Take Action: Focussing on Sustainability
MedaWeek Barcelona and ASCAME are committed to promoting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in order to meet the challenges of the current and future world, particularly in terms of the environment and prosperity in the Mediterranean region. It is to remind us of our compromise that one of the main themes for this edition will be Sustainable Development. Renewable energies and green energies will, therefore, be at the centre of this forum through two forums.
MEDA Cities Forum
Urban regeneration and circular economy in Mediterranean cities.
The world’s urban population has surpassed the symbolic 50% threshold, and within the next decade, there will be nearly 500 cities of more than a million people, including several “megacities” with populations exceeding 20 million.
More than half of the world’s population now lives in cities, and over the next 35 years, that figure is expected to continue growing hitting 70 % by 2050. By then, there is expected to be more than 9 billion people on the planet, with 10 % living in the Mediterranean region.
Cities and towns cover only approximately 3% of the world’s landmass yet are responsible for about 75% of energy consumption and 80% of greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere had reached just shy of 399 parts per million, the highest for at least 800,000 years. Recent emissions growth has also been at its fastest rate in 30 years.
Cities are the engine of economic growth. As a nation’s primary source of job creation and wealth generation, cities produce goods and provide services, which strengthen the economic opportunities for the entire country.
For companies, the urban world is a developing market with enormous potential. Cities will only be able to face the major challenges if they have the support of business management tools.
MEDA Solar & Wind Energy Forum
The unexplored solar and wind potential of the Mediterranean region.
In a society that is moving towards green energy, it is important to guarantee access to renewable sources to all and enable to meet their sustainability goals. The use of clean and sustainable energy has now become an essential element in the corporate policies of all the big multinationals.
A lot has changed around us: technologies, markets, competitors and the rules of the game, with unbelievable, almost unforeseen speed, that though, never caught us by surprise. The strong dynamism of the sector and growing competitiveness drive us to never stop and to never say “We’ve done it!” but rather to roll up our sleeves every day to find new innovative technological solutions and a range of commercial business solutions.
The Mediterranean Solar & Wind Energy Forum is an essential platform for the renewable energy industry, providing a clear outlook at the future of solar and wind energy technologies in the Mediterranean region to accelerate the decarbonisation of the planet. From governments to technology providers and start-ups, this forum brings together the public and private sectors to support the uptake of renewable energy and innovations in the region.
Co-organised with:
Co-organised with:
In collaboration with:
21st November 2019
#ECOMeda19
Programme
9:00 – 9:15
Registration
9:15 – 10:30
Daurat Room
Official Opening of the Second Day of MedaWeek Barcelona 2019 and the ECOMEDA Sustainability Summit
The Official Opening of the Second Day of MedaWeek Barcelona will highlight the importance of the environmental challenges facing the Mediterranean region. Indeed, MedaWeek Barcelona and ASCAME are proud to promote the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and will present at this Summit two forums of crucial importance for the region.
This Official Opening will gather institutional representatives who will present the need for urban regeneration and the circular economy for more sustainable development of the entire Mediterranean region. They will also promote the important and currently under-exploited potential of solar and wind energy in the Mediterranean.
Keynote Speech
10:30 – 11:00
Coffee Break
Mediterranean Cities Forum
11:00 – 12:30
Daurat Room
Urban regeneration and circular economy in Mediterranean Cities
Mediterranean Cities look to revitalize themselves, Cities and Developers across the Mediterranean region are breathing new life into areas that have been in decline but must be aware of the effect such master plans have on existing communities.
Cities, however, cannot develop without taking into consideration the burden they create on adjacent areas, giving rise to territorial imbalances that have, as a consequence, the emergence of lagging regions. The environmental, economic and social consequences of urban concentration have a larger range of impacts that go beyond the urban limits.
This forum will also tackle important issues around how circular economy can be put at the centre of urban development, putting special emphasis on waste management and other urban services such as water and energy.
- How can Mediterranean cities facilitate growth & job creation, stimulate entrepreneurship and attract investment to achieve sustainable economic development?
- How can the capacity of Mediterranean cities be strengthen to implement local economic development plans in line with the principle of good governance and sound financial management?
- How can the creation of networks based on public-private partnership be encouraged in order to implement actions to promote growth and urban development?
- How expertise and best practices can be shared to motivate local stakeholders, demonstrate new approaches at work and sustain local pro-development policies & actions?
- How Mediterranean cities, municipalities and companies can address issues such as adaptation to climate change, improving energy efficiency and building a dynamic and sustainable local economy linked to urban development?
Mediterranean Solar & Wind Energy Forum
12:30 – 14:00
Daurat Room
Session 1: Analysis of main policies and market trends for the region
Although SEMED countries have set record low prices for RE technologies, the market share is still quite low compared to other world regions. To analyse this phenomenon and identify solutions to speed up the market growth, some guiding questions will be addressed, for instance:
- What are the main lessons learnt over the past 10 years?
- What are the main barriers affecting the limited market share?
- How have more market-oriented policies, and in particular auctions, induced the solar growth in more recent years?
- How a massive Renewable Energies penetration affects business models and grid operations?
- What role will RE technologies play in the total electric installed capacity in Southern and Eastern Mediterranean (SEMED) region to the horizon 2030?
- What are the expected price levels for RE technologies in the SEMED region? Are synergies with other sectors able to impact prices of solar technologies?
- Will SEMED countries turn into a RE hub?
- What is the role that South-North and North-South regional cooperation could play to achieve high market share in SEMCs?
14:00 – 15:00
Lunch Break & Networking
15:00 – 16:30
Daurat Room
Session 2: Research & Development to induce re-innovation in the region
Innovation is the main driver for transformation to a sustainable society. Therefore, it is from high importance to bring both technology and knowledge from the R&D institutions to the market to impulse such transformation. In particular the solar and wind energy technology has transformed the energy system in Europe to a leading position. However, energy transition and the vast amount to renewable resources will put the Mediterranean Region in the center of the development of wind and solar. Hence, technology to exploit, connect and distribute renewable energy will play a key role.
European Regional Development Fund A way to make Europe