Ms. Elisabetta Gualmini, MEP and Chair of the European Parliament Ceramics Forum (EPCF), hosted the EPCF Breakfast Debate on the topic: “From energy crisis towards climate neutrality: drivers and challenges”, on Wednesday 24 May, from 08h00-09h30, at the Members’ Salon, in the European Parliament, Brussels, Belgium.
As illustrated in the Ceramic Roadmap to 2050: Continuing our Path to Climate Neutrality, the European ceramic industry plays an important role in the implementation of the Green Deal throughout its numerous and strategic value chains and thanks to its global champions (mostly SMEs) providing over 200.000 direct local jobs in virtually all EU Member States. As described in the document, the European ceramic industry has the ambition to reach climate neutrality by 2050. The methods, including the alternative energy needs and technologies are also proposed and presented in detail.
However, the current energy crisis and, in particular, the abrupt price increase of natural gas is contributing to the challenges in the decarbonisation process. Can it also become an opportunity for the industry to intensify its on-going efforts? The drivers and obstacles to the path towards climate neutrality, as well as the potential needs for alternative energy sources, were discussed during the EPCF Breakfast Debate.
Please find below the Programme of the event:
Welcome Speech
MEP Elisabetta Gualmini, Chair of the EPCF, Member of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, European Parliament
Guest Speakers
MEP Maria da Graça Carvalho, Member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, European Parliament
Matthew Baldwin, Deputy Director General, DG ENERGY, European Commission
James Watson, Secretary-General, EUROGAS
Ceramic Industry Representatives
Armando Cafiero, Managing Director, Confindustria Ceramica
Johan van der Biest, COO, Wienerberger AG