Transforming Europe together: mayors for integrated climate action
26 June 9:45 - 10:45
Location: Sala José Iturbi
This session opens a very special day of the Valencia Cities Climate Week: a shared moment between the NetZeroCities Conference, the European Urban Resilience Forum and the Energy Cities Annual Forum. This represents a crucial opportunity to discuss the role of local and regional governments in achieving climate (neutrality and adaptation) targets in the broad framework of sustainable development.
Political representatives from different European cities and regions will take the stage to raise expectations for the joint conference day and to raise challenges that should be addressed in following sessions. This opening will be key to identify local needs to accelerate comprehensive climate action and break silos of work in local and regional administrations. It will also showcase best practices of political engagement driving climate action.
By steering these discussions, the opening session will be an opportunity to discuss the relevance of main climate events in Europe to challenge local and regional practices and stimulate innovation and transformative action.
Speakers
ICLEI Europe, Director of the Green Metropolitan Region of Arnhem-Nijmegen
Harriett Tiemens, ICLEI Europe, Director of the Green Metropolitan Region of Arnhem-Nijmegen
Currently at the head of the Dutch city region and ICLEI member Groene Metropoolregio Arnhem-Nijmegen, Harriët Tiemens puts her extensive experience in the fields of climate adaptation, circularity and biodiversity to use, to develop the region as a prime national and international example in sustainable and green urban development.
In the past years Harriët Tiemens has built an excellent European track record. For example, by heading the campaign for the City of Nijmegen to become European Green Capital 2018 but also by being a recognized contributor to European and international conferences like COP, EURESFO, POLIS, Velo-city, the Austrian World Summit, GlobeEU, Ecoprocura and meetings with the European Parliament and European Commission, both through her current position with the ICLEI RexCom and other national and international networks.
Tiemens studied Environmental Science at Saxion University of Applied Sciences and Public Administration at Leiden University. She was Deputy Mayor for the City of Nijmegen from 2014 to 2021. During that time, she chaired the physical pillar of the G40 network of Dutch cities and was chair of the VNG (Association of Dutch Municipalities) committee for housing, mobility and spatial development.
Mayor of the City of Tallinn (Estonia)
Jevgeni Ossinovski, Mayor of the City of Tallinn
Jevgeni Ossinovski (born 15 March 1986) is the Mayor of Tallinn and former leader of the Estonian Social Democratic Party.
He has Bachelor's degree in Philosophy from the University of Tartu in 2007, followed by a Master's degree in Philosophy from Warwick University in 2009, and MSc in Comparative Politics from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2010.
Jevgeni Ossinovski was first elected to the Riigikogu (the Estonian Parliament) in 2011. He has held various key positions, including the Minister of Education and Research from 2014 to 2015 and the Minister of Health and Labour from 2015 to 2018. From 2021-2023 he was the Chairman of the Tallinn City Council.
Mayor, City of Warsaw
Rafal Trzaskowski , Mayor, City of Warsaw
Mayor, City of Leuven
Mohamed Ridouani, Mayor, City of Leuven
Moderator
Clean Planet Directorate, DG RTD & Deputy Mission Manager, 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, European Commission