The Future Energy Leaders of the Netherlands and WEC NL are hosting an intergenerational expert roundtable workshop at the 2024 Congress. The workshop focuses on addressing skills gaps for energy transition readiness. The roundtable discussion aims to strengthen engagement and collaboration among stakeholders from government, industry, academia, civil society, and young professional groups, all working towards achieving common energy transition objectives.

Venue: Rotterdam Ahoy ( Rotterdam: Gateway Transition Theatre)

Background:

The outcomes of COP28 underscored the imperative to triple renewable energy and double energy efficiency to meet our energy transition objectives. Nations worldwide have unveiled ambitious policies, such as their Energy Transition Plans, Inflation Reduction Acts, and the EU Green Deal, signalling a collective commitment to these goals. However, implementing these plans and enhancing energy transition readiness requires robust execution skills.

While technological advancements, supportive policies, and financial investments are crucial components, the success of energy access and transition efforts ultimately hinges on skilled individuals driving implementation. Failure to address this skills gap and implement measures to attract, retain, and adequately train talent could jeopardize our ability to achieve the energy transition goals. Therefore, it's paramount to consider this factor when assessing energy transition readiness measures.

This discussion underscores the critical importance of human capital in shaping the future of energy transition and calls for strategic initiatives to bridge the skills gap for effective implementation worldwide.

Objectives:

• Facilitate Intergenerational Knowledge Exchange: Provide a platform for key stakeholder groups to contribute their perspectives, ideas, and innovative solutions towards building a skilled workforce for sustainable energy transition.
• Identify Skill Gaps: Analyze existing skills gaps and competency deficiencies in the context of energy transition initiatives across various sectors and regions.
• Promote Intergenerational Collaboration for skills gaps solutions: Facilitate collaborative efforts among stakeholders to identify and address specific skills gaps hindering energy transition readiness. Encourage knowledge sharing, joint initiatives, and capacity-building programs aimed at closing these gaps and fostering a skilled workforce for effective energy transition implementation

Expected Outcomes:

Develop Actionable Recommendations: Collaboratively generate practical recommendations and strategies to address the skills gap and enhance readiness for energy transition at local, national, and global levels. Informed by diverse perspectives and expertise, the recommendations will be published as part of the key outcome from Congress.

Participants:

This roundtable discussion will adopt a multistakeholder dialogue approach to provide recommendations for closing the skills gaps for enhanced energy transition readiness levels. Attendance at this event is by invitation only. It aims to convene diverse participants, including young professionals, industry leaders, national and sub-national government representatives, and academia. If you are interested in participating in the roundtable discussion, please complete the form provided. It's important to note that expressions of interest do not guarantee registration, as participation will be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on each stakeholder group's capacity needs. We aim to have at least 5 representatives for each stakeholder group, with a maximum capacity of 20 participants, considering diversity and gender balance.

Moderator: Ivo Wakounig, Global Future Energy Leaders of the World Energy Council; Future Energy Leader, the Netherlands

Note Taker: Damilola Adeyanju, Global Future Energy Leaders of the World Energy Council; Future Energy Leader, the Netherlands

About the World Energy Congress:

The World Energy Congress is the world's longest-established energy event, having shaped the global energy agenda for a century. In today's unpredictable, turbulent and fast-shifting world, the 26th World Energy Congress in Rotterdam will be the most important energy convening of the next decade.

The only global energy event convening 150+ C-suite speakers and 70+ Ministers, alongside 7,000+ international energy stakeholders, the Congress enables the highest levels of government-to-government dialogue and unites businesses and communities of all shapes and sizes. This four-day event bridges sectors, geographies, generations and systems to make faster, fairer, and more far-reaching energy transitions happen.

Under the theme 'Redesigning energy for people and planet,' an impact-focused content programme of 60+ sessions is built on the collective insights and experience of the Council's unique global network of over 3,000 member organisations and presence in more than 100 countries. With a world-class exhibition and unparalleled networking opportunities, the 26th World Energy Congress will challenge conventional thinking and drive action to progress clean, fair and inclusive energy transitions in all world regions.

Co-hosted by the World Energy Council and the Netherlands Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and taking place from 22-25 April 2024, this edition celebrates 100 years since the Council's formation and the first World Energy Congress. As the independent and pragmatic voice of the global energy agenda, only the Council has the deeply local and globally networked convening power to progress a better energy future for all.