Among the confirmed high level speakers at the conference are the Climate Minister in Denmark, Ms Connie Hedegaard; the Polish Minister for Environment, Mr Maciej Nowicki; and the Commissioner for Regional Policy, European Commission, Danuta Hübner.

The objective for the high level conference is to prepare and draw attention to the upcomming UN Climate Summit in Poland (Poznan) in December 2008.

The Baltic Sea Region is in a unique position, as two of the world's most important meetings are taking place within this Region. A successful Summit in Poznan is a prerequisite for a sufficient global agreement in Copenhagen 2009.

Sessions at the BDF conference "Energy & Climate Change - Global Challenges, Regional Solutions" will discuss how the challenges related to energy and climate change can be tackeled through regional cooperation and joint solutions.     

The conference is open for participation and all inquires should be addressed to Ms. Izabela Butenko-Olesen ibo@bdforum.org. 

Conference Programme

Venue: Foksal Press Centre, Foksal Street No. 3/5

10:00 - 10:30        ENERGY BREAKFAST and registration

10.30 - 10.40        Welcome and introduction
                                  - Paweł Świeboda, President of demosEUROPA - Centre for European Strategy
                                  - Uffe Ellemann-Jensen, Chairman of Baltic Development Forum
                                  - Hans Michael Kofoed-Hansen, Ambassador of Denmark  

10.40 - 11.10        Opening statements
                                  - Connie Hedegaard, Danish Climate Minister
                                  - Maciej Nowicki, Polish Environment Minister

11.10 - 11.30        Questions & Answers

11.30 - 12.30        Panel Session
                              Global Partnership for Sustainability - from Bali to Poznań and Copenhagen

                               Moderator: Edwin Bendyk, Journalist, Polityka
                                   - Abiodun O. Bashua, Secretary of the Conference of Parties, UN Climate 
                                      Changes Secretariat (UNFCCC)
                                   - Andrzej Kassenberg, President, Institute for Sustainable Development
                                   - Matthew Findley, Programme Leader for the Global Climate Deal, E3G
                                   - Zbigniew Kundzewicz, Professor, Polish Academy of Sciences, Expert of the                                                     IPCC

12.30 - 13.00       Coffee Break with snacks

13.00 - 13.40       Face-to-face One
                             The Baltic Sea Region - Innovative Solutions for the Energy & Climate Change       
                              Challenge

                                Moderator: Jan Cienski, Journalist, Financial Time
                                   - Helge Ørsted Pedersen, Partner, Ea Energy Analyses A/S
                                   - Michael K. Rasmussen - Marketing Director of VELUX Group
                                   - Representative from PGNiG

13.40 - 14.20        Face-to-face Two
                              How to turn Energy & Climate Change into Business Opportunities? Best    
                              practices in the Baltic Sea Region.
                                
                                Moderator: Konrad Niklewicz, Gazeta Wyborcza
                                   - Andrzej Kielar, President of the Board, Rockwood Polska
                                   - Jørgen Mads Clausen, CEO, Danfoss
                                   - Peter C. Brun, Senior Vice President and Head of Vestas' Government Ralations,      ​
                                      VESTAS

14:20 - 14:40        HOT CHAIR SESSION
                              Danuta Hübner, Commissioner for Regional Policy, European Commission

14.40 - 14.45         Conclusions

14.45 - 15.30         Lunch