Emma McGarthy

Former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi's report on European Union competitiveness highlighted the need for 800 billion euros of investment each year (or up to 5% GDP) to keep pace economically with rivals. The EU is an important power-broker in climate diplomacy and financing, in aggregating individual efforts of its member countries and its partners for mobilising climate financing and action efforts.  

As Europe accelerates its twin green and digital transitions, this session explores how the continent can leverage its strengths to become a global leader in sustainable technology. We'll examine the intersection of digital innovation and climate action, discussing strategies to enhance Europe's technological autonomy while driving forward its ambitious environmental agenda. 

1. Integration of digital and environmental agendas through the European Green Deal 
2. The need to leverage common European funds as opposed to national investments  
3. Fostering collaborative ecosystems to enhance competitiveness in greentech  
4. Balancing strict environmental regulations to meet ambitious climate goals, with policies that are also conducive to technological advancement to foster innovation and ensure competitiveness (e.g. Clean Industrial Deal with regulations to make greener products mandatory, drive international collaboration)