Programme

The BEACON Final Conference is a culmination of the last three years of inspired climate action work carried out on the local level in schools and municipalities in seven countries across Europe. The conference will serve as a final meeting point for all project participants to share best practices, network, and get inspired for climate action in the years to come.  

The BEACON Final Conference will address topics ranging from scaling up energy management, to kickstarting and continuing a mobility transition, to designing successful incentives for renovations of schools and municipal buildings, to raising awareness for climate action in schools and among the wider public, and the future landscape of EU-financing and more. In this current era, the discussions, talks and presentations will be underpinned by the notion of a green recovery and how this can translate into local level initiatives.  

Below you can find the preliminary agenda. The agenda will be continually updated as speakers are confirmed. A PDF version of the agenda is found here.

June 16 - Day 1

Moderation: Gunnar Will, adelphi

11:30-11:50
(GMT+2)

Digital arrival: Login of participants

11:50-12:05
(GMT+2)

Conference opening: conference overview and goals
Translated into all BEACON languages

  • Gunnar Will, adelphi

12:05-12:20
(GMT+2)

Welcome Words from the German and Czech Governments
Translated into all BEACON languages

  • Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter, Parliamentary State Secretary, German Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety

  • Ing. Pavel Zámyslický, Ph.D., Director Energy and Climate Protection Department, Czech Ministry of the Environment

12:20-12:40
(GMT+2)

Keynote – "Breaking news from BEACON schools"
Translated into all BEACON languages

Students for Future. Students will report on accomplishments in their schools and make demands on politicians and local authorities.

  • Florian Kliche, UfU
  • Students from the BEACON project:
    - Ludmila Kozlova (CZ) 
    - Greta Lohrenz (DE)  
    - Daniel Parashevov (BG)  
    - Alexia Pojar (RO) 

12:40-12:50
(GMT+2)

Break

12:50-13:45
(GMT+2)

Plenary Session – Navigating Europe towards climate neutrality: progress, partnership, and pandemic
Translated into all BEACON languages. Moderation: Gunnar Will, adelphi

On the road to climate neutrality and achieving European climate ambitions, we've experienced progress and also setbacks. In this session, our panellists discuss how far we've come, how we've teamed up to get there, and how we can jointly move forward in light of pandemic recovery.

  • Silke Karcher, German Federal Ministry for the Environment
  • Leonor Folgado, Portuguese Ministry of Environment and Climate Action
  • Petra Trambova, Deputy Mayor of Pisek 
  • Dimitar Zhelev, Sofia University

13:45-14:30
(GMT+2)

Break
14:30-15:45
(GMT+2)

Parallel Sessions

  • Session A) Building a truss from beams, turning single projects into long lasting structures for climate action
  • Session B) More participation, fewer cars? Participatory approaches to reducing individual car use
  • Session C) Stepping on the scales: increasing energy management to reduce emissions Europe-wide

15:45-16:00
(GMT+2)

Break
16:00-16:15
(GMT+2)

End of the day one and outlook on day two
Moderation: Gunnar Will, adelphi

16:15-17:00
(GMT+2)

Networking: Quiz and BEACON Celebration
Only in English. Moderation: Gunnar Will, adelphi

How well do you know BEACON, Climate Action, and general trivia? In teams you will test your knowledge on fun topics with surprising questions. Enjoy this end of the day networking activity exchanging with your municipal colleagues!

  • All conference participants

 

June 17 - Day 2

10:00-10:15
(GMT+2)

Digital arrival: Login of participants

10:15-10:30
(GMT+2)

Tuning in: Getting ready for the day, a little energiser from the moderator.
Translated into all BEACON languages 

  • Gunnar Will, adelphi

10:30-11:15
(GMT+2)

Keynote: Elected representatives & students in dialogue on their vision for a climate-neutral future
Translated into all BEACON languages. Moderation: Gunnar Wil, adelphi. Moderation: Gunnar Will, adelphiModeration: Gunnar Will, adelphi

Visions for 2050 - in this session, expect personal narratives and visions on how life could look like in 30 years. Pupils will make themselves heard, claim their participation in climate action and question mayors on their climate plans.

Elected representatives:

  • Maria das Dores Meira, Mayor of Setubal
  • Kristýna Kosová, Vice-Mayor of Roznov

Students:

  • Ludmila Kozlova, Czech Republic
  • Greta Lohrenz, Germany

11:15-11:30
(GMT+2)

Break

11:30-12:30
(GMT+2)

Parallel Sessions

  • Session A) Future and hope: young people in climate action
  • Session B) Climate action is teamwork
  • Session C) Green Recovery: financing climate action in European municipalities

12:30-12:45
(GMT+2)

Break

12:45-13:30
(GMT+2)

Networking for climate action

Refreshing icebreakers and an interactive platform for exchange opens up doors to catch-up with and get to know BEACON colleagues and relevant stakeholders to lay the foundation for post-BEACON climate action.

  • All conference participants

13:30-14:00
(GMT+2)

Conference Closing
Translated into all BEACON languages. Moderation: Gunnar Will, adelphi

Post-BEACON pledges, inspirational remarks and continuation of the successful climate action undertaken during the project.

  • Vitor Aleixo, Mayor of Loulé
  • Gabriela Dirloman, Romanian teacher
  • Camille Serre, adelphi
  • Florian Kliche, UfU
  • Sarah Gül, Guidehouse