Social innovation in the energy transition
In 2018, the impacts of climate change were hard to miss: heat waves, droughts, and extreme tropical storms swept the globe, ravaging homes, communities, and infrastructure.
Combating these and other alarming trends requires an all-hands-on-deck approach, with contributions from national and international governments and organisations, the private sector, and communities and individuals.
Social innovation is one of the key drivers of this process. Grassroots climate movements, community energy projects, sustainable startups, and clean-energy entrepreneurs are all examples of social innovation at work. In recognition of social innovation’s growing role in climate action, it was made the centrepiece of IKEM Academy 2019.
IKEM Academy 2019, ‘Social innovation in the energy transition: empowerment through climate action’ featured interactive workshops, a tour of Germany’s first energy-autonomous village, seminars led by renowned experts, networking events, and as usual, a festive farewell barbecue.