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Under the Patronage of H.E. the President of the Hellenic Republic Ms. Katerina Sakellaropoulou

Delphi Economic Forum IX

April 10-13, 2024

Patrick Child

Deputy Director General for Environment

European Commission, Belgium

Patrick Child is currently Deputy Director-General in DG Environment at the European Commission with particular responsibility for the EU’s zero pollution strategy, chemicals legislation, urban agenda, research and innovation for environment and communication. He is also the Mission manager for the Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities Mission, which aims to reach 100 climate-neutral cities by 2030.

From 2016-2021, he was Deputy Director-General in DG Research and Innovation (R&I) at the European Commission. As member of the Board of DG R&I, he followed in particular research and innovation in clean energy and climate technologies as well as the R&I dimension of the post-COVID recovery and resilience strategy and Horizon Europe mission on Cancer. His international roles included Commission representative and chair of the steering committee of Mission Innovation (a coalition of 24 countries and the EC working to accelerate global clean energy innovation) and lead co-chair of the Group of Earth Observations (GEO).

Until April 2016, Patrick Child was Managing Director of the European External Service with responsibility for administration and finance, covering human resources policy, security and the budget. Before he took up this post in 2011, he was director in the EC External Relations Directorate-General in the responsible for managing the network of Commission delegations. He has previously served as head of cabinet for External Relations Commissioners Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Chris Patten.

With a background in the UK Finance Ministry, he joined the European Commission in 1994, where he started in the Economic and Monetary affairs Directorate General before becoming Commission press spokesman for economic and monetary union from 1995-1999. Mr Child studied mathematics at Cambridge University. He is married with two children.

Friday 12

14.55 - 15.35
Building Resilience: Supporting EU Member States in Climate Change Adaptation and Civil Protection
- HEALTH
location_onAhrweiler Hall | European Cultural Centre of Delphi
Programming Partners: DG Reform & European Investment Bank

Climate change is very real and severely impacts Member States, including putting a strain on civil protection systems, as made evident by the destructive floods, snowstorms, and wildfires across Europe. The EU strives to be climate-neutral by 2050, by saving, diversifying, and producing green energy supplies. At the same time, the EU, through the Commission’s Technical Support Instrument (TSI) and EIB funding, aims to support Member States in adapting to the new realities of climate change and in strengthening their civil protection systems.

This panel discussion aims to explore Member States' actions for addressing the impact of climate change and strengthening civil protection, the relevant support provided by the EU, through the Commission's TSI and EIB funds, as well as the pivotal role of the private sector.