15|05|18 HOFBURG VIENNA

• Sebastian Kurz
  Federal Chancellor of Austria
• António Guterres
  Secretary-General, United Nations
• Arnold Schwarzenegger
  The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative
• Alexander Van der Bellen
  Federal President of Austria

UN Secretary General Guterres called climate change “the most systemic threat to humankind”. A threat so urgent demands leadership that is both visionary and pragmatic, that delivers decisive action to break our dependence on fossil fuels and curb greenhouse gas emissions. Leadership that is ready to engage with actors ranging from civil society to industry, from investors to voters. This panel aimed to showcase what that kind of leadership looks like, and what it can achieve. This high level discussion is entitled Solutions-Fulfilling our Goals, and it brought together political leaders who are doing just that - working hands on to achieve the aims outlined in the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the SDGs.

• Elisabeth Köstinger
  Minister of Sustainability and Tourism, Austria
• Erna Solberg
  Prime Minister, Norway
• Lars Løkke Rasmussen
  Prime Minister, Denmark
• Maroš Šefčovič
  Vice-President of the European Commission for Energy Union
• Jane Goodall
  UN Messenger of Peace

How can we bring all relevant actors on board as we seek to transform our energy systems and economies. We have identified the goals and strategies in the first panel, but do we have the instruments that will enable us to reach them? That was the key question we addressed in this enablers' panel.

• Brune Poirson
  Secretary of State to the Minister
• Patricia Espinosa
  Executive Secretary, UNFCCC
• Laurent Fabius
  President of COP21
• Howard Bamsey
  Executive Director, Green Climate Fund
• Günther Thallinger
  Member of the Board of Management Allianz SE
• Li Yong
  Director General, UNIDO

In the first and second panel we explored the big picture when it comes to solutions at national and international level, and we've identified some crucial enabling instruments particularly in the financial arena. In this discussion on implementation, we learned from important people who are at the forefront of making change happen about: implementing projects, building coalitions, overcoming obstacles and delivering visible change.

• Maria Vassilakou
  Vice-Mayor, City of Vienna
• Bertrand Piccard
  Founder, Solar Impulse
• Fran Pavley
  Former California State Senator
• Sui Zhenjiang
  Vice-Mayor, Peking
• Klemens Hallmann
  CEO, Hallmann Corporate Group

The Paris Agreement addresses directly the financial flows consistent with a pathway towards a low-emission, climate-resilient development. The finance sector is a key player in directing future investments. In anticipating developments in climate policies, financial risks linked to climate change and in taking responsibility a growing number of asset owners and investors decide to divest from fossil fuels and invest in low carbon technologies. Insurance companies, banks, pension funds, as well as governments on national, regional and local level have to take climate aspects into account when it comes to future investments. This session will provide best practice examples, discuss barriers and opportunities linked to divest-invest.

• Barbara Buchner
  Executive Director, Climate Policy Initiative
• Kingsmill Bond
  Energy Strategist, Carbon Tracker
• Renat Heuberger
  CEO, South Pole Group
• Günther Thallinger
  Member of the Management Board of Allianz SE
• Paul Chatterton
  Founder and Lead, WWF Landscape Finance Lab
• Irene Monasterolo
  Vienna University of Economics
• Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg
  Member of City Council Stuttgart
• José Delgado Jimenez
  Austrian Federal Ministry of Finance
• Harald Hirschhofer
  TCX - The Currency Exchange Fund

Accelerating investments in green infrastructure projects at the subnational level demands better collaboration, interconnection and understanding between local governments, clean tech companies and investors involved in the project development value chain. From ongoing projects in Africa to innovative financing mechanisms to support their implementation, this session will explore initiatives, strategies and instruments that are being put in place.

