The Adaptation Gap Report series aims to support decision-making at global and national levels by answering three key questions regarding the global process of adapting to climate change: What are we doing today to adapt? To what extent are we currently reducing climate risks? To what extent will our adaptation trajectory help us reduce future climate risks?

To do this, the report series provides annual global assessments of progress within three central elements of the global adaptation process: planning, finance, and implementation. In addition to the report’s core offering, the 2023 iteration of the report will also provide an assessment of adaptation finance gaps, and the loss and damage. The Adaptation Gap Report is co-produced with UNEP, UNEP-Copenhagen Climate Center (UNEP-CCC) and the World Adaptation Science Programme (WASP), which is led by UNEP, WMO, UNFCCC, IPCC, GCF, GEF and UNU.

This event features key findings from the Adaptation Gap Report 2023. Discussions will follow the presentation and focus on the importance to increase adaptation effectiveness, while assessing progress in global adaptation efforts, reducing loss, and evaluating the current adaptation finance gap.

This session will give participants insights into how digital solutions bring about climate benefits. It will present evidence of these benefits from real-life deployed digital solutions, and explain how this evidence was calculated using science-based methodology. This methodology is part of the work of the European Green Digital Coalition (www.greendigitalcoalition.eu), which also provides guidelines for deploying digital solutions with net positive climate impact in key sectors such as energy, transport, construction, agriculture, smart cities, and manufacturing. Participants will also discuss the next steps on how the methodology and guidelines can be taken up by vertical sectors, local authorities and financial institutions in order to maximise the sustainability benefits of digitalisation

Putting a price on carbon with the EU Emissions Trading System has been one of the EU’s most effective tools in reducing its emissions. President von der Leyen will be joined by the leaders of Spain, Zambia and Kenya as well as the heads of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organisation to discuss how more countries can introduce carbon markets in line with the Paris Agreement and help us reach our climate mitigation goals.

Framed by the current climate crisis, exemplified by the record-breaking events of this summer, the event will highlight the growing role environmental data play in informing decisions and policies of our society, through a variety of voices and experiences.

Announcement of the first two European projects to be supported by the EU–Breakthrough Energy Catalyst partnership, creating a blueprint for public-private support for innovative technologies that cannot yet be financed under market conditions. Once completed, the projects will contribute to the EU’s 2030 climate targets, and help develop technologies that could be game changers in the energy sector and critical enablers of the green transition.

In December of 2022 Viet Nam, in partnership with the International Partners Group (IPG), announced an ambitious Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) that would serve to rapidly accelerate the country’s path to decarbonization.

Since the beginning of 2023, Viet Nam has made great progress by publishing the first version of their Resource Mobilisation Plan (RMP), which will be endorsed by the IPG at COP28.
This accomplishment should be promoted by Viet Nam and IPG leaders.

Both the Communications on the ‘EU Soil Strategy for 2030’ and on ‘Sustainable Carbon Cycles’, rely on development of new knowledge and making that knowledge effectively available to land managers. The European Joint Programme (EJP) SOIL works across 24 European countries to build a sustainable European integrated research system and develop and deploy a reference framework for climate-smart, sustainable agricultural soil management. Close interaction with stakeholders is key to realize sustainable soil management to maintain the soil in a healthy condition and practices need to be adapted to different soil types, climatic conditions and local contexts. This session discusses stakeholder involvement in effective knowledge management to support policy development on and adoption of climate-smart and sustainable soil management.

The side event will focus on disinformation on climate change in news and social media. We will give an overview of the prevalent narratives and show approaches that can assist media analysts by leveraging advancements in AI. Two communication experts will share their perspectives on how a better understanding of disinformation content, along with an understanding of the individuals or groups responsible for its spread, can be harnessed for communication purposes. Eventually, we will discuss insights from behavioral science to assess the effectiveness of pre- and debunking to counter disinformation.

Together with partner countries, the EU forged a diversified Global Gateway partnership offer on forests. European Commission Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, on behalf of the EU, together with Honduras President Xiomara Castro will sign a Memorandum of Understanding for a Forest Partnership. Forest Partnerships are the EU’s holistic cooperation frameworks for joint endeavor on forests and communities they harbor. These partnerships aim to enhance the socio-economic role of forests and their ongoing contribution to climate and biodiversity protection.

The EU has put forth the Green Deal Industrial Plan to accelerate the transition to climate neutrality while also securing its industrial lead in the fast-growth net-zero technology sector. As part of this Plan, the proposal for a Net-Zero Industry Act, aims to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of net-zero technologies manufacturing in the EU, make the EU energy system more secure and sustainable and create better conditions to attract investments and to set up net-zero projects in Europe To complement the Net Zero Industrial Act, the EU is investigating the potential for strategic Clean Tech partnerships with third countries that can support more diversified and more resilient global value chains. The Southern Mediterranean region is of particular strategic importance given its geographic proximity and the existing energy infrastructure that can be capitalised on. Reinforced clean tech cooperation and investment in strategic infrastructure projects would stimulate the region’s economic growth and reinforce countries’ socio-economic resilience, while also fostering the green transition in the Mediterranean. This session proposes to discuss the potential and opportunities for the development of Clean Tech cooperation within the Mediterranean, in a manner that both complements and maximises EU efforts under the Net Zero Industry Act, while also contributing to our partners’ sustainable development efforts.

This session will highlight the critical role played by Mission Innovation in driving clean energy innovation as part of the energy transition. It will celebrate the new collaboration between Mission Innovation and the European Investment Bank Group through a signing ceremony. EIBG is one of the world’s largest climate providers and the collaboration is the recognition of the critical role of public multilateral developments banks, such as EIBG, in mobilising private climate finance to move innovative technologies from concept and design through demonstration to deployment. MDBs can provide the innovative blended finance solutions to share investment risks and scale up private sector investment in clean technologies.

This side event will highlight examples of strengthened institutional commitment, innovative partnerships and coordinated actions towards addressing the challenges in the areas of human mobility in the context of climate change, early warning/early action and building resilience of communities through nature-based solutions and social protection.

