Green New Deal: A Greens/EFA workshop Greens-EFA Logo


Green New Deal: A Greens/EFA workshop
European Parliament - Brussels

Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 March 2009

European Parliament - Petra Kelly Room ASP01G2
Rue Wiertz, 60 - 1047 Brussels

Green New Deal: Globus

CONTEXT

Europe and the world are in the midst of a series of crises: economic recession, environment, social injustice. Massive financial measures are taken, mostly at national level, to sustain existing industries (e.g. cars) and domestic expenditure along unchanged patterns. This carries one major risk: perpetuating obsolete production and consumption patterns
An opportunity exists: using the anti-recession policies to transform our economy at European level, introduce new, sustainable production and consumption behaviours and reform our education and research systems accordingly. An industrial conversion and behavioural change is needed in order to rethink the way we produce and consume.
A "New Deal", a Green New Deal is needed to foster a sustainable economic, social and job stimulus which promotes solutions to our resource, climate and economic challenges. At the same time, a real Green Deal at European level calls for the active participation of EU citizens. To this end, a Green Deal also relies on investment in social, education and training programmes in order to support future generations.

WORKSHOP CONCEPT

The Green New Deal is the focus of a workshop, where Greens discuss key issues with experts and industry executives and further elaborate their positions.
The workshop focuses on domains where results in terms of job creation can be obtained along with the necessary steps for change in key areas of our economy. The first panel will look at the changes needed to our current financial and economic system. The second panel will discuss resource efficiency using the building sector as an example. The third panel will focus on green transport. The fourth panel will examine energy distribution and production. Required economic stimulus, potential job creation including education and training and implications towards ecological transformation of the industry will be considered as transversal issues in these sectors.
A meeting between Greens will take place the next day, to address the political follow-up to be given to the issues discussed during the workshop.

PROGRAMME

 

WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH 2009
09:30-10:00

Introduction
 

Welcome and framework setting: Daniel Cohn-Bendit, MEP

Strategic questions involved in a Green New Deal:

  • Required economic stimulus
  • Impact on job creation, training and education
  • Implication towards ecological transformation of the industry
10:00-11:30

Panel 1 - A new economic perspective: how to fund a Green New Deal
 

Moderator: Monica Frassoni, MEP
Rapporteur: Alain Lipietz, MEP

Question to experts: What financial instruments are needed to break away from the current destructive production and consumption patterns?

Sub question: What kind of new well-being indicators should be considered?

Experts:

  • Colin Hines, Founder of the Green New Deal Group
  • Pr. Alberto Majocchi, Istituto di Studi e Analisi Economica
  • Dirk Coeckelbergh, Commercial Director, Crédit Agricole

  • Ton Manders, Global Sustainability and Climate - Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
11:30-13:00

Panel 2: Resource efficiency and building for the future
 

Moderator: Caroline Lucas, MEP
Rapporteur: Claude Turmes, MEP

Questions to experts:
- What is the situation in the EU building market?
- Can renovation be a major boost to create new activities and jobs?
- What financial instruments would be most promising?

Experts:

  • Dr. Philipp Schepelmann, Wuppertal Institute
  • Kristien Achten, 3E Sustainable engineering company

  • Katharina Krell, Greenovate Europe

  • Joël Decaillon, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
 

- Lunch break -
15:00-16:30

Panel 3: Move Green!
 

Moderator: Michael Cramer, MEP
Rapporteur: Eva Lichtenberger, MEP

Questions to experts:
- What could a green electro-mobility concept look like?
- Job creation potential in public transport and soft mobility
- Implications for the industry.

Experts:

  • Dr. Wiebke Zimmer, Researcher, Oeko Institute
  • Jos Dings, Director, Transport & Environment (T&E)
  • Brigitte Ollier, International Association of Public Transport (UITP)

  • Bernard von Wullerstorff, Association of the European Rail Industry (UNIFE)
16:30-18:00

Panel 4: Energy production and distribution
 

Moderator: Satu Hassi, MEP
Rapporteur: Rebecca Harms, MEP

Question to experts:
- A Green electricity super-grid for the EU or decentralised projects at local and regional level?
- Impact on job creation.

Experts:

  • Frans Van Hulle, European Wind Energy Association (EWEA)

  • Georg Brodach, ABB Group
18.00- 18.30

Further comments
   
 

THURSDAY 5 MARCH 2009
  Political follow-up meeting
 

Delivering a Green New Deal: what political strategies at European and national level?
10:00-11:00

Session 1: Presentation of workshop conclusions by rapporteurs
Chair:  Philippe Lamberts, European Green Party
11:00-13:30

Session 2: Open debate with experts from different Member States, MEPs, MPs and EGP Moderator: Pierre Jonckheer MEP

Elements for debate:

1. Social dimension of a Green New Deal - Role of education and training
2. Which instruments for which objectives?
3. Strategic alliances