What’s the goal of Europe’s Energy Earthshot?
We are in the race of our lives to combat climate change and transition to clean energy.
The goal of Europe’s Energy Earthshot is to mobilise whole-of-system support around the highest priority policy reforms, corporate norms and behaviours, technological innovations and community- and country-level actions.
We can connect the dots among solutions and across the energy system to urgently deliver a just transition for Europe. Together, let’s find common ground, unlock leadership across the system and catalyse momentum towards a clean energy future.
What’s at stake for Europe?
Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine is a human tragedy and threat to freedom everywhere. It also threatens Europe’s ambition to lead the global fight against climate change.
People are struggling, and political leaders are understandably focused on the short term. Inflation, energy prices and cost of living are up. EU states are scrambling to ration natural gas until the spring.
But short-term decisions will have long-term implications for Europe and the world. This summer’s record heat is a reminder of where our fossil fuel consumption is taking us — and the inheritance we are leaving future generations.
Can European leaders work alongside all stakeholders to co-create a clean energy future? Will Europe live up to its promise as a global climate leader?
What are the details?
On October 26-28, diverse stakeholders from across Europe will gather virtually for Europe’s Energy Earthshot, a whole-of-system design process for catalysing Europe's energy transformation. Participants will dream bigger, lead with their strengths and act collectively.
The format is unconventional because the times through which we are living are unprecedented. Rather than keynotes and panel discussions, Europe's Energy Earthshot will gather energy suppliers and users — including policymakers, business and NGO executives, union representatives and frontline workers, young people, investors, entrepreneurs, climate and energy experts, community leaders and more — to ideate together, elevate meaningful solutions and commit to collective action.
What makes this process different?
Collective problem-solving in Europe is nothing new. Convenings, big and small, focus on Europe’s energy future; however, efforts are sometimes pursued in silos and fail to meaningfully engage the full breadth of stakeholders.
Europe’s Energy Earthshot will bring together the “whole system” in a radically collaborative process, oriented towards collective action and underpinned by a strengths-based engagement model known as Appreciative Inquiry.
Appreciative Inquiry departs from traditional deficit-based change and employs a positive, strengths-based approach to change. Rather than seeking to overcome or minimise systemic weaknesses, Appreciative Inquiry leverages a system's core strengths; it is neither a “top down” nor “bottom up” change process but a “whole system” approach.
Appreciative Inquiry has been used globally in a range of contexts, including the creation of the UN Global Compact Principles.
What if scheduling conflicts prevent me from participating in all three sessions?
We ask participants to commit to joining all three afternoon sessions (26, 27 and 28 October). Each session will build on the last; participants will get the most out of the process if they have the full experience and understanding of how the co-creation has evolved.
Appreciative Inquiry design processes typically run three full days; in the interest of participants’ time, Europe’s Energy Earthshot will cover considerable ground across three afternoon sessions. Each day builds on the previous day. We request that participants do all they can to join us for the full time.
Who is behind Europe’s Energy Earthshot?