Panellists will share their experience on how the implementation of EU legislation has structured their work on climate action (drafting NECPs, LTS, reporting) and has overall contributed to a deeper understanding and commitment to mitigating climate change. An exchange of views will also take place on the challenges and benefits of such a process, focusing on interlinkages with other EU legislation.

Climate change is the major health threat of the 21st century. Its most direct and noticeable impact is the rise in intensity and frequency of extreme heat events across the European Region and the world. As temperatures soar and life-threatening heat stress intensifies, the urgency to act increases. To ensure that all our communities can keep cool and remain habitable, we need rapid advances towards climate-neutrality, technological and organisational upgrades and better prevention, preparedness and response for extreme temperatures. This requires active coordination between all relevant policy fields and actors. This event is about the efforts undertaken in the European Region to ensure good health and well-being for everyone on a warming planet. This event will provide first-hand information from high-level European policy-makers to learn more about relevant practices and experiences, and to gain insights from experts in the field

Creating a green and low-carbon economy requires instruments to raise the needed financial means.Tools and guidelines must support the allocation of the financial means to a more sustainable future. Senior experts and practitioners share experiences and present examples how sustainable bonds and carbon markets can provide the amounts needed to transition to a more sustainable future, how to scale-up the adoption of credible transition plans, and how to address the social and economic effects.

This interactive session will bring together high-level speakers from the European Commission, REN21, civil society and industry representatives to engage in an evidence-based discussion about the sustainability of renewable energy. Participants will group to share approaches, messages, and solutions to foster broader societal support of renewables.

The session will present relevant initiatives supporting the scale up of anticipatory action, notably the efforts of the European Commission in this regard and that of other interested and/or active donors in this field. Implementing agencies (UN, Red Cross Movement, NGOs) will be provided a platform to showcase good practices and outline the potential for scale of anticipatory actions. Representatives of countries affected by adverse effects of climate change, as well as representatives of regional organisations, will also outline their views and needs on the topic, alongisde development actors. The link with climate action and UNFCCC processes could be ensured by relevant civil society, governmental (e.g. climate negotiator) or institutional (e.g. UNFCCC Secretariat) representative.

Delivering ambitious climate action and simultaneously ensuring continued progress on sustainable development and poverty eradication require countries to adopt integrated and holistic policies. To turn this into a reality it is necessary to make finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low GHG emissions and climate resilient development. The goal of this event is to share experience on options to reorient finance towards climate action to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement

The REPowerEU plan helped the EU save energy and diversify its energy supplies to safeguard EU citizens and businesses. Featuring high-level speakers from the European Commission, the Spanish Presidency of the EU and EU Member States, the opening of the EU Energy Days at COP28 will take stock of the current geopolitical situation and energy market realities and highlight how the EU has responded with the REPowerEU plan to the changing situation by accelerating its energy transition.

Energy efficiency plays a critical role in cost-effective decarbonisation efforts in all economies. To accelerate the clean energy transition this decade, it is essential to use the market-ready technologies available to all countries, as well as to improve processes in industry, services, and other sectors of the economy. At this event, we will explore policy developments, financial support, and the challenges and opportunities in promoting energy efficiency in the EU and beyond.

The monitoring of capital flows towards sustainable investments links with the implementation of the EU Taxonomy Regulation, and it was further specified in the EU Commission’s Sustainable Finance Strategy published in summer 2021. The Commission is taking various actions to step-up such monitoring. Under its new mandate, the Platform on Sustainable Finance, which is an advisory body of experts, is undertaking work on the monitoring of capital flows within a specific subgroup. Rapporteur(s) of the subgroup will present the methodology being developed to monitor capital flows towards sustainable investments, to measure achieved progress and trends, and to conduct a first analysis based on this methodology and available data. In addition, leveraging on the use of the Technical Support Instrument (TSI), the Commission will present how it supports several EU Member States in strengthening their public and private framework to enable the investment towards sustainable activities and addressing greenwashing. The discussions will also focus on the challenges and opportunities of such exercises at a non-technical level looking at how science can help provide effective and easy to read indicators, both at the country and the single firm level.

This event seeks to discuss and present the latest developments in corporate sustainability reporting and its role in supporting the overarching goals of COP28. 2023 has seen significant developments in the realm of corporate sustainability reporting, with the adoption of the European Sustainability Reporting Standards by the European Commission in July and the standards by the International Sustainability Standards Board in June, showcasing tangible commitments to action and new mandatory rules.

The EC will provide an overview of the climate risk related work, along with an update on the rationale behind, and the key features of the Fit-For-55 stress testing exercise. There will then be a panel discussion (possibly involving some of the European supervisory institutions and academics) on the main challenges policymakers and researchers face in measuring climate risks and on possible practical solutions to address them, focusing on both transition and physical risks. The discussion will also touch upon the support provided by the Commission through technical support instrument to enhance supervisory authorities’ capacity to access and use data and methodologies enabling to capture the impact of climate risks on various financial institutions and market segments.

The EU has put in place the building blocks for a sustainable finance framework and stakeholders are now pointing out to the remaining market inefficiencies and regulatory gaps, which have the potential to hinder the development of the EU financial market. Many concerns have been raised with regards to the functioning of the ESG ratings market. In June 2013, the Commission adopted a Regulation with the aim to bring further transparency and integrity on ESG rating activities. The proposal is primarily based on the set of recommendations for ESG rating providers and regulators published by the International Organization of Securities Commissions in November 2021. This session aims to present the Commission’s proposal and to detail further the objectives and how it fits in the broader sustainable finance agenda and work ongoing at international level.

The event aims at showcasing:

• The importance of reliable and accurate methane emissions data in order to take mitigation action and the support that the International Methane Emissions Observatory provides to governments and companies

• Business opportunities for companies who want to abate, collect and commercialise methane emissions

• Public-private cooperation frameworks for methane emission abatement in Algeria

As a continuation of Ukraine’s Recovery Conference in London and within the G7+ Clean Energy Partnership's (CEP) activity, this high-level dialogue is intended to advance the development of joint climate and nature-valued energy projects for presentation at the 2024 Ukraine’s Recovery Conference in Berlin. 