• Magnus Berntsson
  R20 President, President of the AER
• Christophe Nuttall
  CEO, R20
• Eric Scotto
  CEO, Akuo Energy
• Karim Keita
  Senator, Mali
• Ulrike Rabmer-Koller
  Vice President, Austrian Federal Economic Chamber
• Christian Brodhag
  Ecole des Mines de Saint-Etienne
• Harry Verhaar
  Philips Lighting
• Maroš Šefčovič
  Vice-President of the European Commission for Energy Union
• Martin Berg
  European Investment Bank
• Patrick Scheurle
  CEO, Blue Orchard
• Howard Bamsey
  Executive Director, Green Climate Fund
• Marion Verles
  CEO, Gold Standard
• Johannes Feist
  Financial Systems Development Southern Africa and Regional Funds, KfW
• Maria Teresa Zappia
  CIO, Blue Orchard

Foundations and charitable trusts can significantly make a difference in our society to create future solutions and to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals. Yet, many of them are still financing business as usual and fail to ensure the societal benefits of their economic opportunities. In this session, we will challenge the idea that green investment is riskier and discuss ways Philanthropists, Foundations and Institutional investors can commit more of their endowments to environmental philanthropy and become real game changers in the fight against climate change.

• Klemens Hallmann
  CEO, Hallmann Corporate Group
• Jürgen Schneider
  Federal Environment Agency Austria
• Barbara Meier
  Ambassador for Fair Fashion
• Terry Tamminen
  CEO, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
• Johan Eliasch
  CEO Head
• Hongwei Wang
  Green Finance Development Centre
• John Morton
  Senior Advisor, Aligned Intermediary
• Jack Knott
  Dean, University of California
• Helmut Anheier
  President, Hertie School of Governance
• Claudia Schanza
  Journalist

The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the building sector is key to reach climate and energy goals. At the same time rapid urbanization is a global megatrend. Most cities are facing major challenges due to increasing population and climate change. The main areas are innovative buildings, urban planning, and integrated energy supply. High ecological building standards, low carbon technologies as well as research and education infrastructure have to create a functional ecosystem. The session will provide a big picture for a sustainable building sector and show pathways to zero emission cities.

• Maria Vassilakou
  Vice-Mayor, City of Vienna
• Bernd Vogl
  Head of Energy Department, City of Vienna
• Hubert Rhomberg
  CEO, Cree by Rhomberg
• Anton Falkeis
  CEO, Falkeis Architects
• Jasper van den Munckhof
  Energiespring Foundation, NL
• Diana Ürge-Vorsatz
  Central European University Budapest
• Ingmar Höbarth
  CEO, Climate and Energy Fund, Austria
• Klemens Schlögl
  Schöberl & Pöll

This session will focus on creating a blueprint for better collaboration between cities and their surrounding areas. Cities, as home to an increasing share of the global population, are emerging as centers of demand and consumption while their surrounding areas provide much of the resource supply. How can we ensure that the urban-rural linkage becomes a major element of sustainable development? How can we avoid the most extractive aspects of market-driven interactions? How can we help cities recognize and nurture the deeper roots beyond their administrative boundaries? How can we leverage the interactions between cities and their surroundings to co-create new social and environmental values?

• Xenia zu Hohenlohe
  Langenburg Forum for Sustainability
• Aniruddha Dasgupta
  Global Director, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities at the World Resources Institute
• Joschka Fischer
  Managing Partner J F & Company
• Alexander Mueller
  Senior Fellow, Institute for Advances Sustainable Studies
• Kurt Weinberger
  CEO Österreichische Hagelversicherung
• Marcel Haraszti
  Divisional Director, REWE International AG
• Ilse Gumprecht
  Local Farmer, ZiGu
• Hans Joachim Schellnhuber
  Director, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
• Tommy Schlereth
  CEO & Archtect, Soulmade Hotels
• Franz Mayr-Melnhof
  Chair, Mayr-Melnhof Holz Holding AG

The transformation of energy systems has already begun. With the rise of renewable energy in the electricity markets and innovative technologies, the need for more flexibility and storage options goes hand in hand with the development of new information and digital technologies. Intelligent energy systems create new infrastructure and completely new business models. Additional investments will be required as research and development labs add new solutions to the energy world. What will this new energy system look like? This session will illustrate a future picture and show concrete business opportunities on a regional and global scale.

