recognize that achieving the green transition must not rely only on public subsidies and policy regulations but also on a blend of public and private investments. The Net-zero by 2050 target demands significant financial commitments, both from private and public sources, alongside ensuring regulatory stability.

• Is the European Green Deal poised to catalyze economic growth within Europe's industrial sectors?
• Will the Net-Zero Industry Act achieve its objective of strengthening the European manufacturing capacity of net-zero technologies and overcoming barriers to scaling up the manufacturing capacity in Europe?
• How to scale up sustainable investment funds and reorient capital flows toward sustainable activities?
• How can we effectively bridge the anticipated green skills gap in the workforce to meet the demands of sustainable industries?

Electrical grids serve as the vital backbone of global energy infrastructure, yet they are increasingly recognised as a potential weak link in our collective efforts to combat climate change. In Europe, the rapid growth of renewable energy sources necessitates a parallel expansion and modernisation of the ageing grid infrastructure to prevent it from becoming a bottleneck. The current system, designed for outdated energy models, poses challenges for electricity and hydrogen distribution, emphasising the urgency of diverting investments away from fossil fuel infrastructure. To address this, the European Commission unveiled an Action Plan in November 2023 aimed at accelerating the deployment of electricity grids, recognizing them as fundamental facilitators of the energy transition.

• For how long will the current electricity grids be able to keep up?
• Can cross-border collaboration on electricity interconnectors bolster European energy security and resilience?
• What will be the primary sources of investment required to upgrade, expand, and implement smarter electricity networks?

Given the substantial environmental impact of waste, prioritizing waste prevention remains pivotal. In its current mandate, the European Commission has introduced various initiatives aimed at advancing circularity within the region. These initiatives, including the revision of key directives such as the Waste Framework Directive, the Waste Shipment Regulation, the Packaging Regulation, and the Batteries Regulation, constitute significant steps toward fostering responsible production, consumption, and disposal throughout the value chain. Central to this endeavour is the transformation of waste into valuable resources, a fundamental tenet of the circular economy. Adherence to the waste hierarchy, which prioritises preparation for re-use and recycling while minimizing landfilling, is essential for the effective implementation of the EU's waste legislation. As the European Green Deal transitions into its implementation phase, it becomes imperative to address existing shortcomings and bolster Member States' readiness for full compliance.

• How can Member States improve their recycling rates and reduce their dependency on landfilling?
• What role Waste-to-Energy plants play in reaching these objectives and fostering energy efficiency and independence?
• Is the Taxonomy channelling enough investments into the waste management sector?
• Is the principle of self-sufficiency in waste management implemented across Member States?

In a global effort to combat climate change, nuclear power is taking center stage as a crucial tool. Its role, constituting nearly 10% of global electricity and a quarter of the low-carbon supply, is deemed indispensable in achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The urgency for expansion is underscored, with a focus on innovations like small modular reactors and substantial investments to propel nuclear energy into a more accessible and cost-effective realm. Shifting to a European perspective, nuclear energy emerges as a linchpin for decarbonising the continent's economy. The aging nuclear infrastructure prompts a call for substantial investments, while the European Union's taxonomy becomes a key player in directing private funds toward sustainable activities, including nuclear power. 

• Should nuclear energy be considered a primary or complementary solution in achieving global net-zero carbon emissions, and how can its role be optimised within a broader sustainable energy portfolio?
• How can the global community strike a balance between the urgent need for nuclear power to combat climate change and addressing concerns about nuclear safety and waste disposal?