The event will bring together representatives of IPSF member jurisdictions and observer organisations to showcase the IPSF’s work over 2023. It will be an opportunity to highlight the continuous commitment of members and observers to international cooperation on sustainable finance and the IPSF’s role in the international debate, notably as knowledge partner to the G20 Sustainable Finance Working Group. The event will particularly focus on the IPSF’s continuing work on transition finance and recent discussions on social bonds.

The event will offer an opportunity to present major developments at the EU level in the area of the EU Taxonomy and its uptake by market actors such as corporates, investors, credit institutions, and insurers. It will also allow market players to present their views on challenges and opportunities of using the EU Taxonomy and implementing its reporting obligations. Finally, the discussion will also allow the EU Platform on Sustainable Finance, an advisory body to the European Commission, to present its work on usability of the EU sustainable finance framework and on further developments of the EU Taxonomy.

Advancing nature-climate financing requires a united effort from policymakers, financial institutions, and private sector actors. Strengthening collaboration between private financial firms and international financing institutions can leverage resources and expertise to drive sustainable investments. Moreover, enabling policy frameworks and regulatory incentives within EU context and other regions is crucial to incentivise private finance participation in climate and nature initiatives. By taking these actions, we can pave the way for a resilient and sustainable future, where nature-climate financing plays a pivotal role in addressing the pressing challenges of our time. The University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), aims to convene this critical conversation at COP28 and identify key actions to mobilising private finance for climate and nature financing in the international financing architecture. Within CISL, the Centre for Sustainable Finance, Corporate Leaders Groups (CLG UK and CLG EU) and the Green Growth partnership (GGPT) teams have come together to build momentum around the role of private financial firms in international nature-climate financing. The purpose of uniting critical stakeholders from the financial sector, policymakers, and other entities is to foster collaborations and instigate meaningful change in the international financing landscape.

Whether COP28 is judged a success depends on how the world responds to the GST outcome, which must drive a shift from incremental progress on energy transition toward transformational levels of ambition, implementation & fairness. C2ES, IDDRI & Transforma will set out how to make this key shift, and country experts will speak to how the normative potential of the UNFCCC process should be leveraged to ensure that all stakeholders align efforts to deliver an effective response to COP28 & GST.

The side-event will be an opportunity to raise awareness about the InvestEU programme’s financial products that can support the Net-Zero Act objectives. Key message would be on how the InvestEU stimulates investment and crowds in additional public and private capital in this area.

The event will give an opportunity to financial and non-financial companies, multilateral development banks and international organizations, to exchange on their experience in planning, supporting and/or financing transition efforts to sustainability and on how their approaches fit into the global context. It will also aim at showcasing how the various tools of the EU sustainable finance framework can be used to channel the investments into the transition, in line with the EU Recommendation on transition finance. Finally, the discussion will also highlight opportunities and challenges faced by stakeholders in raising transition finance and designing transition financing solutions and other approaches to support decarbonisation of the real economy.

A just clean energy transition will only be effective if it succeeds everywhere across high-, middle-, and low-income countries. This event will provide a platform for the EU and its partners around the world - in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America - to showcase and celebrate success stories and to explore new avenues of cooperation with the aim of unlocking new investment opportunities for the clean tech industry around the world.

Cities drive energy transition by collaborating with businesses and citizens, supported by EU initiatives like Covenant of Mayors, Clean Energy for EU Islands, and more. This session highlights successful public-private partnerships for energy efficiency, distributed energy solutions, and urban transport. It includes a roundtable discussion on accelerating local energy transition and emissions reduction. The findings could guide public-private cooperation in local initiatives.

This event is at the intersection of digital innovation and climate action. Join us on December 5th, 2023, as contestants from the Digital & Green Innovation Accelerator (DGIx) share about their cutting-edge solutions in Africa. Emphasizing human-centered design and highlighting the roles of youth and women, we delve into the significance of twin digital and green innovations in shaping a sustainable future. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of transformative conversations! The DGIx is a programme by the WFP Innovation Accelerator and the Smart Development Fund (#SDF), and powered by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU).

As the nexus between agri-food systems and climate is becoming more and more important, the side event aims to discuss ways to foster the convergence of the climate and food agendas, highlighting in particular the role of governance and finance. A panel of experts and civil society actors will be invited to address the following questions:

• What governance framework is needed to promote policy coherence and integration of the climate and food agendas?

• How to democratise food systems and ensure a rights-based approach vs concentration of power and interests across the food chain? How to promote a just transition?

• How is public/private finance defining the global and local climate/food agenda?

• How to ensure that climate finance to agriculture and food systems goes in the right direction and does not feed unsustainable agri-food chains and financial speculation instead?

The event will also be an opportunity for the EESC to present its contribution to COP 28, including concrete recommendations on these topics.

Following the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine, cities and regions in the country have been facing a protracted, deadly, and destructive war, which has led deep wounds in Ukrainian territory. Both in Ukraine and elsewhere in Europe, energy systems are being rethought to suit a new energy landscape that enhances energy security. Local, national and regional governments in Ukraine play a crucial role in ensuring, to the extent possible, deeper resilience of existing local infrastructure and city planning by focusing on developing decentralised energy solutions, as well to plan for fast and just reconstruction for the aftermath of the war. The Covenant of Mayors, together with the European Committee of the Regions, under the umbrella of the Alliance of Cities and Regions for the Reconstruction of Ukraine aim at supporting Ukrainian local governments in this energy transition, while also reflecting on the consequences of the invasion in the wider European territory, and how this will affect developments in energy planning in the near term. participants of the Alliance for Reconstruction of Ukraine, as well as the Eurocities pilot project ‘Sustainable rebuilding of Ukrainian cities’ will provide inputs and reflections with a longer-term view. The event will be organised in the form of a panel discussion, with one moderator from EU institutions and a panel composed by experts and high-level city representatives from Ukraine and other covenants; a panel discussion will focus on the challenges that Ukrainian cities are currently facing in energy planning, with a focus on strengthening both short and long-term energy needs and infrastructures, as well as identified longer term solutions for resilient, just and sustainable energy systems. Experts from city networks, as well as high-level representatives from Covenant – Europe and other Covenant signatories will participate and provide potential case studies for decentralised solutions for energy, climate and adaptation that can benefit the Ukrainian case.

