Zero Emission conference

The sixth annual Zero Emission Conference is to be held November 21-22, 2011 in Clarion Hotel Oslo Airport, Gardermoen. The Zero Emission Conference is the largest of its kind in Scandinavia. The two day programme spans across a wide range of topics and perspectives, from the visions to the specific solutions.
Is Green Growth Possible? What does a green economy look like? The strain on the climate and our limited resources grows with the global population and economic development. Is our economic system capable of meeting the challenge? Is economic growth an obstacle or a prerequisite for finding the solutions? And will stronger climate policies destroy businesses or be a source of new business opportunities?
We have invited speakers from politics, business, public management and research from around the world to try to give answers to these questions. We invite you to participate in the discussion to be inspired to take climate action in your own life.

Monday 21st November

As in previous years, the conference’s first day will focus on the large and international perspectives. How can the global economy be geared towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions rather than increase them? Monday’s events will be simultaneous translation for English-speaking guests when program is in Norwegian.

Registration opens at 0900.

Speakers:

Einars Håndlykken, Executive Director of ZERO

Heidi Sørensen, State Secretary from The Ministry of the Environment

Erna Solberg, leader of the Conservative Party of Norway.

Anthony Giddens, sociologist member of Green Growth Council

Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action

Arnold Schwarzenegger, former businessman, investor and politician

Bunker Roy, founder of Barefoot College

Martha Delgado Peralta, Head of the Mexico City Ministry of Environment

Ole Enger, President & CEO in REC Group

Representatives from the “”Powerhouse-alliance”

Johan Rockström, Executive Director of the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Stockholm Resilience Centre

Tuesday 22nd November

On the second day of the conference we go from the grand perspectives to the everyday solutions. We open by taking the issue of a green economy to a Norwegian perspective, and we ask what role business and industrial policy should have in Norway’s climate change mitigation efforts. The rest of the day we study the practical solutions sector by sector, with parallel sessions covering most emissions sectors.

The second day program is divided into three sets of four parallel sessions. These will be spread across the conference centre. Here is a list of sessions in English:

09.45 -11.15 Making biofuels sustainable

Keynote holders:

Edgar de Beauclair, Professor from the University in Sao Paolo in Brazil

Imke Lubekke, WWF EU

Nikolai Astrup, Norwegian member of Parliament (Conservative Party) and member of The Standing Comittee on Energy and the Environment

Topic: Biofuels is the easiest and most affordable way to replace many fossil energy sources today. But how to we meet the demand in a sustainable way?

09.45-11.15 The pioneers of carbon capture and storage

Speakers:

Michael Monea, vice president of SaskPower (Canada)

Bob Pegler, Institute General Manager - Europe, The Global CCS Institute (GCCSI)

Chris Smith, Coordinator of the International NGO CCS Network (US)

Topic: The session will focus on countries and projects which is taking, or might take, a lead when it comes to the development and deployment of CCS. What can be learned from these experiences worldwide? We will focus on what kind of politicial, financial and regulatory measures are being used to ensure CCS as part of a national portfolio for GHG mitigation. The aim is to present other stories, stories of progress and realisation, when it comes to CCS. 

09.45-11.15 HyNor - Hydrogen in Norway

Keynote holders:

Ola Elvestuen, Liberal Party

Anette Solli, Conservative Party

Johnny Kristian Danielsen, Director Mercedes Benz Passenger Cars, Bertel O. Steen

Bjørn Simonsen, Chairman, HyNor

Bernt Reitan Jenssen, Chief Executive, Ruter

Björn Aronsson, Chief Executive, Hydrogen Sweden

Topic: Norway has taken a lead role in the hydrogen infastructure build-up through large national and international projects. With recent developments in hydrogen vehicle technology, the zero emission cars and buses now coming to Norway are ready for the market. Taking the next step from demonstration to full implementation will however demand efforts on a totally different scale - what will it cost, and are we ready for it?

11.45-13.15 First movers – global pioneers

Keynote holders:

Bunker Roy, Barefoot College

Dr. Josef Kallo, Project General Manager, The Antares project, DRL- German Aerospace Centre

Michael Eimstad, CEO, Moveabout

Topic: Looking at successful and innovative solutions from around the world - deploying renewable energy to make transportation and power production climate friendly.

11.45-13.15 Financing CCS deployment

Keynote holders:

Wolfgang Dirschauer, Head of Climate Policy at Vattenfall Europe

Bjørn-Erik Haugan, Managing Director, Gassnova

Gøril Aasen Slinde, Winner of Tekna and ZERO`s Student Contest

Marie Lindberg, Political advisor CCS and renewables, ZERO

Topic: In the enormous endeavor of introducing CCS as a mainstream climate measure worldwide, we need to assure that deployment of CCS demonstration projects take place on a large scale. One of the central questions is: Who is going to pay for it? This side event focuses on the challenges associated with financing CCS deplyment. After a few speakers we open up for a round table discussion.

13.15-14.15 Lunch

14.15-15.45:Global transportation trends

Keynote holders:

Shannon Arvizu, Ph.D., Electric Vehicle Policy and Market Consultant, Founder of MissElectric.com

Katsuhiko Hirose, Project General Manager, Fuel Cell System Engeneering Division, Toyota

Topic: Zero emission zones and cities: A view of technology and policy trends for transportation.

14.15-15.45: Progress or collapse in South Africa: - What are the consequences for Norwegian Climate Policy?

Keynote holders:

Henrik Harboe, Norway`s Chief Climate Cegotiator in the International Climate Negotiations

Bård Lahn, Advisor in Friends of the Earth Norway (Naturvernforbundet)

Ketil S. Olsen, Norwegian member of Parliament (The Progress Party) and member of The Standing Comittee on Finance and Economic Affairs

Marianne Marthinsen, Norwegian member of Parliament (The Labour Party) and member of The Standing Comittee on Energy and the Environment

Arild Underdal, Professor at the University of Oslo / CICERO

Kristian Tangen, Consultant

Moderator: Ingrid Næss Holm, Advisor in Norwegian Church Aid

Topic: Chances of agreeing on a legally binding deal to tackle climate change in South Africa have been dismissed by the EU and the US. The Kyoto Protocol risks collapse due to lack of support beyond 2012. What will happen in South Africa and what are the implications for Norwegian Climate Policies?

About the conference and ZERO

Since its humble beginnings in 2006, the annual Zero Emission Conference has grown to become the largest meeting place in Norway for all who are committed to finding solutions to the climate challenge. The conference now draws nearly a thousand participants to a two-day programme with some of the key Norwegian and international players on climate change issues. We have a professional focus, and our broad approach with good solutions for all emission sectors is reflected in the programme.The climate change issue needs and arena where all parties can meet, across differences in background and interests. The Zero Emission Conference is such an arena, where business leaders, politicians, decision makers in the public sector, researchers and environmentalists can meet to find common solutions to the greatest challenge of our time.

The Zero Emission Conference is organized by the Norwegian environmental foundation Zero Emission Resource Organization (ZERO), an independent, non-profit, non-government organization dedicated exclusively to developing and promoting workable solutions to combat global warming. Our approach is scientifically founded and aimed towards constructive solutions, both technological and political, favoring dialog and positive influence over conflict and protests. ZERO has established programs on almost all emission sectors, including power generation, transport, energy production and agriculture.

For more information please contact Irene McIntyre Kristensen, irene@zero.no