06-02, 11:30–11:55 (Europe/Prague), Root Stage
Can we address the climate crisis, and keep our planet safe and green? This is a journey through the state of our climate and the latest developments in the energy transition, framed in a positive narrative of empowerment and opportunity.
Today, the climate crisis is the biggest threat to the continued survival of humanity. Climate scientists and energy-transition experts face the challenge of communicating the urgency of the situation in a way that brings as many people as possible on board as part of the solution without falling into doom and gloom narratives that can cause audiences to disconnect and lose hope. This talk will provide a short introduction into the current state of the climate crisis and share the (social) innovations and technological breakthroughs in the energy transition that show that effective action is not just possible and effective, but can also empower people and bring them together. If you're in the mood for some exciting climate and energy facts, and are looking for an optimistic perspective, this is the talk for you!
Anika Nicolaas Ponder leads the Climate and Innovation Department at the Institute for Climate protection, Energy and Mobility (IKEM), a non-profit think tank in Berlin. She has over fifteen years of experience in research at the intersection of climate action, communication, diversity and gender equality. She specialises in the opportunities for social empowerment and engagement arising from the energy transition, as well as innovative formats for climate communication.
The projects for which Anika has been responsible at IKEM include the annual IKEM Academy, the award-winning Infographic Energy Transition Coloring Book, as well as a project to visualise and disseminate the results of the WindNODE project. She also led the Baltic InteGrid project, which analysed the potential of a transnational offshore power grid in the Baltic Sea.
Anika studied at the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences and completed a Master’s degree in Economics and Development at the Sorbonne, Paris. Her academic career is complemented by extensive professional experience in international organisations, such as the OSCE Mission in Kosovo and the United Nations, where she worked on topics linked to sustainable development, among others. She speaks four languages.
Dàmir Belltheus Avdic is Head of the Climate and Innovation Department at the Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility in Berlin. He specialises in socio-economic analyses of green energy, especially offshore-wind electricity and green fuels.
Dàmir leads the international project BOWE2H and coordinates the Europe-Ukraine Energy Transition Hub (EUETH), for which he recently authored a series of studies on the reconstruction and transformation of the Ukrainian energy sector. He has also been involved in numerous studies dealing with the social and economic aspects of climate-protection measures, such as the introduction of ammonia as a fuel for shipping.
He studied History at the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne and holds a BSc in Economics & Business from the University of Amsterdam and a Master’s degree in International Relations from Sciences Po Paris. He speaks eight languages.