Programme 15 November 2018

  • 07:30 - 09:00
    REGISTRATION
    Badges are handed out and coffee is available at the foyer areas.
    09:00 - 09:10
    Opening - Plenary Hall D
    Conference Facilitators- Corinna Millborn and Peter Woodward
    Christoph BadeltKate RaworthTim Jackson - (c) Louise Haywood-Schiefer
    09:10 - 10:30 | Plenary Hall D
    Perspectives and Pathways ahead
    Christoph Badelt
    Director of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research and o.Univ.Prof. at the Institute for Social Policy Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU)
    Tim Jackson
    Professor of Sustainable Development at the University of Surrey; Director of the Centre for the Understanding of Sustainable Prosperity (CUSP)
    Kate Raworth
    Senior Visiting Research Associate at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute; Senior Associate at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
    Talk title: From Growing to Thriving: 21st century human prosperity
    10:30 - 11:00 | Foyer
    COFFEEBREAK
    Coffee and drinks are available at the foyer areas.
  • Michaela MoserWillibald Cernko
    11:00 - 12:30 | Plenary Hall D
    Special Session: Where People Matter
    Michaela Moser, Senior Researcher and Lecturer at the Ilse-Arlt-Institute on Social Inclusion at St. Poelten University of Applied Sciences
    Willibald Cernko, Chief Risk Officer of ERSTE Group Bank AG
    Moderation: Fred Luks, Head of the Competence Center for Sustainability, Vienna University of Economics and Business

    With three speakers from varying fields of expertise this session will cover a wide range of issues in the context of human needs and constraints. The speakers will explore drivers of change and transformation like innovation, design and risk in the social and ecological field alike. The combination of speakers and their background guarantees an interesting and broad discourse on the topic.

    Organised by: Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism

    KettnerKurt van DenderMikael Andersen
    11:00 - 12:30 | K1
    Fiscal Reform for a Low Carbon Transition

    Environmental economics advocates for decades for market-based approaches to reduce negative environmental externalities. Climate change has given new impetus to use price-based instruments to curb CO2 emissions. This session sheds light on experience from countries with carbon taxation regarding barriers and success factors and presents ex-post evaluation of the environmental, economic and social effects of a socio-ecological tax reform. First thoughts on whether long-termism of climate change would call for alternative taxation concepts (focusing on stocks) are discussed. In addition, simulation results for carbon taxes in Austria are presented. The session features short presentations followed by a discussion format where the audience is grouped into advocates of different interests.

    Mikael Skou Andersen, Professor, Aarhus University
    “Institutional Framework for a Socio-Ecological Tax Reform”

    Kurt van Dender, Head of the Tax and Environment Unit, Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Devolpment
    “Effects of a Socio-Ecological Tax Reform”

    Angela Köppl, Senior Researcher, Austrian Institute of Economic Research
    “First thoughts on New Approaches for Socio-Ecological Tax Reform”

    Claudia Kettner-Marx, Researcher, Austrian Institute of Economic Research
    “Carbon Taxes and Income Distribution: Simulation Results for Austria”

    Moderation: Margit Schratzenstaller-Altzinger, Deputy Director of the Austrian Institute of Economic Research

    Format: Short presentations and fish bowl discussion

    Organised by: Austrian Institute of Economic Research

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    11:00 - 12:30 | G1
    To Live Better with Less
    Ruzica Luketina, Member of the Community of Interest of Austrian Foodcoops
    Kim Aigner, Assistance to the Management, SOL - People for Solidarity, Ecology and Lifestyle
    Johannes Freudenthaler, Founder of Carsharing 24/7
    Patrizia Ilda Valentini, Assistant Manager Communication, Renault Austria GmbH

    Moderator: Ines Omann, Senior Researcher, Institute for Ecological Economics, Vienna University of Economics and Business

    An interactive workshop on the topic of sufficiency will be organized by the Environment Agency Austria and the Vienna University of Economics and Business. The topic will be presented using two example topics: mobility and nutrition. At the beginning, the concept of sufficiency will be highlighted. Afterwards, two speakers per topic will give an insight into their approaches and their experiences. Based on these impulses, questions are further discussed in group works.

