The European Car Climate Summit: Decision time for zero emissions

This summer will be decisive for Europe’s car industry: in the months ahead, EU lawmakers will decide the date by when all new cars and vans must be zero-emissions. The EU Commission has proposed 2035 as the deadline for the last combustion engines to be sold. The European Parliament and EU governments will take the final decision by September.

Transport & Environment, Europe’s leading clean transport campaign group, will host a summit of leaders from government, industry and labour as well as environmental campaigners and consumer advocates. The half-day event will discuss what the decision will mean for:

• EU countries meeting their climate commitments - cars account for 12% of Europe’s total CO2 emissions
• Businesses, workers and consumers making the switch to electric
• The sustainability of batteries, which are essential for the green transition

Among the speakers will be president of Ford Europe, Stuart Rowley; State Secretary at Germany’s Environment Ministry, Christiane Rohleder; Italy’s Minister for Sustainable Transport and Infrastructure, Enrico Giovannini; government representatives from Spain and Poland; and chairperson of the EU Parliament’s Environment Committee, Pascal Canfin MEP. The discussions will be moderated by the Frankfurt correspondent of the Financial Times, Joe Miller.

This is a hybrid event: to secure your ‘seat’ in Madrid or online, register now. Live interpretation will be provided in French, German, Italian, Polish and Spanish.

Programme:18 May, 15:00-17:30

Welcome by the host: European Commission Representation in Madrid

Welcome by T&E: William Todts, Executive Director at Transport & Environment

Keynote speech: Pascal Canfin MEP, chairperson of Environment Committee of the European Parliament

How can EU car CO2 standards help member states meet their climate commitments?

Panel discussion with:

• Christiane Rohleder, State Secretary at the Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, Germany
• Enrico Giovannini, Minister for Sustainable Transport and Infrastructure, Italy
• Representatives of the governments of Spain and Poland (TBC)

When is the right time for business, workers and consumers to go fully electric?

Panel discussion with:

• Stuart Rowley, President of Ford Europe
• Amazon representative (TBC)
• Agustín Delgado, Chief Innovation and Sustainability Officer, Iberdrola
• Monique Goyens, Director General of BEUC
• Representative of trade unions (TBC)

How sustainable are EV batteries and their supply chains?

Panel discussion with:

• Benoit Lemaignan, CEO of Verkor
• Virginie de Chassey, Chief Sustainability and External Affairs Officer, Eramet
• Julia Poliscanova, Senior Director, Vehicles and E-Mobility, Transport & Environment
• Hydrovolt representative (TBC)

Moderator: Joe Miller, Financial Times

Host or Publisher Transport & Environment