08/04/10 Janez Potočnik Delivers The 2010 Jean Jacques Rousseau Lecture

Janez Potočnik, European commissioner for the environment, delivered The 2010 Jean Jacques Rousseau Lecture and used the occasion to make a compelling call to make resource efficiency one of its cornerstones. His speech on Resource Efficiency as a Driver of Sustainable Growth and Jobs made the case for a new “environmental contract” and argued for the development of new indicators to measure progress and performance on resource efficiency.

Watch The 2010 Jean Jacques Rousseau Lecture Part I
Watch The 2010 Jean Jacques Rousseau Lecture Part II
Watch The 2010 Jean Jacques Rousseau Lecture Part II

Download Commissioner Potočnik's speech

08/04/10 Eco-Innovation Summit 2010 Convenes

On the eve of the spring European Council, where government leaders discussed the key goals for the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Lisbon Council reconvened its Eco-Innovators Network under the timely theme of Europe 2020: Resource Efficiency as a Driver of Sustainable Growth and Jobs. Janez Potočnik, European commissioner for the environment, kicked-off the debates by sharing his vision of high environmental standards and resource efficiency as key drivers for Europe’s new sustainable growth and jobs agenda. Later in the day, Jules Kortenhorst, CEO of the European Climate Foundation, laid out a concise blueprint for a low-carbon future, explaining the important role that eco-innovation will play in replacing old and polluting technologies.

Watch highlights of The 2010 Eco-Innovation Summit
Watch The 2010 Jean Jacques Rousseau Lecture Part I
Watch The 2010 Jean Jacques Rousseau Lecture Part II
Watch The 2010 Jean Jacques Rousseau Lecture Part III

Download Commissioner Potočnik's speech
Download Jules Kortenhorst's presentation

29/01/10 Study Finds Banks Cool on Green Ideas

Financial institutions are among the most strident business voices calling for action to combat climate change but a report has found they may be less willing to come forward with investment in the green economy. Read more here http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cdbb2e8c-0c74-11df-a941-00144feabdc0.html

30/10/09 Eco-Innovators Appeal to Copenhagen COP-15

Members of the Lisbon Council Eco-Innovators Network appealed to the Copenhagen COP-15 summit to deliver a deal.

30/10/09 Yvo de Boer Addresses The 2009 Eco-Innovation Summit

Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Yvo de Boer delivered a personal message to The 2009 Eco-Innovation Summit. In a written statement, Mr. de Boer said "you as European eco-innovators can play a significant role in helping the world to shift towards a low-carbon society."

Download Mr. de Boer's message.

30/10/09 European Patent Office to Study Green Innovation

The European Patent Office (EPO) has embarked on a detailed study to map the growth in eco-innovation since the introduction of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change. The move comes ahead of next month's UN climate change summit in Copenhagen and as major industry players line up behind green technology. For more, follow this link: http://www.euractiv.com/en/enterprise-jobs/european-patent-office-study-green-innovation/article-186982

30/10/09 Accessing Credit a Daunting Task for Eco-Innovators

Companies are finding it difficult to get loans for eco-innovation projects because banks lack the technological knowledge to approve them, according to European businesses. For more, follow this link: http://www.euractiv.com/en/innovation/accessing-credit-daunting-task-eco-innovators/article-186910