• Christiane Brunner
  
• Rana Adib
  Executive Secretary, REN21
• Rachel Kyte
  CEO, Sustainable Energy for All
• Urs Harnik-Lauris
  Energie Steiermark
• Michael Losch
  Austrian Federal Ministry of Sustainability and Tourism
• Olivia Goldrey
  Director for Sustainable Finance, REEEP
• Mohua Mukherjee
  Programme Ambassador, ISA
• Johann Prammer
  Head of Strategic Environmental Management, voestalpine AG
• Herbert Greisberger
  CEO, Energy- and Environment Agency Lower Austria
• Irita Opara
  Jugend eine Welt
• H.R.H. Princess Abze Djigma
  CEO Abze Solar

In leading the transformation towards sustainable and resilient societies, the UN recognizes the importance of energy as a catalyst for economic competitiveness, as well as its inextricable interlinkages to other developmental issues including poverty eradication, food security, clean water and sanitation, health, education, prosperity, jobs creation, and the empowerment of youth and women. Access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all is fundamental to human development. A shift toward sustainable energy solutions is also essential to the achievement of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

• Karina Larsen
  CTCN, UNIDO
• Christine Lins
  Co-Founder, GWNET
• Tareq Emtairah
  Director, Department of Energy, UNIDO
• Carsten Hellpap
  Director EnDev, GIZ
• Sheila Oparocha
  Technical Group of Advisors on SDG7
• Tania Rödiger-Vorwerk
  Deputy Director-General, BMZ
• James Ellsmor
  Director of Solar Head of State
• Sascha Gabizon
  Executive, Women in Europe for a Common Future
• Rabia Ferroukhi
  Deputy Director of the Knowledge, Policy and Finance Division, IRENA
• Minoru Takada
  Division for Sustainable Development Goals, UN
• Sibabrata Das
  Atomberg Technologies

The transportation sector is of highest relevance for global energy demand. Expecting future growth for passenger transportation and the carriage of goods are a major challenge in cities and regions. The renewable energy revolution needs to run parallel to the breakthrough of low carbon drive technologies and alternative mobility concepts. The vision of a zero emission mobility is the foundation for policy decisions, concrete measures and best-practice examples. A sustainable transportation system and investments in public infrastructure provide solutions to climate change and to a high quality standard of living.

• Waltraud Schmid
  Head of Energy Center Vienna
• Bertrand Piccard
  Founder, Solar Impulse
• Markus Kreisel
  CEO, Kreisel Electric
• Clemens Först
  CEO, Rail Cargo Austria
• Ralf Mittermayr
  CMO, Saubermacher
• Christina Bu
  Secretary General, Norwegian EV Association
• Ashok Sridharan
  Mayor of Bonn and Frist Vice President of ICLEI - Local Fovernments for Sustainability

Environment protection is a powerful lever to improve human health on a global scale. In 2015, an estimated nine million deaths worldwide were related to pollution. Air pollution is by far the largest contributor to early death according to a report by The Lancet Commission on Pollution and Health. Tackling pollution is a key driver to phase out coal power plants and promote renewable energy systems and energy efficiency. Especially fast growing economies such as China and India are facing major challenges. The session highlights opportunities to make a shift in combining the environmental, social and health agenda.

• Helmut Hojesky
  Austrian Federal Ministry of Sustainability and Tourism
• Maria Neira
  Director, Public Health & Environment Department, WHO
• Martin Wesian
  Founder, HELIOZ
• Nebojsa Nakicenovic
  Deputy Director, IIASA
• Mariusz Skiba
  Vice-Mayor of Katowice, Poland
• Ugo Taddei
  Clean Air Project, Client Earth
• Monika Mörth
  CEO, Federal Environment Agency Austria
• Fran Pavley
  Former California State Senator

Together with the Vienna Boys Choir Curt Faudon visited shepherds worldwide – and created a new genre: a visualized song. Powerful pictures and a poetic appeal to responsibility. Curt Faudon’s recent movie was presented at the Cannes Film Festival 2018.