    Organised by: Environment Agency Austria, Vienna University of Economics and Business

    PlaceholderSinem Demir
    11:00 - 12:30 | B2
    Companies taking action to meet SDG 13
    Towards a low-carbon economy by setting science-based-targets
    Lukas Meyer, Professor for Philosophy, Section for Moral and Political Philosophy,University of Graz
    Alexander Farsan, Global Lead on Science Based Targets, WWF
    Martin Bruckner, Chief Investment Officer, Spokesperson of the Board of Allianz Investmentbank AG and Board Member of Allianz Pensionskasse AG, Allianz Austria
    Peter Eitzenberger, Head of Corporate Sustainability, VBV-Vorsorgekasse AG
    Irene Jakobi, Head of Corporate Sustainability, A1 Telekom Austria Group
    Verena Anger, Sustainability Manager, Gugler GmbH

    Moderation: Gillian Martin Mehers, Capacity Development Practitioner, Bright Green Learning

    The UN Sustainable Development Goal #13 calls for urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Together with the WWF CLIMATE GROUP, WWF Austria takes action with committed company leaders. This session highlights current challenges and solutions as well as ways in which companies can positively influence climate protection beyond their company borders. The session will also engage audience members to participate in the discussion through a dedicated App.

    Organised by: World Wide Fund For Nature Austria

    Barbara KreisslerHalliki KreininKate RaworthPatrick ten BrinkToni Ribas
    11:00 - 12:30 | K2
    A Positive Post-Growth Scenario for Europe
    The x ways to make a post-growth society work

    Kate Raworth, Senior Visiting Research Associate at Oxford University’s Environmental Change Institute; Senior Associate at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership
    Patrick ten Brink, EU Policy Director, European Environmental Bureau (EEB)
    Toni Ribas Bravo, Ecology Group Coordinator, Barcelona en Comú
    Halliki Kreinin, PhD Student and Research Assistant, Institute for Ecological Economics, Vienna University of Economics and Business
    Barbara Kreissler, Director of Professional Lighting, Public & Government Affairs, Signify

    Facilitator - Peter Woodward

    A warning cry to humanity by 20.000 scientists says the Earth’s biosphere is on the brink of collapse. Material extraction tripled in four decades. In Europe, GDP grows together with poverty. The 20.000 scientists call for divestments, ending fossil fuel subsidies and reducing wealth inequality. Saying NO is not enough – we need a positive post-growth scenario to deal with growing resentment against rising inequalities and environmental damages that affect the quality of life.

    Organized by: EU Environmental Bureau, European Environmental Bureau (EEB)

    12:30 - 13:50
    LUNCH
    The lunch buffet is available at hall X2.
  • Hans Bruyninckx
    13:50 - 15:20 | Plenary Hall D
    Special Session
    Elaborating the Call for Action
    Hans Bruyninckx, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency
    Moderation: Corinna Milborn and Peter Woodward, Conference Facilitators

    The “Call for Action” will be a résumé of the findings from the plenary sessions as well as from the interactive formats of the breakout sessions and will be transmitted to the European Commission. The draft of the “Call to Action” will be elaborated by the EAA together with the GiT Steering Committee and will be presented at the conference. Then, the findings of the conference will be discussed with all participants at this break-out session, in particular with the participating youth, and will be included in the paper. This “Call for Action” will comprise the main conclusions of the conference in matters of policy options and priorities to be set as next steps as well as an outlook to future activities of the Growth in Transition Initiative.

    Organised by: Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism
    StockerPlaceholderNakicenovicHaas
    13:50 - 15:20 | K1
    The SDGs as Compass for Transformation
    Nebojsa Nakicenovic, Deputy Director, The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA)
    “Transformation for Sustainable Futures”
    Panel:
    Andrea Stocker, Researcher, Sustainable Research Institute Europe
    Daniela Kletzan-Slamanig, Senior Researcher, Austrian Institute of Economic Research
    Willi Haas, Senior Researcher, Institute of Social Ecology, University of Natural Ressources and Life Sciences Vienna
    Moderation: Beate Littig, Head of the division Socio-Ecological Transformation Research, Institue for Advanced Studies

    The challenges related to achieving the UN SDGs require fundamental transformation processes. Whereas the SDGs have been globally accepted as political targets, more research is still needed in order to provide a knowledge base for their successful implementation. One of the pressing questions is how to deal with synergies and trade-offs between the different SDGs and the corresponding sub-targets as will be addressed in the keynote of this session. The panel discussion takes up these aspects and puts the focus on Austria.

