News report

EUKICON22 – Fostering the Green Transition

by Sofia Shabafrouz & GIZ/EUKI

The 4th EUKI conference took place in Berlin from 20 to 21 September 2022, providing a great opportunity for Europe’s energy transition and climate action community to dialogue, share ideas and learn from each other.

EUKI’s fifth anniversary was a very fitting occasion to reunite for two full days of dialogue on how to foster the green transition in Europe. From Sofia and Bucharest to Warsaw and Madrid, almost 150 delegates attended the hybrid conference. The event was moderated by Verena Ringler, European strategy expert and founder of AGORA European Green Deal. It provided a space for EUKI project members, representatives of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), and the EU Commission to ponder the important question: How can we strive for climate neutrality in times of crisis? But it was also an opportunity to celebrate EUKI’s birthday, its community, and the work that it does all over Europe.

Making a meaningful contribution

First up to speak at this international high-level conference on Europe’s green transition was Ulrike Leis, who welcomed the audience and the speakers on behalf of the entire EUKI team. ‘These are challenging times indeed. We just barely overcame the corona crisis. Now we’re facing a horrible war raging on European soil. All of this while the climate crisis is becoming ever more prevalent,’ said the Deputy Director of the financing programme. ‘The EUKI cannot solve this, but we can make a meaningful contribution.’

The floor was then given to Simon Marr, Head of Division for European Climate Policy at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) under Minister Dr Robert Habeck. The division assumed responsibility for EUKI at the beginning of this year. ‘We see that the EUKI can contribute to reaching the goals of the European Green Deal by supporting partners and civil society, in particular in some of the European focus cities,’ said Marr.