Climate Urgency and the Nordic Response

The Swedish heavy industry sector is rolling out several forward-looking projects, ranging from fossil-free steel manufacturing to battery production, with ambitious targets regarding material recycling. Sweden, and Finland, has substantial reserves of minerals and metals, which are crucial for accelerating electrification and the green transition.

The conference brings together top executives involved in global policymaking, including the International Energy Agency (IEA), national politics, international business, and the finance industry. A selected group of researchers from two interdisciplinary research programs – Mistra Carbon Exit and Mistra Electrification – will present exciting results on elements of the energy transition, with a focus on electrification.

Programme

Welcome remarks
Marcus Wallenberg, Chair of IVA, Romina Pourmokhtari, Swedish Minister for Climate and the Environment

Global supply chains for the clean energy transition
Introductory comments by IEA representative  

Panel 1: Industrial value chains 

This panel will highlight forward-looking projects, ranging from fossil-free steel manufacturing to battery production.

Chaired by Dr Paolo Frankl, Head of Renewable Energy Division, IEA 
Panel: Henrik Henriksson, CEO, H2 Green Steel, Jan Moström, CEO, LKAB, Martin Pei, Executive Vice President & CTO, SSAB, Mikael Nordlander, Director Industry Decarbonization, Vattenfall, Emma Nehrenheim, President Northvolt Materials, Håkan Buskhe, CEO FAM AB, IVA’s Business Executives Council

10:15  - 10:45 Coffee break 

RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES  

Climate policy  

The EU ETS system – what can we expect?
Dr. Lars Zetterberg, Senior specialist, The Swedish Environmental Institute IVL, Director Mistra Carbon Exit

The Inflation Reduction Act – In conflict or in line with the EU?
Dr. Dallas Burtraw, Darius Gaskins Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future, Washington, DC,  Milan Elkerbout, Fellow at Resources for the Future, Washington DC  

Transforming value chains  

A systemic approach to energy transition in Europe – a Nordic perspective.
Dr. Peter Lund, Professor, Aalto University, Dr. Filip Johnsson, Professor, Chalmers University of Technology

12:00 - 13:00 Lunch 

Decarbonizing the building and construction sector.
Ida Karlsson, PhD candidate, Chalmers University of Technology

Sector coupling for efficient electricity systems.
Dr Lisa Göransson, Associate professor, Chalmers University of Technology

Critical minerals and raw materials – what are the challenges?
Magnus Ericsson, Adjunct Professor, Luleå University of Technology/RMG Consulting

How can we reach social acceptance for the energy transition?
Dr. Magnus Hennlock, Senior specialist, The Swedish Environmental Institute IVL

Meeting the need for transportation fuels in a socially acceptable way.
Henrikki Talvitie, CEO, ST1

14:15 - 14:45 Coffee break

Panel 2: Role of financing

There are no large-scale clean energy projects without securing finance. The willingness of financial institutions and investors to finance large scale projects is predicated on stable and long-term policy frameworks. How well prepared is the finance industry for this increase with a pronounced climate urgency and high uncertainties?

Chaired by Karin Reuterskiöld, Forever Sustainable
Panel: Per Lindgren Head of Asset Management, Skandia & Chief Investment Officer, Skandia Mutual Life Insurance Company, Peter Tuving, Deputy General and Chief Credit Officer and Head of Risk Management, EKN (The Swedish Export Agency), Jeanette Vitasp, Vice President and Head of Lending, NIB (Nordic Investment Bank)

A global outlook – comments and example from the US 
Alejandro Moreno, Associate Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Energy

Panel 3: Concluding Panel  
Chaired by Dr Paolo Frankl, Head of Renewable Energy Division, IEA
Panel: Henrik Henriksson, CEO, H2 Green Steel, Jan Moström, CEO, LKAB, Mikael Nordlander, Director Industry Decarbonization, Vattenfall, Emma Nehrenheim, President Northvolt Materials, Dr Peter Lund, Professor, Aalto University, Dr Lisa Göransson, Associate professor, Chalmers University of Technology, Dr. Dallas Burtraw, Darius Gaskins Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future, Washington, DC, Dr. Filip Johnsson, Professor, Chalmers University of Technology, Martin Pei, Executive Vice President & CTO, SSAB  

Summary and conclusions
Dr. Paolo Frankl