Future Energy Leaders contribute to Astana EXPO 2017 Manifesto

 

The Council’s young energy professionals had an amazing opportunity to drive dialogue at the Future Energy Forum, a series of 12 thematic conferences, organised in the framework of EXPO 2017.

The theme of this year’s exhibition, held in Astana, Kazakhstan, earlier this month, was ‘Future Energy’. The focus of the Future Energy Forum was the future of renewable energy sources, the sustainable use of natural resources, methods of energy efficiency, and new business models for a post-fossil fuel society.

It aimed to create a global debate between countries, NGOs, businesses and delegates on the crucial question: "How do we ensure safe and sustainable access to energy for all while reducing carbon emissions?"

The 12th and final conference of the Forum took place on 4 and 5 September. Current national and international former heads of state, Nobel laureates, leading experts of science and industry and global energy community, assembled to share ideas, knowledge, and present solutions developed throughout the forum.

Altogether 500 renowned speakers and 3000 participants from all over the world attended the Forum.

The Council’s Future Energy Leaders (FELS) contributed to the Astana EXPO 2017 Manifesto by attending workshops and the closing ceremony of the Forum.

 

Pirjo Jantunen, Chair of Future Energy Leaders, highlighted the vision of the FELS, during the closing ceremony.

“We need to develop education on all levels, from home to universities, to grow citizens who are able to make responsible choices, and to grow energy professionals. We also need to educate people to understand the importance of and to trust in science. Moreover, it is important to educate scientists to communicate more effectively to the public.

“The Grand Transition is a challenge to the energy industry, and solving it requires new thinking.  The Energy sector is too male dominated, and to foster novel ideas we need to involve diverse people with different backgrounds and different disciplines. The Manifesto includes an idea of Future Energy Institute, which could be a good tool to foster participation and social issues in the field of energy. The key is to find ways to integrate the ideas of people and different perspectives to all processes. Willingness to hear all voices is needed when creating our future,” she concluded.

 

In the closing ceremony of the Future Energy Forum, members of the Steering Committee such as Dr George Smoot, Nobel Laureate in Physics; Prof Klaus Töpfer, Founding Director of the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS);and Dr Rajendra Pachauri, President of the World Sustainable Development Forum, delivered the Manifesto draft to Akhmetzhan Yessimov, Chairman of the Board at NC Astana EXPO-2017.

 

Prof Lutz Engelke, Founder and CEO TRIAD Berlin, organiser of Future Energy Forum, said:

 

The results of the 12 conferences were summed up as the ‘Astana EXPO 2017 Manifesto of Values ​​and Principles’, in the field of green technologies and sustainable development.

The Manifesto not only represents the culminated knowledge, solutions, innovations and frameworks gathered throughout the forum. But also, serves as a legacy of the event, and more importantly, as a blueprint for the international energy transition.