On May 14-15, 2024, the 5th EUKI Networking Conference took place in Berlin. During EUKICON24, representatives from 23 countries and over 100 organizations gathered, working on more than 50 projects that support the implementation of EU climate goals and shape the future of energy and climate transformation.
The event was an excellent opportunity for exchanging experiences through discussions and workshops focused on supporting the green transition. It provided a platform to showcase projects like Visions2045, DUET, and Ready4NetZero.
The EUKI conference addressed topics related to the green transition, including the implementation of the Green Deal, the role of communities in climate actions, and the education of politicians in climate policy. Experiences with renewable energy sources and industry decarbonization were discussed, along with challenges related to innovative technologies like artificial intelligence. Discussions emphasized the importance of international cooperation, the role of media in the transition, and the need for public acceptance of new energy solutions. The first day concluded with debates on emissions in the industrial sector and the potentials and challenges of decarbonization, while the second day focused on the EU's 2040 climate goals and the future of energy transformation. It began with a lecture by a representative of the European Commission, followed by a panel discussion with energy policy experts. Subsequent sessions addressed innovation and entrepreneurship in the context of climate change and complex EUKI projects.
The conference also featured workshops led by experts on various topics. One of them focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning in improving energy management processes. The workshop was conducted by Hanna Lewandowska from the Bydgoszcz City Office. Participants learned about the application of robotic process automation (RPA) in energy data analysis, using Bydgoszcz as an example. Ideas for enhancing similar systems with machine learning to optimize energy consumption and detect anomalies were discussed, as well as the need for continuous system updates and the ability to define new, useful improvements. Attendees had the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the innovative solutions employed by the city and understand which functionalities are most important. The workshop was an excellent opportunity to present the activities carried out within the DUET project.
Another workshop, this time from the project Ready4NetZero engaged participants in discussions, sharing experiences and collaboration on different stages of developing effective local strategies for climate action. The topic of the workshop was Crafting Local Strategies for Climate Neutrality and it was facilitated by Iwona Korohoda and Izabela Kuśnierz from PNEC Association and Ewa Iwaszuk from Ecologic Institute.
The event in Berlin was a chance to exchange experiences and establish connections between different institutions. It allowed for a better understanding of projects being implemented across Europe and for sharing the results of actions taken at various levels. As summarized by Dr. Simon Marr, Head of Climate Policy at EUKI:
"(...) the conclusions drawn and partnerships strengthened during the conference will mobilize further actions and encourage deeper engagement across Europe. Moving forward, let’s continue to seize every possible opportunity to promote the green transition."
Presentations from the conference: https://www.euki.de/en/news/euki-academy-networking-conference-2024/
Supported by the European Climate Initiative (EUKI) of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK).
