Lecturer: Jørgen Henningsen, Senior Adviser on Energy and Climate Change, European Policy Centre 

Introduced by: Carlo Carraro, Professor at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, IPCC WG3 Vice-Chair, CMCC@Ca’Foscari

The seminar will address the issue of the difficulty of the EU to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement on three main levels:
– the first level will addresses the necessity to define an operational target – which should be more specific that the 80-95% – and a correct account of emissions;
– the second level will explain why EU 2030 targets are insufficient, even measured against an overall “80%” reduction target by 2050;
– the third level will focus on the required structural change in the energy consumption sectors. This is a much bigger challenge than replacing coal or natural gas in electricity production or improving energy efficiency of appliances. How do we get rid of fossil fuels in transport, domestic heating or industry?

Jørgen Henningsen
1965: M.Sc. (Chemical engineering), Techn. Univ. Denm. (DTU)
1965-73: Ass. professor, Dep. chem. eng. DTU. Field of research and teaching: Oil refining, petrochemical industry and heterog. catalysis. Sabatical at Stanf. Univ. 1971-72.
1973-76: Head of division, (planning and development), Ministry of Environment, DK
1976-87: Dep. dir.gen. Danish Environmental Protection Agency (Miljostyrelsen), interrupted by three years (1980-83) as director of oil trade (DONG energy, now Orsted).
1987-98: Director, DG Environment, European Commission. Responsible for water policy, air policy, nature protection and international environmental agreements. In the context of the latter the Commissions lead negotiator of UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol (the “Jos Delbeke” of the 90es). Participated actively in IPCC, WG III 1989-90 (Sundsval).
2001-2006: Principal Advisor, DG Energy and Transport with special responsibilities for climate change, alternative motor fuels and broader sustainabilty question. Harvard fellowship 2004-05.
2006: retirement, followed by senior advisor positions in EPC (Brussels) and Concito (Copenh). Member of the Danish government commission on climate change (2008-10)
The seminar will be held in Aula Chiocciola, ground floor, Edificio Porta dell’Innovazione – VEGA, Via della Libertà 12, Venezia Marghera, Venice

Working Language: English