Meeting our climate goals and getting to net zero emissions by 2050 is an enormous challenge. It means transforming every major sector of our economies: power, industry, manufacturing, transportation, agriculture, waste, and buildings. This transformation requires both behavioural change and technological innovation. To deploy and scale technological innovation in the relevant timeframes we need large investments into scalable clean solutions - from long duration storage to clean steel or chemicals to synthetic fuels - across the world. Public funding needs to be smartly deployed to leverage and not crowd out private funds.
 
The EU currently has one of the world’s largest clean tech funds to achieve this goal, the EU Innovation Fund. With a budget of €40 billion until 2030, the Fund focuses on big flagship projects within Europe that can deliver significant emission reductions, sharing the risk with project promoters to support the deployment of the next generation of clean technologies. For this event, the European Commission brings together governments and international clean tech players to share their experiences with supporting technology and green growth. What has worked and what hasn’t? Which constraints and chances are there in different regions of the world? How can we work together to push a faster rate of clean tech deployment globally and avoid a subsidy race?

The event aims to:
Learn from each other about best-practice approaches to clean tech funding
Highlight the role the public sector can play in leveraging private capital into next-generation technology
Highlight the value of emission pricing or carbon taxation in creating revenue to invest in innovation
Highlight the international dimension of “getting down the cost curve” for clean technologies.

This session aims to spotlight European projects committed to driving the green and digital transition, emphasising the pivotal role of skills in addressing contemporary challenges. Industry 5.0 introduces a transformative vision for 21st-century Europe, putting forward a resilient, sustainable, and human-centric approach that yields benefits for industry, workers, and society at large. It empowers workers by addressing their evolving skills and training needs, enhances industry competitiveness, attracts top talent, and champions circular production models and resource-efficient technologies. The convergence of digitalization and innovative managerial approaches will be of paramount importance. Proposed actions within the industry part of the H2020 and Horizon Europe programmes tackle key elements for the transition toward human-centric industries, including skills, learning, teaching factories, customisation of manufacturing processes, artificial intelligence, and enhanced human-robot collaboration. This session paves the way for a system that places core human needs and interests at the heart of industry.

This virtual roundtable will bring together the foremost funders, implementers, Mayors and experts tackling the topic of increased access to sustainable energy in SSA. To date, over 44 cities committed to CoM SSA have received their Energy Access compliance badges; by doing so, these climate change champion cities have signalled their commitment to improving their residents' access to sustainable energy and have begun the journey to do so. During this session, CoM SSA Mayors will share their experiences planning and implementing sustainable energy access actions with leading funders and implementers of such actions in Africa. The session has four main objectives:
(1)    To sound a clarion call at the biggest climate change event of 2023 with regards to how fundamental improved access to sustainable energy is for SSA, from a developmental, climate change adaptation and mitigation perspective.
(2)    To unpack prevalent barriers and opportunities to ensure rapid scaling-up of sustainable energy access interventions that work.
(3)    To co-develop a roadmap based on the experiences shared during the session and garnered prior to it, which can be used to inform how CoM SSA and similar flagship initiatives on the continent can take this important topic forward. 
(4)    To feed the African city perspective into COP28 processes (including the Urbanisation Ministerial) via the Local Governments and Municipal Authorities (LGMA) constituency (chaired by ICLEI) and in collaboration with the UN Climate Change High-Level Champion's city agendas. 
An essential aspect related to the above will be deep consideration of how SSA cities, which are central to the climate crisis, can access increased resources for scaled and contextual sustainable energy access action.

This event will bring together high-level stakeholders from policy, industry, labour and youth to discuss just and equitable ways to achieve the net-zero transition and build the workforce of tomorrow exploring current and future workforce dynamics and sharing best practices for job creation and green economic development in the most affected regions. The event will also focus on the perspectives of younger generations and how these are being integrated into just transition practices.

The Climate Finance for Green Just Transition side-event will bring together politicians, financiers, and practitioners to present three different point of views and experience of climate finance and equitable transitions. The EU, its Member States and the European Investment Bank are together the biggest contributor of public climate finance, providing €23.04 billion in 2021. This event shall explore tools to accelerate the flow of climate finance towards green and inclusive initiatives with a particular focus on the EU’s neighbouring countries.

About 36% of EU GHG emissions are due to buildings. Therefore decarbonisation of the building sector is one of the main area of action in EU Green Deal energy policies. EU policies initiatives covers both renovation of existing buildings (envelope insulation and low-carbon heating and cooling technologies) and the construction of new zero emission buildings.The session will present the key research results from two EU funded research and innovation projects managed by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). Furthermore, JRC experts will present the current policy relevant research related to mitigation and decarbonisation of the buildings sector.

This event will foster a dialogue on the global clean energy transition between youth and policymakers. The participants will have the chance to discuss and share their experiences in addressing climate and energy crises and in identifying potential solutions that would help achieving the 1.5°C target of the Paris agreement. Various aspects of the future global energy system to be discussed might include skills, just transition, and the deployment of renewables.

This session will be in English and Spanish.
Esta sesión se celebrará en inglés y en español.

