EUROPEAN GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE DAY 2021
The European Green Infrastructure Day is a policy conference dedicated to exploring the state of affairs of urban green infrastructure in the European Union.
Through a series of six online panels, over 30 speakers - among industry leaders, policy experts, political representatives and EU institutions officials - will discuss how to tap into the multiple benefits of green infrastructure, focusing on their contribution to green recovery and the path towards Europe’s climate neutrality.
The event, organised by the EU Chapter of the World Green Infrastructure Network, will take place on Thursday 27 May 2021, from 09.00 to 18.15 CEST.
Programme
09.00-09.15 | Opening remarks
Manfred Koehler, President, World Green Infrastructure Network
Eva Jensen, Head of Climate change, Energy and Transport, EU Environment Agency
09.15-10.15 | Green and blue over grey to increase urban biodiversity
Eleonora Evi, Member of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA Group)
Stefan Leiner, Head of Biodiversity unit, DG Environment, European Commission
Justine Guiny, International Biodiversity Policy Officer, Birdlife EU and Central Asia
Stephan Beerends, Director, Sempergreen
Moderator: Jure Sumi, President, Slovenian Green Infrastructure Association
10.30-11.45 | Turning buildings into carbon sink to drive the energy and climate transition
Jutta Paulus, Member of the European Parliament (Greens/EFA Group)
Jure Sumi, President, Slovenian Green Infrastructure Association
Aurelie Beauvais, Deputy CEO and Policy Director, Solar Power Europe
Stefan Moser, Head of Unit for Energy Efficiency, DG Energy, European Commission
Moderator: Luigi Petito, Head of Secretariat, EU Chapter - WGIN
12.00-13.00 | Financing urban green infrastructure
Stefanie Lindenberg, Coordinator Natural Capital Finance, EU Investment Bank
Peter Berkowitz, Head of Unit for Smart and Sustainable Growth, EU Commission
Isabel Schrems, Research Associate, Green Budget Germany (tbc)
Filipe Araújo, Deputy Mayor of Porto & Chair, Environment Forum, Eurocities
Moderator: Paulo Palha, President, Portuguese Association for Green Roofs
LUNCH BREAK
14.00-15.30 | What’s up in Europe? News and views from across the EU
Marta Weber-Siwirska, President, Polskie Stowarzyszenie "Dachy Zielone" (PL)
David Brasfield, Chairperson, Norwegian Association for Green Infrastructure
Julian Briz, President, ProNatur (ES)
Fiona Wolff, Project Manager, Bundesverband GebäudeGrün e.V. (DE)
Paulo Palha, President, Associação Nacional de Coberturas Verdes (PT)
Sophie Rousset-Rouvière, Chief Delegate, Adivet (FR)
Moderator: Dusty Gedge, President, EFB
15.45-16.45 | Green infrastructure for climate adaptation: how to improve cities’ resilience by restoring the natural water cycle
Veronica Manfredi, Director for Quality of Life, DG Environment, EU Commission
Sirpa Pietikainen, Member of the European Parliament (EPP Group)
Jan Willem Goossen, DG Climate Action, EU Commission (tbc)
Uwe Harzmann, Managing Director, Optigruen
Moderator: Steven Peck, President, Green Roofs for Healthy Cities
17.00-18.00 | Let’s design human-centered, healthy and sustainable cities
Xavier Troussard, Head of the New European Bauhaus team, EU Commission
Karlis Goldstein, Adviser, EU Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson (tbc)
Stefano Boeri, Founding Partner, Studio Boeri Architetti
Rhiannon Corcoran, Prof. of Psychology & Public Mental Health, Liverpool University
Moderator: David Brasfield, Chairperson, Norwegian Association for Green Infrastructure
18.00-18.15 | Conclusions
Virginijus Sinkevičius, EU Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries
Manfred Koehler, President, World Green Infrastructure Network