HELIO Participation: key meetings

This workshop looked at the impacts on communities in the Mediterranean area and outlined what adaptation approaches could be taken.  HELIO gave a presentation that looked the need for cities and towns to adapt from an energy perspective. Click here to see a list of speakers and to obtain copies of the various presentations.

HELIO International, in partnership with the Global Network for Sustainable Energy and Development, hosted a side event at the UNFCCC's meeting (COP 15). Both organisations outlined their most recent work on reducing vulnerabilities to climate change. UFZ also participated. 

HELIO presented the findings from its latest project: Climate-proofing Energy Systems.  For more information about the side event and the VAR project, click here.

28 April - 3 May, 3009: Participatory Energy and Foresight

The EFONET Project aims to provide relevant policy input to the review of the EU Energy Strategy, the establishment of the Strategic Technology Plan, and implementation of the Action Plan for Energy Efficiency.  At the April workshop participants discussed the concept of Participatory energy foresight with the EU and how to overcome cultural and language barriers.  HELIO gave a presentation [PDF, 1.2 MB] on participatory foresight and governance in the energy sector. 

The European and Social Committee held a conference on the "External Costs of Energy Technologies".  The partners of the 6th Framework Programme research project "NEEDS: New Energy Externality Development for Sustainability" presented findings on external costs of various technologies, with a view to helping policy makers assess the global costs of competing technologies. The EESC members and stakeholders (of which HELIO was one) highlighted persistent uncertainties as to the quantification of social and environmental costs.  It was clear that social evaluation must complement economic assessment of energy technologies BEFORE decisions are made.

At this meeting, the EUSS Working Group was finalised the sector supplement. The EUSS is will now be reviewed by GRI's Technical Advisory Committee and Board of Directors.  Anticipated approval is expected end of March 2009 with an April 15 launch at CERES 2009 Conference in San Francisco, USA.  A European launch will be held by ENEL, May 2009 in Rome. (Update:  The Supplement is now available for public use - click on the GRI logo for more information.)

30 October - 1 November, 2008: Vulnerability - Adaptation - Energy Resilience (VAR)

HELIO energy experts met in Bamako, Mali to review and revise draft methodology and indicators to measure the vulnerability and resilience of energy systems to anticipated climate change impacts.  The three-day workshop also worked on adapting the methodology to better address data constraints faced by African experts. 

6 - 10 October, 2008: NATO Advanced Research Workshop:  Weather/ Climate Risk Management for the Energy Sector

HELIO presented a paper [PDF, 431 KB] that demonstrated how indicators can be used as a way of improving communication on energy systems vulnerability, resilience and adaptation to climate change. A publication based on workshop papers will be published early 2009.