    Organised by: Austrian Institute of Economic Research
    Rosemarie Stangl
    13:50 - 15:20 | G1
    Bioeconomy – Designed by All of Us
    Rosemarie Stangl, Professor of Soil Bioengineering and Landscape Construction, University of Natural Ressources and Life Sciences Vienna
    Moderation: Ines Omann, Senior researcher a Institute for Ecological Economics, Vienna University of Economics and Business

    While the term “bioeconomy” refers to an economy based on natural biotic resources, its exact meaning leaves ample room for interpretation, so that different people speak very different things when relating to the concept. Based on the used definition, the implications that arise vary significantly in their range. Together we want to collaborate on an environmentally friendly and socially-inclusive approach to bioeconomy and offer a definition as a necessary precondition for a common understanding, which shall trigger a fruitful debate. Thereby we identify possible conflicts in the use of scarce resources and discuss challenges, risks as well as opportunities for sustainable pathways of the notion of a biobased economy. By asking participants to offer their individual contribution and understanding we hope to explore how a sustainable bioeconomy can look like.

    Organised by: Ecosocial Forum, Vienna University of Economics and Business, Center for Social Innovation, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna
    WahlmüllerPablo SolónStaglPlaceholderLeodolter
    13:50 - 15:20 | K2
    A just transition to a low carbon economy – the role of labour and civil society

    Sigrid Stagl, Vienna University of Economics and Business
    Panel:
    Sylvia Leodolter, Chamber of Labour
    Pablo Solón Romero, Fundación Solón
    Johannes Wahlmüller, GLOBAL 2000
    Susi Haslinger, social policy expert, PRO-GE

    Moderation: Alexandra Strickner, Attac

    EU leaders have not only agreed to cut greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40% (compared to 1990 levels) by 2030. The EU is also committed to reducing emissions by 80-95% by 2050. The road to a low-carbon economy will have major effects on workers’ jobs, livelihoods and consumption patterns. To minimize hardship, international organisations such as ILO and ITUC make use of the framework of “just transition”. This requires social dialogue and the democratic participation of stakeholders.

    Organised by: Chamber of Labour Vienna, Attac, GLOBAL 2000, PRO-GE

    Passer AlexanderHabertGetzinger GünterLindblom JosefinaLützkendorf
    13:50 - 15:20 | B2
    The Built Environment in Transition
    Adaptation of Production and Consumption Patterns in the D-A-CH region

    Josefina Lindblom, DG Environment, European Commision
    Thomas Lützkendorf, Director of the Centre for Real Estate at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
    Guillaume Habert, Chair of Sustainable Construction, ETH Zürich
    Alexander Passer, Professor for Sustainable Construction at Graz University of Technology
    Oskar Mair am Tinkhof, Salzburg Institute for Regional Planning and Housing
    Günter Getzinger, Professor at Graz University of Technology

    The aim of the session is to underline the need for a transformation of the built environment. Due to economic importance of the construction and real estate sector covering our human needs for shelter and infrastructure, the anthropogenic material flows and the high energy demand as well as the associated emissions, there is a great need for action in the direction of sustainable development. To tackle these challenges in the sense of the Global Grand Challenges, UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and the Paris Climate Agreement, a paradigm shift is needed in the construction industry (planers and contractors), on the part of procurers (public and private investors, real estate sector) as well as on the demand side (user needs and user behaviour).

    Organised by: Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Research, Graz University of Technology, ETH Zürich, Karlsruher Institute fof Technology (KIT) und Alliance of Sustainable Universities in Austria

    15:20 - 15:50 | Foyer
    COFFEEBREAK
    Coffee and drinks are available at the foyer areas.
  • Presentation of Call for Action and Conclusion
    Brenda KingChristoph Thun HohensteinFrans TimmermansHans Bruyninckx
    15:50 - 17:05 | Plenary Hall D
    Call to Action and Key Messages

    Key Messages of the Parallel sessions
    Peter Woodward, Facilitator

    Presentation of Call to Action
    Hans Bruyninckx, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency

    Call to Action, PDF Sounding Board – Stakeholder Panel Discussion on the emerging “Call to Action”

    Brenda King,Chief Executive of ‘African & Caribbean Diversity’, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) and Former President of the Sustainable Development Observatory

    Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the European Commission

    Christoph Thun Hohenstein, General Director and Artistic Director, Austrian Museum of Applied Arts / Contemporary Art; Head, Vienna Biennale, Vienna

    Frans Timmermans
    17:05 - 17:20 | Plenary Hall D
    Closing speech

    Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the European Commission

    Elisabeth Köstinger
    17:20 - 17:30 | Plenary Hall D
    Thanks and farewell
    Elisabeth Köstinger, Federal Minister for Sustainability and Tourism of Austria
    17:30
    End