Embracing the energy transition is both a necessity and an opportunity for all stakeholders. Vera Pinto Pereira opens the agenda highlighting how this pivotal shift offers a pathway for actively fighting the energy and climate crises while fostering energy independence, mitigating market volatility, and accelerating decarbonization. From businesses to governments and civil society, all are invited to join in this collective commitment: uniting our power towards a cleaner, sustainable future.

We hear a lot about the need to get off fossil fuels. But how is the energy transition really going, and how swiftly is the world moving towards a cleaner future? Andrew Winston, sustainable business expert and co-author of “Net Positive: how courageous companies thrive by giving more than they take” (2021), has advised countless companies on overcoming fifty years of corporate dogma, bridging the sustainability gap and unlocking potential for growth and profit while positively impacting people and the planet. Join Andrew as he discusses what it means to be a net positive company and why this is critical to businesses, their growth, and our future. Learn from front-runner examples and concrete steps to start this transformation now.

As underscored in recent analyses by the IEA, IRENA and COP28, the urgency to triple renewable capacity by 2030 to meet climate targets is paramount. Despite the global push towards renewable energy, led by solar and wind technologies, critical barriers hinder widespread execution. What obstacles impede this transition? How can we streamline permitting, and fortify grid infrastructure? Crucially, how do we drive systemic transformations like widespread electrification and clean fuel adoption while ensuring alignment with environmental and economic imperatives? And if large scale projects still face critical barriers, how can companies fill the gap and be active agents of the transition while benefiting from it? These are some of the pivotal questions this panel will be addressing.

The renewable energy sector stands at a critical and exciting juncture, where innovation will be key to achieve the world’s decarbonization goals. Facing global issues such as climate change and dwindling natural resources, this sector emerges as a beacon of hope, offering tangible solutions and showcasing a myriad of technological breakthroughs alongside growing investment prospects. From innovative hybrid solutions merging solar, wind and storage that maximize renewable production while overcoming delayed licensing challenges to pioneering applications such as integrating solar panels into agricultural landscapes or deploying them on water bodies, this panel will delve into these emerging technologies shaping the path forward to address the world's most pressing environmental and energy imperatives.

A brief pause to refresh onsite or virtually. Enjoy a moment to network, stretch, or grab a coffee before diving back into engaging discussions and insights.

Industrial heat, a massive contributor to global carbon emissions and responsible for a quarter of the world's fossil fuel use, has long posed a challenge for clean energy solutions. Despite alternative methods with hydrogen and carbon capture, today, there is a faster, cheaper way of achieving clean heat: electrification. Analysts go as far as predicting a trillion-dollar market for renewable heat due to declining wind and solar costs. But while we possess all the required elements, one crucial aspect still falls short: continuity. The wind blows and the sun shines only for a limited time. In a brief presentation followed by a fireside-chat with Miguel Fonseca, John O’Donnell will showcase innovative solutions that can scale up production of clean industrial heat, marking a pivotal step towards reducing CO2 emissions, effectively combating climate change, achieving energy efficiency and cost savings.

In today's fast-paced business landscape, SMEs face unique challenges amidst the energy transition. From significant upfront costs usually associated with renewable energy adoption to navigating complex regulatory landscapes and supply chain disruptions, SMEs, more often than not, lack a clear roadmap. Founder and CEO of RPD International, specializing in making innovation happen, not just talking about, Josh Valman delivers practical steps for those seeking to change how they operate.  Through his entrepreneurial journey and emphasizing that innovation doesn't always require invention but can involve leveraging existing technology, Josh will share valuable lessons on how businesses can handle change and how they too can become more creative, flexible, responsive and open up huge potential for growth.

As we draw to a close, a final remark from the host emphasizing the learnings and insights gathered throughout the afternoon.