Is Europe falling behind other world leaders in green growth? Carbon Trust Annual Debate 2012

Our annual debate explored the question: Is Europe falling behind other world leaders in green growth - and what can be done about it?
18 December 2012

On the evening of Monday 10 December 2012 the Carbon Trust hosted its annual debate, asking the question of whether Europe was falling behind the rest of the world when it comes to green growth. The debate was chaired by Associate Editor of the Times, Camilla Cavendish, and featured a panel of world-leading experts:

  • Jason Eis, Deputy Director, Global Green Growth Institute
  • Dr Horst-Tore Land, Director ecomagination, GE
  • Tom Murley, Director, HgCapital
  • James Smith, Chairman, Carbon Trust
  • Dimitri Zenghelis, Visting Fellow, London School of Economics


Topics covered included:

  • Lack of political cohesion in Europe
  • The relative positions of the US and Asia
  • Carbon 2.0: models to take carbon reduction to the next level
  • Clear policy signals for investment
  • Providing effective incentives
  • Consumer attitudes
  • Research and development needs
  • Technology choice and leapfrog technologies
  • The power of market forces
  • The impact of energy efficiency
  • Regulatory complexity
  • How to frame the media debate