BAHA KUBAN

Abstract

On the verge of critical European Parliamentary elections this summer, the European Green Deal, allegedly the world’s first public led commitment to climate neutrality,  is in for severe political bashing. After the “months of farmer discontent” that has shaken both society and the European political classes, the Green Deal is being cut to pieces by the political right despite the legacy of at least 4 years of successful policy and implementation for climate and energy, in very difficult times spanning the pandemic and war in Ukraine. Are the ambitious climate targets and accompanying wave of legislation in jeopardy due to the shifting political landscape? And what of the “energy transition” “made in Europe” ? Was the 1 trillion euro Green Deal destined to be a Eurocentric lodestar from the start and what are the political hopes of wedding social transition to the energy transition?

Biography

Clean energy technologies, urban climate change and policy expert. Obtained his Ph.D. from Lousiana State University-USA in 1986 in Engineering Science, M.Sc. from University of British Colombia in 1983 in Materials Science. He has worked in the glass industry in Turkey as research engineer and business development manager. In 2007 he started to work for Ecofys as a senior consultant in the areas of clean energy technologies, climate change strategy and and policy. In 2009 he became manager–partner in CleanGlobe, a solar PV consulting and engineering firm. He is managing-partner in Demir Energy, working in solar electricity, sustainable cities, eco-innovation, transition management and climate change politics. Some of the key public and private sector projects he was involved: · Technology Projects Evaluation and Environmental Technologies Advisory Committee · Elaboration of Energy Efficiency Programs for Industrial SME’s in Turkey · Developing Climate Change Strategies for industrial sectors in Turkey · Energy/Carbon Inventories, Sustainable Energy and Climate Adaptation Plans for Turkish cities · Development and Coordination of H2020 Smart City & Communities Projects and others. Member  of CEN-CENELEC-ETSI Smart and Sustainable Cities Sector Forum-SSCC-SF, working towards European Smart City Standards.