The transition to renewable energy models is now a global priority. However, for this transition to be truly successful and sustainable in the long term, it is essential to incorporate a social inclusion approach. The Euroclima programme has previously been involved in the identification and implementation of energy efficiency measures in the Latin American and the Caribbean region. It has also been involved in training and awareness raising on the importance of these measures. Today, with a more oriented approach towards a just energy transition, the programme seeks to learn from all these lessons and support countries in the implementation of efficiency measures and the transition to clean renewable energies with a focus on social equity

Current long-term climate pledges will fail to achieve the Paris Agreement’s objective of limiting global heating to 1.5°C, and NDCs as well as current and planned policies are insufficient to achieve the pledges. Bridging the ambition gap and achieving these objectives require far-reaching transformation of the energy, urban, industry and land use systems. The Global Stocktake is organised to promote international cooperation on climate and ratchet up national ambition on GHG emission reductions. Meeting the global temperature target requires that research identify technical, economic, political and socio-cultural solutions for national governments and stakeholders and international cooperation on climate, such as the Global Stocktake.

Join us as we kick off the EU Transport Day with the European Commission’s Director-General for Mobility and Transport Magda Kopczyńska. Climate change poses a serious threat to transport systems across the globe. As extreme weather events become more frequent, it is crucial that our infrastructure can withstand these challenges.

During this first EU Transport Day panel, experts will share their perspectives on the challenges we face in implementing the targeted adaptation efforts and investments needed to make our transport infrastructure more resilient to the impacts of climate change. They will discuss best practices for safeguarding roads, railways, bridges, ports and airports, and other critical infrastructure, against the impacts of climate change. Panellists will share their experiences, from the EU’s Trans-European Transport Network – the TEN-T – and other infrastructure worldwide.  
The roundtable will feature speakers from a variety of organisations, including representatives from the European Commission, the World Bank, academia and the private sector. This global pool of expertise covers research, financing, policy-making, and construction of climate-resilient infrastructure.
This event will be of particular interest to policymakers, project promoters in the field of transport infrastructure, the transport and construction industry, engineers, researchers, and anyone who wants to learn more about how to climate-proof transport systems. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from leading experts in the field, ask questions, and network with peers from across the industry.
 
Register now to join us live at the EU Pavilion at COP28 in Dubai or to watch the livestream.
 
We look forward to seeing you there!

Sustainable, renewable, low and zero-GHG emission fuels are essential in bringing down emissions from the shipping sector. This second panel of the EU Transport Day will focus on the challenges and opportunities associated with transitioning to more sustainable fuels, as well as the regulatory framework needed to support their adoption and drive the demand. Speakers will reflect on promising solutions and technologies, funding opportunities and investment priorities to promote scalability and the availability of renewable and low carbon fuels. They will look at how to build up on recent legislative developments at EU level, specifically those supporting decarbonisation and the uptake of sustainable alternative fuels in shipping, and the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) agreement to increase ambition on reducing emissions worldwide, to address the global challenges ahead. The FuelEU Maritime Regulation, recently adopted in the EU to drive the uptake of renewable and low carbon fuels in maritime transport, will serve as a starting point for a wider discussion on the need to work on an international framework that supports the uptake of such fuels in shipping, namely through a global GHG fuel standard. The event brings together stakeholders with a key role in the development, production and uptake of sustainable fuels and new energy systems in shipping. It will be moderated by the European Commission’s Director-General for Mobility and Transport, Magda Kopczyńska. The panel will be of particular interest to policymakers, maritime transport professionals, the fuel production industry, engineers, and anyone who wants to learn more about the latest policy and technology developments on mitigating GHG emissions from ships. Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from leading experts in the field, ask questions, and network with peers from across the industry. Register now to join us live at the EU Pavilion at COP28 in Dubai or to watch the livestream. We look forward to seeing you there!

The session will highlight the EU Horizon Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change as an innovative initiative that unites European regions and local actors in addressing climate change adaptation challenges. By learning from the EU's experience and innovative approach, we aspire to encourage international collaboration and action at the local level. Together, we can embark on a path toward climate resilience that extends beyond borders, ultimately benefiting the global community.

This session, led by EIT Climate-KIC in partnership with Built4People, will focus on the critical role of the construction industry in creating a circular economy in the Central European Region. With specific reference to the ambitions of the Slovenian Government, EIT Climate-KIC’s Deep Demonstration Slovenia programme will be a case study for exploring challenges and opportunities in implementing circularity at national level as well as lessons which can be shared and applied more widely.

This event is dedicated to exploring the latest advancements in reducing aviation emissions. As part of the EU Transport Day, experts will share their insights into the challenges and opportunities linked to sustainable aviation fuels. They will reflect on promising technologies, the role of key stakeholders, as well as recent developments at the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and at EU level (ReFuelEU Aviation). Speakers will include representatives from the European Commission, ICAO, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the fuel supply industry and airlines. Whether you are an aviation professional, a sustainability advocate, or simply interested in learning more about ongoing efforts to bring down aviation emissions, this event is for you. participants will have the opportunity to hear from leading experts in the field, ask questions, and network with peers from across the industry. Register now to join us live at the EU Pavilion at COP28 in Dubai or to watch the livestream. We look forward to seeing you there!

This session will delve into the challenges of the global interconnection of hydrogen valleys, ranging from how to scale up Hydrogen Valleys, efficient solutions for distribution and storage of hydrogen, and the role of ports worldwide. It focuses on the good practices and new frontiers of cooperation (and investment) to expedite the roll-out of hydrogen valleys around the world. The conclusions of the session will feed into the priority activities of the MI Clean Hydrogen Mission for 2024.

Food Systems are important GHG emitters and are strongly impacted by climate change. Thye have to become part of the solution. To achieve climate objectives, but also food security, environmental sustainability and decent livelihoods, food systems need to undergo a profound transformation. In view of these multiple challenges, AgroEcology represents a powerful avenue for driving food systems towards sustainability. The event will present key elements of agroecology in relation to climate change, both on adaptation and on mitigation, and will present successful experiences of food system transformation based on agroecology.

Energy-intensive industries play a crucial role in Europe's industrial value chains; yet they are responsible for 17% of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU (2019). Achieving climate neutrality in the EU requires these industries to shift toward renewable energies and hydrogen to replace fossil resources. At the same time, captured CO2 will replace fossils as feedstock in the production of chemicals and minerals. The presence of competitive climate-neutral plants in the EU by 2050 depend on the successful demonstration of key technologies in the coming years. This session will highlight the substantial contributions of actions within the industry part of the H2020 and Horizon Europe programmes, which fund breakthrough research and innovation on decarbonization technologies and sustainable business practices for energy-intensive industries. European projects demonstrating processes involving energy efficiency, electrification combined with renewables, hydrogen use and carbon capture and utilisation will be presented.

This session will delve into the crucial importance of securing and sustainably managing the supply of critical raw materials, emphasising the need for international collaboration, technological innovation, and effective regulatory initiatives to secure a sustainable supply chain and advance the global energy transition.

The side-event will present Local Green Deals use cases, with emphasis on concrete coalitions with local businesses, industry, social economy actors and civil society organisations in specific ecosystems (e.g. construction, mobility, clean tech, agri-food etc.). It will bring evidence of the main outcomes and benefits for the cities and its stakeholders (e.g. energy savings, funding mobilised, jobs etc.), with the view to expand the model of Local Green Deals in the international scene. The event will discuss what it takes, in terms of investments and governance, for LGDs to materialise. Use cases will show how to drive transformative actions, activating a mix of financial mechanisms, public and private, to stimulate sustainable growth. Amidst the growing market demand for sustainable products and services, this creates an unprecedented opportunity for local and regional authorities to join forces with local businesses and implement LGDs as a roadmap for competitiveness of the local economy.

We’ll wrap up the EU Transport Day with closing remarks and an evening reception in the EU pavilion. Join us to meet and connect with our speakers and other professionals from various industries, expand your network, and exchange ideas. We look forward to seeing you there!

According to the IPCC, climate mitigation in buildings can be advanced at each of the design, construction, retrofit, use and disposal stages of the life cycle. Moreover, sufficiency measures can limit the demand for energy and materials over the lifecycle of buildings1. The decarbonisation of buildings and construction is a key aspect of the European Green Deal. The European Commission has proposed several policy initiatives to meet this objective, such as revisions of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) and the Construction Products Regulation (CPR). In Europe and other developed economies, renovation of buildings is a significant challenge. Action at the district level can be effective in tackling various barriers at scale. The complexity of the challenges and opportunities faced by the built environment in a climate neutral future call for a multi-disciplinary and holistic approach. In addition, social and environmental goals can be achieved simultaneously in the built environment, using participatory approaches and justice-aware interventions. The session will present European policies and initiatives in relation to the contribution of buildings and construction to climate mitigation and offer a forum for discission on some of the implications for the built environment and the wider society.

Framed by the current climate crisis, exemplified by the record-breaking events of this summer, the event will highlight the growing role environmental data play in informing decisions and policies of our society, through a variety of voices and experiences.

(I) A set of high-level keynotes highlighting the immense potential of sustainable land management and large-scale land restoration for the climate change agenda.

(II) A panel discussion with key experts that will put the spotlight on existing initiatives/techniques proving the value of large-scale land restoration for people and planet – especially under the Great Green Wall.

Impact investing, as defined by the World Economic Forum, is a strategic approach to investment that purposefully strives to generate both financial returns and actively measured positive social or environmental impacts. To address the challenges in transitioning towards a greener, fairer, and more inclusive development model, we must increasingly embrace this form of public-private collaboration. It necessitates the need for private sector support, which involves two main tasks: mobilizing more private resources and aligning investments better with agreed-upon goals. These tasks form the cornerstone of impact investment, harmonizing with the Global Gateway Investment Agenda. This event is designed to inform and foster discussions around the available tools and methodologies that can unlock and support private sector investments towards transformative change in LAC countries, cities, regions, industries, and value chains. The focus will be on how we can effectively utilize these processes.

What is the EU doing on green education, at EU level, but also at global level in terms of partnership? Come to learn more about EU actions for the green transition, with insights from policy officers of various European Commission departments together with Education for Climate community members, from main organisations such as the Office for Climate Education to teachers, all sharing with us their good practices and initiatives to boost green competences for transforming education.

The environmental impacts of EU food production and consumption have risen along time, transgressing some planetary boundaries. Biodiversity footprint is driven by land use and climate change-related impacts, which are associated mainly with animal-based products. More balanced diets, where animal-based food consumption is reduced and vegetable-based proteins are preferred, could reduce the environmental impacts. Nearly 59 million tonnes of food waste (131 kg/inhabitant) are generated in the EU each year, and 63% of food is wasted at consumption stage. Meat and dairy contribute to less than 20% of food waste generated in mass, but are responsible for more than 50% of the environmental impacts of food waste. This is responsible for more than 70% of the environmental impacts of food waste generation, stressing the need to focus on prevention efforts at household and food services level. Food waste generation emits 254 Million tCO2 eq. if EU food waste were a Member State, it would be the EU’s 5th largest emitter. Food waste is a global concern, but if all stakeholders work together, it can be prevented!

First, the role of EDGAR in providing robust emissions to measure the impact of mitigation measures, pandemic and energy crisis on emissions will be described followed by a talk of ECMWF/Copernicus on improving emission estimates through an integrated approach. After, a Panel Discussion will focus on the challenges to implement efficient measures for reducing the GHG emissions based on accurate emissions estimations. The audience could actively participate by asking questions to the panellists.

