Lab 6 - Joining forces: Public-private collaborations for the environment

9 November 2021, 14.30-16.30 - Room 6 – Palais de l’Europe

Interpretation: FR/EN

The urgent threat of climate change is spurring governments at all levels to increase the ambition of their adaptation and mitigation measures. These measures require substantial investments in environmentally sound technologies and resilient infrastructure, and this is where public actors may often find themselves constrained by limited budgets or procedural delays. In such cases, public-private partnerships can play an important role.

Cross-sectoral cooperation can allow for improved access to experimentation and ingenuity, to funding and economies of scale, as well as better-informed decision-making in project management. But is it possible to genuinely promote the interests of both public and private stakeholders when planning and implementing these projects? What are the most important questions to consider when leveraging private investments into public projects? And what about the interests and well-being of affected communities?

Lab 6 - Joining forces: Public-private collaborations for the environment

Full screen: EN / FR / ORIGINAL

Room 6 – Palais de l’Europe 9 November 2021, 14.30-16.30

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Photos © Pascal Bastien

initiative 1

Green Deal Business and Biodiversity, Belgium

The Green Deal Business and biodiversity is a partnership between governments, companies, NGO’s and universities to increase biodiversity in business parks. The deals’ aim is to raise awareness and support for ecological (re)design and management of company grounds. All organizations that signed up for Green Deal made a commitment to either re-design a piece of land that they own or lease; or to help another organization to do just that. The goals of this Green Deal are: Raising the ecological value in business parks by creating permanent and temporary nature, Raising the support base for nature in different target groups like, local and regional governments, businesses, project developers, industry organizations, higher education, landscapers, etc.; Improving the wellbeing of employees, as well as improving the image towards customers and suppliers; Knowledge building, education and training through the setup of a learning network; Participation of employees when designing buildings and company grounds; Participation of businesses in biodiversity policy.

Presenter(s)

Arne DANEELS

Coordinator, Green Deals

Belgium

Arne Daneels is policy advisor to the Flemish government on environmental matters and greening the economy. In 2014, he was one of the founders of the Flemish Green Deals. This concept stimulates more than 1200 companies and organizations to work together towards a more sustainable future. When he is not working, he loves spending time with his family, mountain biking and making radio shows. Using his experience in corporate environmental strategies and green economy concepts, Arne is currently prepping the Green Deals for a bright future.

Niels WILLO

Policy officer, Flemish Green Deal Business and Biodiversity Project, Flemish Green Deal Natural Gardens Project

Belgium

Niels Willo works for the Flemish government as policy officer for biodiversity, urban nature and green infrastructure. He focuses on improving impact and broadening stakeholder engagement with respect to environmental matters. Between September 2018 and October 2021, Niels was part of the Flemish Green Deal Business and Biodiversity Project. Since November 2020, he is in charge of the Flemish Green Deal Natural Gardens Project. Both initiatives promote creating a more innovative, inclusive and green economy.

initiative 2

Together is sustainable, Finland

Micropolis Ltd is a small not-for-profit development company boosting green growth in the north and specially in its home town Ii. In the town of Ii with its 10 000 inhabitants in the north of Finland they have cut down the carbon emissions by 80 %, and produce energy ten times more than they consume – all by renewable energies only. At the same time they created growth: jobs, investments and income. They have been able to cut down the city taxation because of profitable climate actions. Decision-makers created hands on the roadmap with goals and aims, and citizens and officers defined – and keep defining – what they do and how. Micropolis Ltd is flexible and everyone is welcomed to take part in the planning and realization of the climate work.

Presenter(s)

Ari ALATOSSAVA

Mayor of Ii

Finland

He has worked as a mayor of Ii town for seven years. Before that he worked 15 years as a CEO of business and regional development companies. He has an expertice in regional development issues and sustainable development acitivities in communities.

