Need for Speed I. Policies to deliver more and faster

Opening plenary Monday 3 June 17.30–19.30

We are losing speed when we need to pick up speed. What policies can help us speed up savings and GHG emission cuts? And how do we do it in a just way so that all feel that they have a fair stake in the transition?

Theresa Griffin	Robert Nuij	Vivek Gilani

• Theresa Griffin, European Parliament, MEP: How do we convince citizens that all can be winners? 
• Robert Nuij, European Commission, DG Energy: Ramping up the ambitions of EU policies. Where are the opportunities. Download presentation (pdf)
  
• Vivek Gilani, cBalance Solutions Hub: Making India's home energy efficient and affordable. What can we learn? Download presentation (pdf)
  

Speaker bio's

Theresa Griffin joined the European Parliament in May 2014, representing North West England. She is a full member of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) and is Chair of the European Parliamentary Labour Party. Currently the Vice President of EUFORES, Theresa has been tackling energy poverty and campaigning for a ‘just transition’ to a carbon neutral Energy Union since joining the Parliament. She has since gone on to win the Energy MEP of the Year in 2017, testament to her dedication in this field.

From fuel poverty, regional funding, health research and the promotion of the digital single market, her commitment to equality is shown throughout her work in the European Parliament. She is also actively involved in the Parliament’s Intergroups on LGBTI, Trade Unions and Children’s Rights, to name a few.

Theresa is a committed trade unionist and has campaigned closely with unions on rights for workers and young people as well as against the far right.

Robert Nuij works for the European Commission, Directorate-General for Energy, as a Head of Sector for energy efficient products. He manages a team of about 10 officials responsible for the development and implementation of Ecodesign, Energy Labelling and Tyre Labelling legislation.

He started his career in the European Commission as a policy officer in the Directorate-General for Environment where he was involved in the development of integrated product policy and the European Eco-label.

Subsequently, he worked for the Directorate-General for Health and Consumers in the area of product safety, where he was responsible for the co-ordination of Member State market surveillance efforts, toy safety and international co-operation, in particular with China. Before becoming Head of Sector, he was working on the implementation of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive.

Prior to joining the Commission, Mr. Nuij worked as a senior consultant for an international environmental consultancy with an emphasis on environmental product policy, ecodesign and waste management.

Mr. Nuij is a Dutch national and holds a Master of Science degree in Industrial Design Engineering from the Delft University of Technology.

Vivek Gilani is an Ashoka Fellow, an Environmental Engineer with consulting experience in GHG mitigation, energy conservation, water and wastewater treatment, and a BEE Certified Energy Auditor. His is the co-founder of the India-specific carbon footprinting body for individuals: no2co2.in. He is the Director of cBalance Solutions and has been appointed for conducting GHG Inventory and Green Roadmap Development of the IPL and Shanghai World Expo by the UNEP. He is the co-creator of the ‘Fairconditioning’ program which integrates building sustainability and efficiency into architectural and HVAC-engineering curricula, architecture & HVAC consulting firms, and commercial enterprises through capacity building activities. He also works on holding elected representatives of India accountable for the promises they make by checking their performance, and letting them know they're being watched, through the efforts of the Informed Voter Project @ MumbaiVotes.com