More than 4.200 participants in the "European Conference on Energy Transition" gathered on the theme of energy sobriety

For 3 days, this 23rd edition brought together more than 4.200 participants in Greater Geneva on the crucial theme of energy sobriety. A look back at this 2022 edition which moved the lines of the energy transition.

Sobriety at the heart of the debates to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050

The program of this edition led by more than 300 speakers for 114 workshops and 17 plenary sessions made it possible to go further on the two facets of sobriety: sobriety on the individual scale of one's behavior and collective sobriety in the way of organize our societies. Local authorities and their partners have reaffirmed their driving role in the energy and ecological transition of society.

Alongside the co-organizers and in the presence of the Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva, the first day of the Assises highlighted the international and national contexts where the various recovery plans must take into account the ecological requirement. On a more local scale, Regions, metropolises and rural communities from various European countries have illustrated how the logic "Less for more!" » can be found in the territories of everyday life.

Beyond the question of the acceptability of change, those around the quest for meaning and training in these issues have proven to be essential. Jean-François Caron, Founder of the Fabrique des Transitions, a great witness to this edition, reminded us that "We must get society on board in a momentum of positive construction". The second day thus drew up an analysis of the changes in individual and collective behavior necessary to reduce energy consumption. Aspects of the production and distribution of energy, renewable energies around the questions of preserving spaces and land, but also of the production and distribution of energy at a time of the necessary control of needs, have also debate.

The last day brought together particularly committed territories and actors, like the territories identified by ADEME as part of the “Ecological Transition Committed Territory” program. It also made it possible to present different energy transition scenarios and gave a voice to the actors of sustainable finance and digital technology.

At the end of the program of the 17 plenaries, the National Commission for Public Debate broadcast a preview of its new documentary "My word has power". Chantal Jouanno, President of the National Commission for Public Debate, Antonio Hodgers, President of Greater Geneva, and Arnaud Leroy, President of ADEME, questioned the theme 'Transitions and Democracy' to demonstrate the importance of involving citizens in the major challenges of tomorrow's transition.

The OFF dedicated to the General Public on the territory of Greater Geneva, which since May 10 has offered more than 180 activities on the territory, continues until Sunday June 5, 2022. See the program at this address.

Bordeaux Métropole will have the pleasure of hosting the next European Conference on Energy Transition at the Palais des Congrès de Bordeaux on May 23, 24 and 25, 2023.

The replay of the 17 plenaries of the European Conference on Energy Transition 2022 is available here.

A look back at the highlights of this 23rd edition of the Assises:

1/ The “Carrefour des Métiers de la Transition Energétique” received 1.000 young people aged 14 to 17, in search of orientation, but also 250 young graduates, people in professional retraining and job seekers, to discover the many training and job prospects offered by the energy transition sector, with a focus on 4 themes – l housing, mobility, digital, and the circular economy.

2/ Launch of the GoH project, the first 100% Swiss green hydrogen sector with the presentation of the first 40-tonne hydrogen truck that rejects only water.

3/ Publication of the latest ADEME studies on the theme “ACCELERATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY”

• Study “The benefits linked to the development of renewable and recovered energies in France” which assesses the economic and climatic benefits linked to the reduction in fuel imports thanks to the development of renewable energies.
• Study “Costs of renewable and recovered energies in France”, which takes stock of their production cost.
• “Wind power and real estate” study, which objectifies the evolution of real estate prices near wind farms.

4/ Key signatures:

• SYANE (Syndicat des Energies et de l'Aménagement Numérique de la Haute-Savoie) and Metropolitan Pole of French Genevois: implementation of a renewable heat contract, assistance with the structuring of Village Plants, support for local authorities in the management of urban lighting and mapping data sharing.
• GRDF and Énergie Partagée: expertise at the service of the success of biogas projects to develop exemplary projects such as methamoly, which unites farmers, communities and industrial partners.
• the Strasbourg Climate Agency and the Local Energy Agency join the FLAME network.
• Énergie Loire and Énergies Demain territory: continued deployment of the “PROSPER” energy planning tool, helping local authorities to prioritize investments in favor of energy transition.
• Launch of the ZEST Label by the Community of communes of Pays Rochois, for the short-circuit recovery of liquid waste transformed into BioNGV
• "My Public Lighting" between SYANE and France Nature Environnement

5/ Six field visits in greater Geneva, a territory in action in the energy transition:

Thematic visits guided by exemplary and innovative initiatives have been organized at Energie lacustre, CERN's anergy and waste heat recovery network, agricultural methanisation, industrial ecology, eco-districts, etc.

6/ And many other testimonials and feedback that honored the different partners present in the transition village.