The joint EUROFER and industriAll European Trade Union online event 'Building an economic and social framework for a successful climate transition by 2050', took place on 21 April from 12:00-13:30.

About the webinar

The EU’s 2050 net-zero target is not just a technological challenge. It is also an economic and social challenge. Investment in new technologies will be high, roll-out will be expensive and disruptive – and those changes will affect companies from top to bottom, with new skills and tests for all employees and workers. This webinar will look at how this change will take place, and what will happen during the transition to the net-zero carbon future.

This online event took place on Zoom. 

When & where?

The webinar took place on Wednesday, 21 April  2021 from 12:00-13:30 online, via Zoom. 

Who is invited?

The event was open to anyone interested in learning about the European steel industry and European industrial trade union's perspectives on the green transition, as well as the views of a wide range of stakeholder speakers.

Schedule

Structure and times are indicative only

12:00 | Introductory joint statement

                     How will the transition to net-zero affect steel companies and workers?

Moderator:

• Jacki Davis, Meade Davis Communications

Impulse statement by joint hosts:

• Judith Kirton Darling, Deputy Secretary General, industriAll European Trade Union
• Axel Eggert, Director General, The European Steel Association

 12:10 | Rolling speakers’ discussion & Q&A

                     The Green Transition: what changes can we expect?

Moderator:

• Jacki Davis, Meade Davis Communications

Joint hosts:

• Judith Kirton Darling, Deputy Secretary-General, industriAll European Trade Union
• Axel Eggert, Director General, The European Steel Association

Speakers listed below are CONFIRMED

12:10-12:45 | Panel 1 | Industrial policy and climate: what are the key challenges?

• Clara De La Torre, Deputy Director General, DG CLIMA, European Commission
• Cristian-Silviu Buşoi MEP, EPP Group; Chair, Industry Committee, European Parliament
• Wendel Trio, Director General, CAN Europe

12:45-13:20 | Panel 2 | Towards a low-carbon, high-skill, just transition: what framework for success in industry?

• Kerstin Jorna, Director General, DG GROW, European Commission
• Joost Korte, Director General, DG EMPL, European Commission
• Gabriele Bischoff MEP, S&D Group; Vice-Chair, Constitutional Affairs Committee; Member, Employment and social affairs Committee, European Parliament

 13:20 | Closing thoughts

                     Conclusions and expectations

Moderator:

• Jacki Davis, Meade Davis Communications

Joint hosts:

• Judith Kirton Darling, Deputy Secretary-General, industriAll European Trade Union
• Axel Eggert, Director General, The European Steel Association

 13:30 | End of discussion

About EUROFER

The European Steel Association (EUROFER) AISBL is located in Brussels and was founded in 1976. It represents the entirety of steel production in the European Union. EUROFER members are steel companies and national steel federations throughout the EU. The major steel companies and national steel federations in Switzerland and Turkey are associate members.

The European Steel Association is recorded in the EU transparency register: 93038071152-83.

About industriAll European Trade Union

The industriAll European Trade Union aims to develop common views and positions with its affiliates in order to build up efficient strategies to defend the economic, social and cultural interests of the workers in these industries on a basis of solidarity, mutual respect and common principles. The industriAll European Trade Union advocates thorough social reforms, the reinforcement of democracy and the promotion of economic and social progress in Europe. It supports an integrated Europe without borders, with common social standards, a high level of social protection and the involvement of workers and trade union representatives.

The industriAll European Trade Union is established to organize and enhance the collective power of working people in Europe, to defend their rights and advance their common goals with respect to both companies and States. To this end, the industriAll European Trade Union works on pushing forward the coordination and development of collective bargaining, industrial relations and social policies. We aim to be a powerful player in the European policy arena vis-à-vis European companies, European industries, employers’ associations and European institutions.

More information about European steel’s green transition.

European steel makers share the EU’s ambitious climate targets, both for 2030 and onwards to 2050. All companies are made up of workers, their families, and their children – this is no different in the steel industry. Indeed, steel is often at the centre of whole communities – communities that sometimes have histories dating back to the industrial revolution. Innovating towards the low-carbon future is therefore not just about the hard issues of money and technology: it is about people, and how this transition will affect their lives: what will change, what will improve, and what might require more support.

The European Steel Association (EUROFER) has highlighted its plan for a Green Deal on Steel – a framework for the sector that ensures its sustainable, low-carbon future. IndustriAll European Trade Union defends the rights of workers and employees in this same sector – rights and livelihoods that will certainly be affected by the change. New skills will be required, new partnerships and support for a transition that may up-end established ways of working.

This webinar will look at the challenges facing the companies and people in the European steel sector, the value chains associated with it, and address how much steel can do to save the climate for future generations.