Denmark to host the world’s most important conference on energy efficiency

Held in Sønderborg on 7-9 June, the IEA’s 7th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency is more relevant and needed than ever. Acting as the backdrop, Denmark will showcase technologies and immediate pathways as governments ramp up plans to reduce emissions, while concurrently strengthening energy security.

By State of Green | [email protected]

31 May 2022

White paper on energy renovation of buildings

In conjunction with IEA’s 7th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency, State of Green has published a white paper on how long-term policies, holistic approaches, and innovative solutions by both public and private players have made Denmark a global leader in creating energy efficient buildings

World leaders from government and industry will meet in the southern Denmark city of Sønderborg on 7-9 June for the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) 7th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency at a time when energy efficiency solutions have never been more relevant, and needed.

The focus of the conference will be to discuss how international ambition on energy efficiency can be translated into faster and stronger real-world progress. This comes at a particularly critical time, as governments ramp up ambitious plans to tackle the climate crisis and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, while concurrently strengthening energy security.

The conference will bring together leaders from business and politics, including more than 20 confirmed ministers, the highest ministerial presence ever for this conference, to focus on how international ambition and collaboration on energy efficiency can provide much-needed progress towards carbon neutral and low carbon economies. The event, which runs from 7-9 June, will focus on concrete and practical action, enabled by new technology, to halt needless energy waste across industry, transport, construction, and existing buildings.

Acting as the backdrop, Denmark will present the role and opportunity for energy efficient technologies in building a global path towards net zero while tackling current energy security and market pressures.

Why is energy efficient so critical right now?

The science is clear: we need to act on climate change today. Decarbonization, energy security and lower energy bills all go hand-in-hand. But most importantly, if the world is to meet climate goals to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels, energy efficiency measures must be called on to deliver a large, worldwide reduction in emissions.

This urgent demand for action on energy efficiency will be the main focus of the IEA’s 7^th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency. It will also build on the IEA’s recent work on how to reduce energy import dependence while strengthening progress towards net zero imperatives.

Sønderborg

As a showcase of best-in-class energy efficiency, Denmark’s southern city will host the IEA’s 7th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency.

Why Sønderborg?

While Denmark is already a global leader in the green transition, the IEA and the Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities chose the municipality of Sønderborg as the host city due to its pioneering work in prioritizing energy efficiency solutions to reduce CO₂emissions.

Since 2007, Sønderborg municipality has been collaborating with local partners and companies with the aim to reduce emissions. In 2020, the municipality reached the important milestone of having reduced CO₂ with more than half (51.7 percent/ 362.208 tons CO₂) since 2007. The municipality is on course to reach carbon neutrality in its energy systems by 2029. This target has been crystalized in ProjectZERO.

Project Zero

Based on sustainable growth and green job creation, ProjectZero is the vision for creating a zero carbon future for the city of Sønderborg by 2029. ProjectZero is based on energy efficiency combined with renewable energy from the county´s own green sources. The aim is to develop a world class showcase for energy savings, best practice mindset, participation, technology and business.

Who will be speaking at the 7^th Annual Conference on Energy Efficiency?

The main conference chairs are Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director at the IEA, and Dan Jørgensen, Denmark’s Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities.

They will be joined by governmental contributors from across Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas and the Pacific, with representatives including Mohamed Shaker El-Markabi, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy and COP27 President; Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy from the African Union Commission; Alok Sharma COP26 president and representative for the UK government: the Secretary of State for Economy and Climate from Germany, Patrick Graichen; Anna Moskwa, Minister of Climate and Environment, Poland; Arifin Tasrif, Indonesia’s Minister for Energy and Mineral Resources, and many more.

There are also a number of private sector contributors, such as Danfoss’ Kim Fausing; Nana Bule, CEO of Microsoft Denmark and Iceland; Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, BASF SE; Cristina Gamboa, CEO of the World Green Building Council; and Paula Glover, President of the Alliance to Save Energy. The full list of contributors can be found here.

The agenda for the conference can also be accessed on the IEA website.