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The Green Way 2024: in review
AmCham EU’s ‘The Green Way: growing sustainable supply chains’ conference took place on Tuesday, 23 January 2024 and explored how we can maximise the benefits of the tools available to swiftly enable the green transition. Whether it was through international environmental reporting standards, access to capital or more, attendees learned what needs to happen to modernise our approach to sustainability. Read more about what we learned throughout the day.
Welcoming everyone was Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU and Liam Benham (Boeing), Chair, AmCham EU who both emphasised the need for an openness to technology, funding and transatlantic cooperation.
The first panel focused on the Green Transatlantic Marketplace and how we can modernise our approach to sustainability. Panelists covered the need for clear joint standards for clean technologies, transatlantic collaboration for research and development, and the need for public-private partnerships. The panel featured Matthias Jorgensen, Head of Unit, USA and Canada, Directorate-General for Trade, European Commission; Ann Mettler, Vice-President, Europe, Breakthrough Energy and LeAnn Ridgeway, Chief Sustainability Officer, Collins Aerospace. Moderating the panel was Hosuk Lee-Makiyama, Director, European Centre for International Political Economy. By supporting the green transatlantic marketplace through frameworks like the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), we can accelerate a global green transition and avoid unintended trade barriers.
After a short coffee break, attendees were welcomed by Daniel Michaels, Brussels Bureau Chief, The Wall Street Journal for a panel discussion focused on digital solutions for sustainable growth. The conversation was drawn towards the growing importance of artificial intelligence and the need to use digital tools to gather data to modernise energy systems. During the panel we heard from Vincent Berutto, Head of Unit, Digitalisation, Competitiveness, Research and Innovation, Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission; Miapetra Kumpula-Natri, MEP (S&D, FI); Jake Oster, Director, Energy and Environment Policy, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Amazon Web Services and Maria Spyraki, MEP (EPP, EL).
Following the lunch break Allyson Anderson Book, Chief Sustainability Officer, Baker Hughes; Peter Handley, Deputy Director-General and Chief Standardisation Officer, Energy Intensive Industries, Raw Materials, Hydrogen, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, European Commission; Przemek Kowalski, Senior Trade Policy Analyst, OECD and Maria-Antoinetta Simons, Deputy Chief, Cabinet of Tinne Van der Straeten, Belgian Minister of Energy took to the stage to discuss global cooperation on responsible supply chains and the green transition. De-risking, diversifying and being inclusive to everyone along the supply chain were some of the solutions covered. Moderating the panel was Ricardo Borges de Castro, Associate Director and Head, Europe in the World Programme, European Policy Centre. By avoiding unnecessary administrative and regulatory burdens, industry can be given the investment certainty it needs to secure the green transition through a reliable supply of Critical Raw Materials.
Closing the conference was a conversation around how to finance the green transition. Joining our moderator, Heather Grabbe, Senior Fellow, Bruegel, was David Henry Doyle, Vice-President, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Europe, Middle East and Africa, S&P Global; Norine Kennedy, Senior Vice-President, Policy and Global Strategy, United States Council for International Business and Martin Spolc, Head of Unit, Sustainable Finance, Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union, European Commission. From the panel, it was clear strong capital markets and harmonised cross border rules are needed for us to reach environmental targets. Following the discussions, attendees enjoyed a networking reception and showcasing of the Green Way Campaign.
From environmental programs, health initiatives and beyond, American companies are committed to investing in people and communities across Europe. Check out our Invested in Europe platform for examples of how American companies are driving the green transition across Europe.