Delivering a Cleaner Energy Future: Government, Energy Sector and Civil Society working together to accelerate decarbonisation.

Eamon Ryan T.D., Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ireland and Mark Foley, Chief Executive, EirGrid plc invites Government, Energy Sector and Civil Society representatives to a facilitated panel discussion.

Date:           Tuesday 09 November 2021 from 19:30 to 21:30 GMT

Venue:         COP26 Shared Pavilion Space, Hall 4, Number 67 and Hybrid Online

RSVP:           Join Virtually

Engaging citizens on the actions required to address climate change requires greater understanding, participation and acceleration globally. This is particularly relevant to the delivery of energy and electricity grid infrastructure globally.

This discussion will consider how citizens can be better engaged and involved in this transition. This session will highlight the need for all parties across the global energy spectrum to devise better ways of working with wider civil society to enable development of large-scale renewable and transmission infrastructure to accelerate decarbonisation.

This event will explore how a deliberative and participative approach can help contribute to delivering the 2050 objective of climate neutrality, in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement. The use of a Citizens Assemblies in the Irish context to achieve these decarbonisation goals will be highlighted.

Panel:

• Eamon Ryan T.D., Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Ireland
• Mark Foley, CEO of Ireland’s Transmission System Operator, Eirgrid plc
• Mair Kelly, Youth Activist, National Youth Council of Ireland
• Tom Howes, Head of Energy and Environment Division, International Energy Agency
• Moderator: Marie Donnelly, Chair of Ireland’s Climate Change Advisory Council and former Director General of the European Commission with responsibility for Energy Efficiency, Renewable Energy and Innovation
• Further speakers to be confirmed.

Outline timings

19.30-20.00               Pre-networking and refreshments

20.00-20.02               Welcome and Introduction of Format & Panellists

20.02-20.05               Video setting out Ireland and EirGrid’s approach to citizen engagement on climate change

20.05-20.15               Minister Ryan sets out Government ambition and key role of citizen engagement

20.15-20.58               Facilitated discussion and interventions from attendees – both physical and virtual

20.58-21.00               Closing remarks

21.00-21.30               Networking