Rotterdam 2013

Following on from last year’s theme of the complex issues posed by growing pressure on our planet’s essential resources – a phenomenon sometimes called the Energy-Water-Food Nexus – this year’s event will embark on a search for greater societal resilience. The City of Rotterdam and Royal Dutch Shell will jointly host the event.

Resilience is the long-term capacity of a system to cope with change. Sometimes change in the world is gradual and predictable. At other times, sudden changes can disrupt the climate and vulnerable communities. Such sudden disturbances are expected to increase in frequency and magnitude as the result of stresses on resources and society, as well as acute events such as droughts and floods.
Powering Progress Together in Rotterdam will invite discussion around what business, civil society and local authorities can do to survive, adapt, and grow in this volatile world.

Attendees will join a diverse group of experts, including Julia Marton-Lefèvre (Director-General IUCN), Jørgen Ole Haslestad (CEO Yara), Andrew Steer (President World Resources Institute), Michael Suess (CEO Energy Sector Siemens AG), Daan Roosegaarde (Studio Roosegaarde) and resilience experts Brian Walker (Resilience Alliance) and Johan Rockström (Stockholm Resilience Centre).

Throughout the day, we plan to host around 500 leading thinkers, representatives from business, NGOs, academia and tomorrow’s leaders. We will also be joined by representatives from The Great Energy
Challenge, a National Geographic initiative in partnership with Shell.

The one-day forum is free of charge and richly packed with engaging panel discussions and networking opportunities.

Should you be interested in attending or if you require more information, please connect with us via email.

Registration for the conference is limited and will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Deadline for registration is 8 May 2013.