The European Union and Leadership towards a Sustainable Future
Brussels
"Europe showed itself ready to give global leadership: to tackle climate change, to face up to the challenge of secure, sustainable and competitive energy, and to make the European economy a model for sustainable development in the 21st century”
Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, January 2008
This second module of the LEAD Europe Programme 2008 is designed to respond to the need for leaders in all sectors to understand how they can engage with EU processes, and influence EU policy for better outcomes. It builds upon the London module by scaling-up from the national to the regional perspective and building an understanding of complex international realities.
Can you help drive European leadership?
In recent years Europe has defined a role for itself as a global leader on action towards building a low-carbon sustainable future. At the Bali Conference of Parties on Climate Change in December 2007, Europe stood apart from other major industrialised regions such as the US, Canada, Australia and Japan in pushing for a global agreement on climate change action.
In its policy strategy going forward the EU has identified energy policy as a critical building block towards a sustainable future, an area where Europe can show real leadership and innovation. The EU has set targets for a 20% reduction in greenhouse gases (GHG) by 2002, and a 20% increase in EU energy provision from renewable sources.
To translate these targets into action and make them achievable Europe is dependent on commitment and leadership within individual member states. Leaders need to come from across the spectrum of interests in Europe in order to ensure full representation and public endorsement of EU energy policy towards a low carbon future.
The session brings participants from across Europe together in Brussels to:
- Explore how Europe is modelling leadership towards a more sustainable future and the challenges and opportunities going forward.
- Assess EU energy policy specifically as a critical lever for achieving real change and an area where commitment already exists.
- Investigate how different interest groups such as business, civil society, lobbyists, activists and ordinary citizens influence EU decision-making .
- Develop negotiating skills through role-play activities and structured application within the group.
- Build networks and connections with the EU institutions and Brussels professional community.
- Further explore personal leadership capacity and what it takes to be an effective leader.
By the end of the Brussels session, the participants will have:
- Greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities for European leadership towards a low carbon, sustainable future.
- Explored how they and their organisation can intervene within EU processes to push for sustainability.
- Developed the core negotiation and influencing skills that they will need to act as European leaders.
- Developed a greater sense of their individual ability to be an agent of change in the European context.
The Brussels session is a new module designed to respond to Europe’s growing influence on global sustainable futures. It is based on LEAD’s extensive experience of working with multi-lateral institutions and connecting leaders with their influence and policy processes.
To explore these themes, we welcome contributors from diverse sectors such as: European Parliament, WWF-European Policy Office, Brussels School of International Studies, European Federation of Transport and Environment, DG Environment, US Permanent Representation to the EU, Greenpeace, European Partners for the Environment (EPE), and Climate Action Network-Europe.
Site visits allow participants to see first-hand the opportunities for action, and discuss with key leaders and stakeholders the challenges for achieving success. In 2008 we visited:
Renewable Energy House: At the Renewable Energy House, a central point for renewable energy issues in Europe’s capital Brussels, participants witnessed the integration of innovative renewable energy technologies in an old building. The REH creates synergies and allows easy access to information on renewable energy for stakeholders and the interested public.
European Parliament: While visiting the European Parliament, participants were engaged in a dialogue with a group of expert and visionary MEPs on the EU’s leadership role towards a sustainable future. Panellists included MEP Anders Wijkman, MEP Claude Turmes, MEP Satu Hassi, and MEP Chris Davies.
Networking- Participants also had the chance to develop and deploy their networking skills at an event organized by The Centre in Brussels. The Centre is Brussels' first think-do tank, operating at the interface of European public policy and communications. The organizations mission is to pioneer new forms of dialogue and promote better communication among business, civil society and public policy leaders in Europe. Please visit their website for further details.
For more information about the programme, access the downloads below.
News from the Brussels Module in 2008
Sarah Hendel-Blackford, Senior Consultant, Energy and Climate Strategy, Ecofys UK
Downloads
Speakers Supplement [PDF Document]
Highlights Report including participant feedback [PDF Document]
London Module