The B Team, in collaboration with a coalition of fearless female leaders from business, politics and civil society, are the catalysers and designers behind Europe’s Energy Earthshot. Many have contributed to this effort. We would like to thank the following for their insight and guidance in mobilising this effort:
Ajay Banga, executive chair, Mastercard; vice-chair; General Atlantic
Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations
Amy Meek, co-founder, Kids Against Plastic
Ana Strunabregar, CEO, Slovenia Sustainable Business Network
Andre Hoffmann, vice chair, Roche Holding AG
Andrew Liveris, chair emeritus and former CEO, Dow Chemical
Ane Aurora Skjølberg Serreli, UN Youth Delegate
Arianna Huffington, founder & CEO, Thrive Global
Bisi Williams, Chief Insights & Analytics Officer, Massive Change Network
Camilla Toulmin, Senior Fellow for Sustainable Energy, The Africa-Europe Foundation (AEF)
Camille Putois, CEO, Business for Inclusive Growth
Cathy Yitong Li, Ambassador, COP26 OneStepGreener Ambassador
Christiana Figueres, founding partner, Global Optimism; convenor, Mission 2020
Christina Lampe Onnerud, Founder and CEO, Cazenove Innovation
David Crane, Climate Real Impact Solutions (CRIS)
Dr. Edda Sif Pind Aradóttir, CEO, Carbfix
Elizabeth Cousens, CEO, UN Foundation
Emmanuel Faber, chair, International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB)
Ester Baiget, president & CEO, Novozymes
Gillian Caldwell, Climate Change Coordinator & Deputy Assistant Administrator, USAID
Graziela Chaluppe dos Santos Malucelli, COO & executive vice president, Novozymes
Guilherme Leal, co-founder and co-Chair, Natura &Co
Hafsat Abiola, Executive President, Women in Africa
Hamdi Ulukaya, founder, chair & CEO, Chobani
Hiro Mizuno, UN Special Envoy on Innovative Finance and Sustainable Investments
Ilham Kadri, CEO & president of the executive committee, Solvay
Inga Beale, Former CEO, Lloyds of London
Isabelle Kocher, former CEO, Engie
Jean Oelwang, founding CEO & president, Virgin Unite
Jeanette Mwendwa Gitobu, director, Women in Wind Global Leadership Program
Jennifer Layke, global director, Energy Program, World Resources Institute
Jesper Brodin, CEO, Ingka Group (IKEA); chair, The B Team
Jochen Zeitz, president, CEO & chair, Harley-Davidson, Inc.; co-founder, The B Team
Joseph D. Kenner, president & CEO, Greyston
Judith Kirton-Darling, deputy general secretary, IndustriALL Global Union
Julie Anding, vice president and chief human resources officer, Harley Davidson, Inc.
Karen Pflug, chief sustainability officer, IKEA
Kate Hampton, CEO, CIFF
Kathy Calvin, former president & CEO, UN Foundation
Laurence Breton, chief of staff, European Climate Foundation
Leslie Johnston, CEO, Laudes
Lindsay Levin, CEO, Leaders Quest
Lisa Witter, CEO, Apolitical
Liza Chong, CEO, The Index Project
Mabel Van Oranje, Trustee, Girls not Brides
Malini Mehra, chief executive, Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment
Marc Benioff, co-founder, chair & co-CEO, Salesforce
María Mendiluce, CEO, We Mean Business
Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland and chair, The Elders
Mats Granryd, director general, GSMA
May Boeve, executive director, 350.org
Mette Morsing, head of principles for responsible management education, UN Global Compact
Dr. Mo Ibrahim, founder, Celtel; founder & chair, Mo Ibrahim Foundation
Professor Muhammad Yunus, chair, Yunus Centre
Muriel Pénicaud, Ambassador, OECD
Nadia Crisan, executive director, Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination, Princeton University
Oliver Bäte, CEO, Allianz
Pat Mitchell, editorial director, TEDWomen
Paul Polman, business leader, campaigner and co-author of “Net Positive”
Richard Branson, founder, Virgin Group; co-founder, The B Team
Roebyem Anders, co-founder and chief mission officer, Sungevity International
Sanda Ojiambo, CEO & executive director, United Nations Global Compact
Sandra Ortiz Diaz, executive, BMW Foundation
Sarah Berhalter, partner, Boston Consulting Group
Sharan Burrow, general secretary, International Trade Union Confederation; vice-chair, The B Team
Shevaun Haviland, director general, British Chambers of Commerce
Torben Möger Pedersen, CEO, PensionDanmark
Tricia Keller, director of partnerships and strategic initiatives, Virgin Unite
Ursula Woodburn, programme director, CLG Europe
Van Jones, CNN contributor and founder, Dream Corps
Vladislav Kaim, UN Secretary General’s Youth Advisor on Climate Change, Ingka Young Leaders Forum Member
Wanjira Mathai, vice president & regional director for Africa, World Resources Institute
Yolanda Kakabadse, former president, World Wildlife Fund International
Zhang Yue, chair & founder, Broad Group China
Zhilin Xiao, founder, Change Makers Network