Malta strongly represented at the Climate Innovation Summit in Milan

Climate-KIC, Europe’s largest public-private partnership tackling climate change through innovation, held 'The Climate Innovation Summit' in Milan on October 30 and 31 attended by Paragon Europe Chairman Edwin Ward and Paragon Europe CEO Dr. Anton Theuma, together with other members of Paragon Europe's Climate-KIC National Team.

Climate-KIC, one of a number of Knowledge and Innovation Communities created by the European Institute of Technology (EIT), has a mission to accelerate the zero-carbon economy through developing innovation for mitigation and adaptation.

Climate-KIC's Climate Innovation Summit is Europe's leading event connecting climate innovators and leaders from city representatives to policymakers, businesses, entrepreneurs, scientists and academics to share best practice and create the opportunities to scale-up the solutions that accelerate climate action.

The thematic platform introduced by Climate-KIC Chairman Anders Wijkman was followed by a private meeting with Paragon Europe Chairman Edwin Ward where they discussed the 'Valletta Declaration on a Zero Carbon Economy in the Mediterranean' drafted by Paragon Europe and launched earlier this year, as well as exchanging ideas on the importance of effectively engag- ing with the construction industry for tangible change to move towards more sustainable practices.

Mr. Ward also met with ClimateKIC founder and International Ambassador, Professor Mary Ritter OBE to discuss Paragon Europe's vision to lead as an innovation lab in the Mediterranean on climate change issues through involvement in key Climate-KIC programmes. Mr. Ward held talks with ClimateKIC CEO Dr. Kirsten Dunlop to deepen Paragon Europe's involvement in Climate-KIC programmes.

During the Summit Mr. Ward held consultations with ClimateKIC Directors Ebrahim Mohammed and Sean Lockie to discuss Paragon Europe's ongoing involvement in education initiatives and urban transitions.

Paragon Europe Chairman Edwin Ward said, "We face an urgent need for visionary climate leaders. Addressing climate and economic challenges starts with climate change entrepreneurs like Dr. Anton Theuma who have the guts to get out of their comfort zone. Malta is very ably represented in key European networks such as Climate-KIC through Paragon Europe's talented teams led by Dr. Theuma in Malta and Brussels. We look forward to implementing our expanded role in Climate-KIC following this Summit."