Johannes HELAMA

Project manager, Micropolis

Finland

Johannes Helama, Project Manager, Micropolis Ltd., Open Agenda project, funded by the Ministry of Finance in Finland. Open Agenda combines inclusive strategic decision-making and the development of digital services into a single entity. It is important that citizens feel that their participation is meaningful, that it is not done for the administration, but to genuinely improve citizen's everyday lives. Micropolis Ltd. with expertise on green energy and environment in the municipality of Ii in Finland won the European Commission's RegioStars Award 2017 category in Energy Union / climate change.

initiative 3

ROW Negotiations in infrastructure projects for sustainable development, India

The goal of this initiative is to strengthen public consultation in large scale projects which may have an impact on environmentally sensitive areas. These may include, mining, construction of highways, power transmission, large scale construction projects, establishment of manufacturing units, hydro-electric power projects and dams etc. The initiative focuses on projects that have environmental impact or displacement of people or animals such as projects that pass-through forests, national parks and other environmentally sensitive areas. The participants of this initiative are the companies that are implementing the infrastructure project, the local people of the affected areas, caretaker of these areas, persons who may claim that their culture and heritage may be affected and other persons whose stakes are involved.

Presenter(s)

Kritika KRISHNAMURTHY

Director, Bridge Policy Think Tank

India

Kritika Krishnamurthy is a Fellow of United Nations 1325 Women in Conflict by Beyond Borders Scotland. She is author of a best-selling book on mediation in India. She is winner of BW Business World 40 under 40, Future Legal Leaders 2020 and Forbes Legal Powerlist 2021 awards. Her focus area in policy is and promotion of digitization of indigenous handlooms and artefacts of India for empowerment of MSME and cultural preservation. She is a mediator with World Bank and one of the trainers for the mediation training of Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Government of India.

Anuroop OMKAR

Director of Bridge Policy Think Tank

India

Anuroop Omkar is a mediator with World Bank, United Nations and allied programs. He is the youngest globally and first Indian ever to be nominated as Distinguished Fellow to International Academy of Mediators. He is a consultant with World Bank on the Raising and Accelerating MSMEs Project in India. His book “The Art of Negotiation and Mediation – Wishbone, Funny bone and a Backbone” published by LexisNexis is a Bar Council of India recommended textbook for law students. Through Bridge Policy Think Tank, Anuroop is presently focusing on issues such as ESG apart from promoting community mediation and partnerships in infrastructure projects.

Discussants

Discussants are invited to take part in the Labs in order to share their experience with the presented democratic initiatives and try to bring broader perspectives to the following discussions.

Clara BOTTO

WFD Youth Delegate

Brazil

I've been actively involved in sustainable development initiatives in Rio de Janeiro for the past years, having been the creative director of the artivism movement LivMundi Brota and directed documentaries about migration, education and the climate crisis. I’ve taken part in movements such as the Youth Assembly (United Nations), Global Development Leadership Seminars (IMF, World Bank), Gaia Education, Climate Reality, and the Economy of Francesco. I have a bachelor’s in Business and Creative Economy, and I’m now a master’s student in International Development and Public Policy at Nova School of Business and Economics in Lisbon, as I wish to act in the regeneration of global politics and find ways to improve the Democracy we know until today.

Cybèle SCHNEIDER

Legal Intern in Climate Justice, Bread for all

Switzerland

Legal Intern on Climate Justice at Bread for all At bread for all, Cybèle is working on different climate justice initiatives and projects including research on legal avenues to bring climate justice to people from the Global South together with partner organisations in the region. She holds a Master in International Law from the University of St. Gallen, where she wrote a Master’s thesis titled: "Preventing Climate Change and its Consequences on Human Rights: Does a positive legal corporate obligation exist?“ Previously, she has been working in and around the Council of Europe on several occasions. She was the Swiss Youth Delegate at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe in 2018 and she undertook an academic internship at the Swiss Permanent Representation to the Council of Europe in 2017.

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