The education sector urgently needs to be more closely involved in the responses to climate change, as it influences human behaviour, affects identity and worldviews, and changes consumption patterns. The panel will address the role of education and youth in supporting a sustainable future through knowledge, green skills and global citizenship education. Currently, only 50% of school curricula globally refer to climate change, and only 25% of teachers indicate that they feel comfortable teaching it. It is important to mainstream and integrate climate change at all levels of education, for all learners, including those in vulnerable situations. The panel will also focus on building a resilient education system to fight the consequences of climate change (each year, 40 million children’s learning is disrupted by climate change-induced disasters) and the role of education and youth in climate-related policy and planning (Disaster Risk Strategies, Nationally Determined Contribution NDCs, and National Adaptation Plan, NAPs). The session will address the following questions (among others): How to better mainstream sustainability learning and green competences in teacher training and for all learners at all levels of the education system? How to ensure access to learning and resilience of the education sector in the face of climate-induced disruptions? How to enhance climate justice and cross-sectoral policy dialogue at global, regional and national levels and prioritise vulnerable populations? How to engage young (refugee) researchers, youth activists and organisations to ensure a sustainable impact of their efforts to green education? What platforms or initiatives could be established?

Actions to ensure healthy diets for all have huge potential to contribute to the reduction of malnutrition in all its forms and to promote healthy lives by substantially reducing the health burden of noncommunicable diseases and improving maternal and child health. Healthy diets can also significantly contribute to mitigate the environmental impact and climate change along the entire value chain. Urgent actions are needed to enhance sustainable efforts from farm to fork, while minimizing food loss and waste to combat climate change and improve people's well-being. This event will provide a platform to highlight interventions that are driving a transition to sustainable food systems and encourage consumers to choose sustainable and healthy diets. Examples include the food based dietary guidelines (such as the Nordic Council’s New Nutrition Recommendations), public food procurement policies, responsible marketing, tax incentives and reducing food loss and waste.

Young people and youth movements play a key role in advocating for ambitious climate policies and taking concrete action for a more sustainable society. This dialogue European Commissioner for Climate Action Wopke Hoekstra will give young people from around the world the opportunity to voice their concerns and suggestions, ask questions to policymakers, and share their contributions to climate action on the ground in the local, national and international scene.

This session will be held in English, Spanish and French.
Esta sesión se celebrará en inglés, en español y en francés.
Cette session se déroulera en anglais, français et espagnol.      

Given the great challenge of urban transformation and the cross-cutting integration of climate action in municipal policies, many LAC cities have expressed their ambition for systemic transformation, collaborative work and cross -learning for circular economies strategies and processes. The Deep Demonstration mechanism is fully aligned with the EU mission and aims to generate actionable intelligence for local policy and decision makers on how to manage system change in the current context of urgency, diversity and uncertainty. It entails the design and promotion of the circular transition of key value chains and economic sectors through a coordinated and coherent national approach based on international best practice. The aim is to achieve a cohesive transition to a resilient circular model and has been already successfully applied in some European cities can reduce future economic, environmental, and social costs, while creating local added value.

This event will bring together senior city experts and policymakers from selected cities in the LAC region and European cities to showcase best practice and provide a two-way opportunity for knowledge sharing and networking in circular economy, to achieve objectives that cannot be achieved individually, through and incremental approach to innovation.

Climate change and biodiversity loss affect livelihoods, and exacerbate the risks of poverty, forced displacement and conflict. At the same time, biodiversity and ecosystems play a key role in addressing climate change and its impacts. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) play a key role for climate mitigation, adaptation and to address biodiversity loss, and bring additional economic and social benefits, such as health and well-being.
This high-level event aims at raising awareness about the increasing number of initiatives on NbS, and to identify instruments for scaling-up and increasing investment in the design and implementation of NbS. 
High-level speakers and panelists will share experiences and discuss opportunities and challenges, obstacles and opportunities, of investing in NbS for climate action as well as other co-benefits.
The event is also the occasion to discuss the role of NbS in the context of the ongoing negotiations on the adoption of a framework on the Global Goal on Adaptation and the completion of the two-year Glasgow-Sharm el Sheikh Work Programme well as in the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework.
The event will explore opportunities for wider collaboration and synergies on NbS between different actors, workstreams, instruments and financial flows to increase resilience of people, businesses, cities and infrastructures, as well as well-being.

Ocean plays a significant role for the climate but the role has not been recognised until recently with the IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and the Cryosphere, the Blue COP and the Ocean and Climate Dialogues. 
Humans impact the ocean in a multitude of different ways and ocean change is taking place parallel to climate change. To manage the human activities, to achieve a healthy ocean and ocean sustainability in line with the SDG14 and other SDGs, scientific knowledge of the ocean needs to be efficiently transmitted to policy making and society. There exists no similar ocean related science-policy interface for the ocean as there is for the climate (IPCC) or for the biodiversity (IPBES). Therefore, the European Union (EU) encourages creating an improved science-policy interface for the ocean, building on and working with existing organisations, an Intergovernmental Panel for Ocean Sustainability (IPOS). Such a Panel would enhance communication of knowledge on the ocean to support implementation of SDG14 and other relevant SDGs.

International carbon markets can facilitate the cooperation necessary for increased ambition and NDC implementation; but they need to work for planet and people. Together with the UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre and experts from the Global South, the EU-funded Integrated Assessment for Article 6 (IAA6) project develops tools for holistic Article 6 strategies and initially provides in-depth implementation support in three partner countries.

The event will launch the global Team Europe Initiative on Deforestation-Free Value Chain and reaffirm the joint commitment of the EU and its Member States to support partner countries and producers to enable deforestation-free value chains through inclusive partnerships in a Team Europe approach. 

Demand for effective carbon pricing and market mechanisms and the role of revenue streams thereof grows globally - and is an important policy tool for achieving the Paris Agreement. Experiences such as from the EU ETS can play a guiding role for environmental integrity and credibility of emissions cuts. The discussions in this session aim to exchange experiences from all over the world and to inform the many carbon pricing initiatives recently being undertaken, not at least in Africa.

In the coming years, ETSs have a role to play in fostering industry’s mitigation potential, supporting development of transformational technologies and promoting circularity. Through expert insights and discussion, this event aims to provide a comprehensive view of how ETSs and associated mechanisms can drive deep decarbonization in industry, aligning closer with the net-zero goal by 2050. It also seeks to inform future climate policies with recent and cutting-edge scientific results.

