Five days, 19 panels, 10 workshops, 200 international experts, and over 1000 participants
Sarajevo, September 23, 2024 – Today, on September 23, 2024, at 11 a.m., the 2nd Sarajevo Energy and Climate Week (SECW) was officially opened at the Hills Hotel, and will last until September 27. This important energy and climate event gathered numerous experts from various sectors to discuss concrete steps to be taken in the fields of energy and climate over the next 5 days, 19 panels, and 10 accompanying workshops, events, and meetings. The focus will be on energy and just transition, upcoming taxes through CBAM, ETS, as well as critical mineral resources.
This year’s SECW is organized under the high patronage of the Chairperson of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dr. Denis Bećirović, who stated that such events are crucial for the sustainable future of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“It is an honor for me to be the patron of the 2nd Sarajevo Energy and Climate Week in Bosnia and Herzegovina, an event of great importance for our future. This event gathers experts, decision-makers, and stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities in the fields of energy and climate change,” said Bećirović, emphasizing that climate change and energy security are key issues that require urgent and decisive actions.
The first day of SECW is dedicated to the topic of carbon neutrality, while the following days will focus on just transition, critical mineral resources, and shaping the future of electricity. The fourth day will be held at Energoinvest and is dedicated to the doyen of Bosnian and world energy, Emerik Blum. The fifth and final day of SECW will take place at the Chamber of Commerce of FBiH, where an important discussion on shaping energy security and independence will take place.
Nihad Harbaš, CEO of nLogic Advisory, the technical organizer of SECW, stated: “Sarajevo Energy and Climate Week provides a key platform for discussion, planning, and making concrete decisions and steps towards carbon neutrality, decarbonization, just and energy transition. We expect this year’s panels to result in significant progress in the implementation of plans, but also concrete actions. We will also see the results of projects initiated last year at the first Sarajevo Energy and Climate Week,” said Harbaš.
After the opening ceremony, the first speaker was Angela Wilkinson, Secretary General and CEO of the World Energy Council, who spoke about global energy and climate trends. The first panel of this year’s SECW was dedicated to the highly relevant topic “Response to CBAM: What are the opportunities to reduce the impact of CBAM on the energy sector?” The panel was organized by EU4Energy, and the introductory presentation on the impact of CBAM on the energy sector was delivered by Admir Softić, Assistant Minister for Energy at the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH, one of the sponsors of the Sarajevo Energy and Climate Week.
The event gathers more than 200 international experts and representatives from governments, industry, civil society, and academia, making SECW an indispensable event for all those who wish to contribute to the climate and energy future of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the region. SECW this year has brought together a wide range of companies, institutions, and individuals from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the region, the EU, the broader European area, and the Middle East.
It is expected that around 1000 participants will visit the conference over the five days. The full agenda of the event is available on the official website, and the conference halls are completely filled to capacity.