Overline: Energy Transition Dialogue
Headline: Germany-Latin America: strategic alliance for a global energy transition policy

Latin America is an important continent for global climate protection and the global energy transition. The region doesn't just fulfil a global climate protection function with its vast forest areas, in particular the Amazon basin. It is also exposed to the drastic effects of climate change in the form of droughts, melting glaciers, and rising sea levels. The region has large oil and gas reserves. While its electricity supply has long been based on hydropower, new renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar have recently been gaining ground. Latin America is therefore of great importance for Germany's international energy policy. Germany has already established bilateral energy partnerships with the regional heavyweights Mexico and Brazil. And Argentina will play a central role in international energy policy in 2018: after taking over the G20 presidency from Germany, it will be shape the energy agenda and determine whether the forum will harness the momentum of the worldwide advance of renewable energies. The geopolitical challenges are enormous, since the US policy change under Trump threatens the previous achievements of global cooperation for the energy transition and climate protection.

Now is the right time to initiate and continue the political dialogue between Germany and Latin America: How can Germany expand its strategic alliances with Brazil, Mexico and Argentina for a global energy transition? To what extent do Germany and the Latin American G20 countries benefit from bilateral cooperation? What social and economic opportunities are associated with the energy transition and the use of renewable energies? Which energy policy challenges unite these countries, and which divide them? Are these countries also pursuing common goals on a global scale?

 

MONDAY, APRIL 16th

9:00 Welcome            

  • Frank Priess or Peter Fischer-Bollin, Deputy Department Head, Department of European and International Cooperation, Konrad Adenauer Foundation (tbc)
  • Prof. Dr Ortwin Renn, Scientific Director, Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) (tbc)

9:15 Keynote    

  • Rodrigo Rodríguez Tornquist, Consejo Argentino de Relaciones Internacionales (CARI), Argentina (tbc)

9:45 Panel: Germany in the energy transition dialogue with Latin America

  • N.N., Germany
  • Prem D. Zalzman, Environmental Ministry Argentina (tbc)
  • Suzana Kahn Ribeiro, Professor and Coordinator “Fundo Verde” Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Member IPCC, Former National Secretary for Climate, Brazil
  • Pablo Necoechea, ESG & Sustainability Manger Televisa, Mexico

Moderation: Dr Sybille Röhrkasten, Scientific Project Lead Pathways to Sustainable Energy, IASS

11:00 Closing

  • Dr Christian Hübner, Head of the Regional Programme for Energy Security and Climate Change Latin America (EKLA), Konrad Adenauer Foundation

Sign up for the event here.