The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) is an environmental policy tool that encourages global companies in Energy Intensive industries only to embrace greener and more sustainable technologies. It acts in complementary way to other important policy tools. Its aim is to prevent EU climate action being undermined by production moving outside the EU to take advantage of lower environmental standards or being replaced by more polluting imports (so-called “carbon leakage”). This event will explore our understanding and implementation of carbon pricing systems worldwide, as well as how CBAMs can inspire further global progress in this area.

The triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution contributes to food and water insecurity and exacerbate competition for increasingly scarce resources. These factors drive social tensions, fragility and conflict, within and between countries. There are many examples of such climate-water-resources-security conflicts. The Commission has recently provided a comprehensive new outlook on the threats of climate change and environmental degradation on peace, security and defence. In this context, the purpose of the side-event is:

- To address the interlinkage between environmental crises, increasing competition for natural resources, notably water, and the risk of conflicts.

- To present and discuss water and land management solutions that increase local resilience capacities, mitigating social and political tensions.

- To promote inclusive water and land management that reduce the risk of new tensions in the green transition. The side event will include an opening statement by the Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries, a keynote speech from a relevant scientist presenting the framework, followed by a high-level discussion panel.

The circular economy offers solutions to climate change and biodiversity loss at the source. It's time to mobilise financing to accelerate the circular economy. While sustainable tools like green bonds and impact investing can support circularity, unlocking the circular economy's financing potential remains a challenge. Collaboration between the circular community, policy-makers and financial institutions is vital for progress in financing the circular transition, especially as perceptions of risks persist.

The status of CDR in international climate policy will be introduced in the context of the Global Stocktake, the next round of NDCs and long-term strategies focussing on key issues that require considerations in the negotiations to secure a sustainable path towards climate neutrality. The panel of experts from science, government, NGOs will discuss policy and governance design for CDR, including necessary transparency, aiming at the timely upscaling of safe and reliable carbon removals.

The event will bring together representatives from the European Parliament and public institutions, academia and business to discuss the Methane Pledge and in particular: how have its signatories implemented their commitments? how can the Pledge facilitate the development of technologies to reduce methane emissions? how could the issues of methane emissions from the import of fossil fuels and methane intensity standard be tackled? what are the prospects for expanding the Pledge?

The Global Stocktake asks countries “Where are we? Where do we want to go? and How do we get there?” In a growing number of countries, independent climate councils are playing an important role in addressing these questions and informing national climate policy debates at the national level by monitoring progress towards climate objectives, identifying needs and gaps, and providing scientific advice on possible actions and opportunities to meet climate targets. In this event, guests from the EU’s climate council (the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change) and national climate councils will share their experiences in supporting ambitious climate action at the national level and discuss how they can support further action following COP28 and the conclusion of the first Global Stocktake.

Building on the momentum of Climate COP27, and Biodiversity COP15, enhancing synergies between the biodiversity and climate agendas is crucial. Regions are integrating solutions into decision-making that support both global climate and biodiversity goals. The session highlights their role in achieving these targets. This event is co-organized with Regions4 and IUCN, and supported by the Post 2020 Biodiversity Framework, a project financed by the EU and implemented by Expertise France

Mayors from inspiring cities of the Global Covenant of Mayors - the world's largest city alliance, will highlight their Climate Action Plans at all stages of their climate journey, outlining their transformative and inclusive local vision. This event is a unique opportunity to hear from local leaders on their mission to tackle change. Be part of the story of local action delivering global change.

This session explores the impact of the Global Covenant of Mayors, the trajectory of our cities towards the 1.50 target, and cobenefits of climate mitigation and adaptation at local level from health to the economy and beyond.
The GCoM Impact Report combines quantitative data from our 13,000+ cities with qualitative data from our engagement with local leaders and experts to give an overview of cities’ trajectory on climate action, and what making global change looks like on the ground.

Climate change, environmental degradation, natural resource scarcity, conflict and peace are inextricably related. While everyone is feeling the effects of climate change, in a conflict context this is amplified. On the one hand, climate change and the resulting increased competition for scarce resources is a conflict driver, while at the same time people in conflict affected settings have less means to deal with climate change and build resilience. Action to mitigate and adapt to climate change is complicated by existing tensions and conflict dynamics. Conversely, climate change adaptation and mitigation may exacerbate or create tensions and conflict dynamics if the approach is not conflict-sensitive. Of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, 70%are also in a situation of, or at risk of conflict. Yet the distribution of climate finance is uneven, leaving many of the most exposed communities behind. At the policy level, COP 28 has for the first time a thematic day on relief, recovery and peace, which will lead to the launch of the UAE COP 28 Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery and Peace. This event aims to shed light on these interlinkages, discuss progress and momentum on the topic at COP 28, and the way forward.

If we don’t measure, we don’t manage. Reaching climate neutrality requires understanding where we are, i.e. measuring current emissions, and modelling credible pathways towards net zero, including the energy and land use sectors. The event comprises two parts. The first part includes brief presentations on EU and international initiatives providing scientific insights for policymaking, featuring contributions from the JRC and renowned international scientific institutions like the Global Carbon Project. The second part is a high-level panel discussion on the value and challenges associated with utilizing science-based information for climate policy implementation, with insights from the EU and the IPCC.

A high level of technical knowledge and specific skills are needed for accelerating the transformation towards a climate-neutral building stock. Strengthening the capacities of public authorities, especially at local scale, is also crucial to prepare and implement good renovation projects. In the context of the European Year of Skills, the session will showcase results of EU-funded projects to empower stakeholders on both sides of the Mediterranean for a sustainable, decarbonized future.

Chefs can change and transform the food system whilst providing people from all walks of life with diverse, healthy and delicious food that is suitable for all income groups.Climate Smart Chefs Vision 2030 has been created in collaboration with experts from across the hospitality industry, civil society, education and government. The Vision 2030 will raise the profile of chefs as drivers of change in the food system through a set of guidelines for policy makers, at EU, national and local level.