Handling climate disinformation

Climate change has profound impacts both within and outside the European Union. It is therefore imperative to act now to create a better future. This concerns us all, and everyone can take action for the climate. This closing session was an opportunity to summarize the topics discussed during the 16 previous sessions of the Summer University, reflecting on the experiences and lessons we have learned to inform future climate action.

General Information

This event is part of the CONNECT University Summer School 2021 on the theme Digital for our Planet, which aims to showcase cutting-edge innovations on how digital technologies can be leveraged to fight climate change, both in terms of creating a greener digital system and their role in reducing carbon emissions across all sectors. Please refer to this blog post for the full program and more information.

Closing Speech: The State of the Climate and Why We Must Act Now Moderator and Opening Remarks: Ilias Iakovidis, Advisor for Digital Aspects of the Green Transition, European Commission, DG CONNECT

Ilias works on EU-wide measures and initiatives aiming to improve the energy and material efficiency of ICT, such as making data centers climate-neutral and making digital devices more circular. He focuses on maximizing the benefits of green digital transformation for the environment/climate, society, and the economy. Ilias works on digitization for the circular economy (e.g., digital product passports) and the European Green Digital Coalition. He encourages stakeholder cooperation to develop consistent and transparent methods to estimate the net impact of digital solutions on the environment/climate and green digital transformation in sectors such as energy, transport, construction, agriculture, and more. Before 2017, Ilias worked for over 20 years on eHealth and ICT for active and healthy aging.

Luis Neves, CEO of GeSI Luis Neves has been the CEO of the Global Enabling Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) since 2017. Prior to that, from 2008 to 2017, Luis served as the Chairman of GeSI. Under Luis's leadership, GeSI has become a globally recognized "industry thought leader" in the ICT and sustainability field, with a particular focus on the enabling role and positive contribution of digital technologies to climate protection.

Before joining GeSI, Luis worked for over 15 years at Deutsche Telekom, holding positions such as Head of Sustainability and Environment, Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, and Head of Sustainability and Climate Protection. Luis has also held important positions and played key roles at the European and international levels in organizations such as the Steering Group of the UN Global Compact, Econsense – the German Association for Sustainable Development, the World Resources Forum Association, and the UNFCCC Momentum for Change initiative.

Luis is from Portugal and holds a degree in History from the University of Lisbon.

Žiga Turk, Professor at the University of Ljubljana, Slovenia Žiga Turk is a professor at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. He holds degrees in engineering and computer science. As an academic, he studies design communication, internet science, and scenarios for future global developments, particularly the role of technology and innovation. He is an internationally renowned author, speaker, and lecturer on these topics. Dr. Turk has served as Minister for Growth, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports in the Slovenian government, and Secretary General of the Felipe Gonzalez Think Tank on the Future of Europe. He is a member of the Academic Council of the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies.