The most recent report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, released in early August, was described by the UN as a ‘code red for humanity’. It states that climate change is widespread, rapid, and intensifying. The world now anticipates November’s global climate conference, COP26, to see how nations respond to this latest stark warning.

In Europe, the goal to meet net zero emission of greenhouse gases by 2050 requires a major transition of the European energy system, away from fossil fuels and towards low carbon or renewable sources of energy.

What works and how should it be done?#

Energy transition is not just about new technologies and innovation. Our current lifestyles are also contributing to energy and climate problems, and the move to different energy systems will impact on everyone in society. Change has to be fair and inclusive. It requires public engagement and active participation across the whole of society.

Join the panel of experts to discuss these critical issues, as we look ahead to the COP26 conference:

• Professor Nebojsa Nakicenovic MAE – Deputy Chair of the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors; Director of the World in 2050 Project

• Professor Benjamin Sovacool MAE – Professor of Energy Policy, University of Sussex; Member of the SAPEA Working Group

• Professor Nick Pidgeon – Professor of Environmental Psychology and Risk; Director of the Understanding Risk Research Group, Cardiff University

• Professor Eystein Jansen MAE – Professor of Earth Sciences / Paleoclimatology, University of Bergen; Member of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council

• Professor Diana Urge-Vorsatz MAE – Director, Center for Climate Change and Sustainable Energy Policy, Central European University; Member of the SAPEA Working Group

Chair: Professor Ole Petersen MAE, Vice-President, Academia Europaea

The audience will be invited to put their questions to the panel and join the debate.

About the webinar#

This webinar is organised by SAPEA and co-hosted by Academia Europaea. Find out more about ‘A systemic approach to the energy transition in Europe’ – the SAPEA Evidence Review Report and the Scientific Opinion by the Group of Chief Scientific Advisors are available on the SAPEA website.

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Cardiff maps EU policy landscape for major new energy report#

A team at Cardiff University has mapped the European policy landscape for the SAPEA Evidence Review Report on energy transition. Find out more about their work.