The European Sustainable Energy week – an initiative put forward by the European Commission – took place online from 22 June to 26 June. The event brings together a range of participants and distinguished speakers, ranging from public authorities and private companies to NGOs and consumers, to promote and discuss initiatives to save energy and move towards renewable power sources.

This year, kicking off with a debate on Europe’s post-crisis recovery and how to ensure that the EU remains faithful to its climate-neutral vision for 2050, European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson emphasised the need to "shift our perspective from seeing the damage that the COVID 19 has done on our lives and our economy and see the opportunity to make a huge leap forward in building a climate neutral society". Later on the same day, Commissioner Simson joined the discussion of the European Youth Energy Day, where 130 young Europeans between 18 and 30 exchanged ideas and debated on how to transform Europe into the first climate-neutral continent.

Commissioner Simson also took part in a panel entitled ‘Women in the Energy Transition’ on the final day of the Sustainable Energy week. Being only the second woman to hold the role of European Commissioner for Energy, she delivered the opening remarks, noting in particular on the nexus between gender and energy:

“It’s not just the role of women that is shifting – energy isn’t staying the same either… Every energy revolution has brought with it massive social change and this is our chance to build something better, fairer and stronger… No matter the policy we are planning, we must reflect whether it makes the situation of women better or worse.”

Full opening speech by Kadri Simson

Full speech by Kadri Simson on 'Women in the Energy Transition'

More information on the European Sustainable Energy week 2020

A big Thank You to everyone for a highly successful #EUSEW2020🇪🇺!

Great week full of fantastic people👫 https://t.co/ACmQDROqtL

— Kadri Simson (@KadriSimson) June 26, 2020