24 April 2017
“Ports in a changing climate, a changing world”: this is the central theme of the ESPO 2017 Annual Conference, taking place on 1 and 2 June, kindly hosted by the Port of Barcelona.
The first conference day will look into ways to limit the increase of global temperature well below 2°C and tackling the effects of climate change.
What is at stake? What is the EU and international policy for decarbonisation of ports and shipping? Two eye-opening key notes are setting the scene for a first session on how to become a low carbon or carbon neutral port. In this first conference debate, we will hear the voice of a shipping company and a shipper. We will also learn how to develop a comprehensive decarbonisation strategy for the broader port area and region. Finally, we will reflect on the added value of measuring the carbon footprint and performance of ports in terms of CO2 reduction and on the different systems available.
The second session will investigate what the port of the future is at the age of a low carbon or carbon neutral economy and what is to be expected when temperatures rise, and thus sea levels rise and ports are faced with extreme weather conditions. During this debate we are inviting an academic to investigate with us what is to be really expected and how resilient European ports are. We will further examine with the private sector how this decarbonisation challenge can become an opportunity for port and port business. Finally, we will look into the costs of decarbonisation and climate resilience and explore ways of financing.
We will close the first conference day with a celebration to mark the 20 years of EcoPorts.
The second conference day will look into the broader picture. The world is entering a new era. Disruption seems to become the buzzword of 2017. Next to the warming up of the planet, there are many other disrupting factors: the questioning of globalisation, upcoming protectionism and geopolitical developments. These all risk to radically change trade patterns and curtail cargo flows and thus be a game changer for ports in Europe.
Again different high level key notes will set the scene and will be followed by debates. In a first roundtable, ports and policy makers will reflect on the business case of European ports in a changing climate, a changing world. How to look at this upcoming economic nationalism at a time where the shipping lines, logistic operators and terminal operators are increasingly joining forces and setting up alliances? How disruptive can new trade barriers be for ports? Is the business model of European ports changing?
In the second roundtable, ports and policy makers will look more specifically to the role of the port authority in this changing reality. Is the role of the port authority changing? What is the responsibility of the port authority? How can port authorities promote and facilitate the engagement of their different stakeholders? How far can a port authority go in enforcing low-carbon engagement? Should ports follow the example of their customers and join forces?
Being six weeks from the event, we are honoured and proud to share with you the full list of high-level policy makers and exciting and informative speakers:
Josep Rull, Catalan Minister of Transport; Matthew BALDWIN, Deputy Director General of DG MOVE, European Commission; Alan MURPHY, CEO and Partner, SeaIntel Maritime Analysis; Tim POWER, Managing Director, Drewry; Alvaro RODRÍGUEZ DE SANABRIA, The Climate Reality Project, Europe Branch, Regional Coordinator; Laurence GRAFF, Head of Unit, DG CLIMA, European Commission; Dario Bocchetti, Energy Manager, Grimaldi; Sergio BARBARINO, Research Fellow of Procter & Gamble Research & Development organization and Chairman of ALICE, the EU Innovation Platform for Logistics; Clemens Schneider, M.A., Research Fellow Future Energy and Mobility Structures, Wuppertal Institute; Tom WOOD, BSc (Hons) MSc CEnv C.WEM; Chris TRELAWNY, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Maritime Security and Facilitation, IMO; Rosa MARI DARBRA, Associate Professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia; Prof Robert NICCHOLS, Tyndall Centre for Climate change Research; Frank VERSCHRAEGEN, Project Manager Energy & Blue Growth, DEME; Ewald BREUNESSE, Manager Energy Transition Shell The Netherlands; Tom SCHELTJENS, Projects Directorate, European Investment Bank; David WHITEHEAD, OBE; Dr. Christopher WOOLDRIDGE, Science Coordinator, EcoPorts; Sotiris RAPTIS, EcoPorts Coordinator and Senior Advisor, ESPO; Frans DE KRUIF, Lead Assessor, Project Specialist, Lloyd Register; Olaf MERK, Ports and shipping expert of the International Transport Forum at the OECD; Jonathan HOLSLAG, Professor; Dirk STERCKX, former journalist and former Member of the European Parliament; Merja KYLLÖNEN, Member of the European Parliament; Ramon TREMOSA, Member of the European Parliament; Violeta BULC, EU Commissioner for Transport; Knut FLECKENSTEIN, Member of the European Parliament.
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Violeta Bulc, EU Commissioner for Transport, will give a keynote address and will actively enter into a debate with port authorities.
These panelists will enter in a debate with the ports. The following port representatives are already getting ready for the debate:
Eamonn O'REILLY, CEO, Port of Dublin and ESPO Chairman; Sixte CAMBRA I SÁNCHEZ, President, Port of Barcelona; Edvard MOLITOR, Senior Manager Environment, Port of Gothenburg, Chairman Sustainable Development Committee, ESPO; Roger SCHJERVA, Head of the Board, Port of Oslo; Francesco Maria DI MAJO, President, Port of Rome; Christine CABAU, CEO, Port of Marseille ; Gisli GISLASON, Port Director, Associated Icelandic Ports; José Luis HORMAECHEA ESCOS, Managing Director, Port of Algeciras Bay; Joachim COENS, Managing Director, Port of Zeebrugge; Patrick KEATING, CEO Shannon Foynes Port Company; Carlos BOTANA LAGARON, Head sustainability Department, Port of Vigo; Dr. Matthäus WUCZKOWSKI, Head of Sustainability Management, Niedersachsen Ports; Chryssanthi KONTOGIORGI, Head of Environmental Protection Department, Port of Piraeus; Clemence Cheng, Divisional Head, Hutchison Westports Limited; Jens MEIER, Managing Director, Hamburg Port Authority; Victor SCHOENMAKERS, Director Corporate Strategy, Port of Rotterdam; Jacques VANDERMEIREN, CEO, Port of Antwerp; Santiago GARCIA-MILÀ, Deputy Executive Director, Port of Barcelona; Daan SCHALCK, CEO, Port of Ghent; Paolo Emilio SIGNORINI, President Ports of Genoa & Savona.
And needless to say that ESPO conference are a lot more than public debates. Also this year the conference will be combined with nice networking moments and dinners. The Port of Barcelona has foreseen the best to welcome ESPO guests.
So do not wait any longer and be part of this highlight for the European port and Maritime industry. Barcelona is waiting for you!
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