Programme
Parallel Session
European Green Deal Going Local - Cities and Regions Spearheading Climate Action
This interactive workshop will explore the vital role of local communities and councillors in advancing the European Green Deal and highlight how cities and municipalities are at the forefront of climate adaptation and mitigation efforts. It will also focus on the practical use of EU funding at the local level to support sustainable projects. Participants will share local experiences, discuss challenges and best practices, and work collaboratively on solutions for overcoming obstacles to implementing the Green Deal.
The workshop will offer a dynamic combination of practical case studies, peer-to-peer learning, and collaborative discussions, with a focus on empowering local actors to lead in climate action. A possible follow-up could help monitor the implementation of the Green Deal at local level and provide input to the Greens in the CoR's future activities on this matter.
This session is organised in collaboration with the Greens in the European Committee of the Regions.
Day07.12.2024
Time09:45 - 11:15
RoomLiffey Hall 1
Speakers
Niina Ratilainen
Member of Turku City Council, Member of Regional Council of Southwest FinlandNiina Ratilainen has been a councillor on the shore of the Baltic Sea, in the Turku City Council since 2012. Besides City Council, she is a board member of the leading energy company in Southwest Finland and a board member of the Green Party in Finland. She has a master's degree in Baltic Sea Regions Studies and Sustainable Development. She works at the children's rights organisation Plan International Finland as an advocacy specialist. Her political passions are combatting climate crises, climate justice, gender equality and human rights.
Tine Radinja
Mayor of Škofja Loka, SloveniaBefore being elected Mayor, Tine Radinja worked for the World Bank on social development in the Middle East and North Africa, and for the League of Arab States on representative NGO platform. He served as Deputy Mayor responsible for HR and nominations, legislative and statutory issues, sports, culture, and social affairs. He was also the president of the European Youth Forum - the world's biggest youth platform; and active in the Scouts movement. Now he is a proud father of two young scouts.
Tomislav Tomašević
Mayor of Zagreb, CroatiaTomislav Tomašević, born in Zagreb in 1982, holds a master's degree from the University of Cambridge in environment, society, and development. A long-time advocate for sustainability, he was president of Green Action from 2007 to 2012 and played a key role in the Right to the City initiative. Elected to the City Assembly in 2017 and the Croatian Parliament in 2020, Tomašević became the Mayor of Zagreb in May 2021, winning a record-breaking 200,000 votes in the second round and defeating his opponent by nearly 100,000 votes.
Marieke Schouten
Alderman of the municipality of Nieuwegein, Netherlands(Group moderator)
Born in 1963 in the Netherlands, Marieke Schouten has a background in public health, international relations and conflict resolution, working with various partners in Asia, Africa and Europe. Schouten has been involved in Green politics since 2001. As Alderman, she is responsible for the energy transition, Climate Neutrality 2040 Agenda, public space and social affairs. She also chairs the regional Water and Climate network and is member of AIV COS (Advisory Council on International Affairs).
Dan Boyle
Member of Cork City Council, Ireland - Lord Mayor(Group moderator)
Dan Boyle was first elected to Cork City Council in 1991. He returned in 2019, and is responsible for Environment, Amenity & Water. In 2002-11 he served in the lower & upper houses of the Irish Parliament and was Deputy Leader of the upper house 2007-11. He also served as National Chair of the Green Party/Comhaontas Glas. Boyle served on the bureau of the National Forum on Europe and helped to establish Green Foundation Ireland. He has written three books on Green and Irish political history: A Journey to Change (2006); Without Power or Glory (2012) & Making Up The Numbers (2017).
Eeva-Liisa Nieminen
Member of Tuusula Municipal Council, Finland(Group moderator)
Eeva-Liisa Nieminen, PhD, is a retired physics and chemistry teacher. She lives in a small village in Tuusula, close to nature and the Helsinki metropolitan area. Since 2005, she has been a councillor of the Tuusula municipality. She has been a long-standing member of its Culture Committee and has held multiple other positions of trust. She is also a member of the CEMR Policy Committee. Her interests lie in biodiversity conservation, forests, rural vitality and sustainable lifestyles.
Una Power
former councillor in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, Ireland(Group moderator)
Una Power is a former member of the Committee of the Regions and former President of the Greens in the CoR. Una has over 8 years of experience in government administration and NGOs, and has developed and implemented several initiatives and projects on topics such as climate change, biodiversity, gender equality, and air pollution. She now works as a Policy Manager at EirGrid Group.
Florian Tschebul
Distric Councillor, Vienna, AustriaFlorian is a District Councillor in Vienna-Leopoldstadt and works for the Green Group in the Vienna City Council as Policy advisor on Children, Youth and Apprentices. He focuses on youth participation, youth oriented urban planning and public spaces. This year he was selected to join the Young Elected Politicians Program of the Committee of the Regions.