COPENHAGEN—Hundreds of public- and private-sector energy leaders from nearly 50 countries gathered in Copenhagen Monday to kick off the Energy Efficiency Global Forum (EE Global), the premier global conference on energy efficiency. The Forum, now in its 11^th year, convenes experts from across sectors to discuss the latest global trends, innovations and policies for advancing energy efficiency.

Focused on the theme of Energy Efficiency: Innovation, Investment, Impact, EE Global 2018 is organized by the Alliance to Save Energy and the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency, and supported by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The conference is being held as part of Nordic Clean Energy Week and immediately before the annual Clean Energy Ministerial, also in Copenhagen.

As part of the Forum, the Alliance on Monday afternoon will present its annual Visionary Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to the advancement of energy efficiency, to Dr. Bertrand Piccard. Piccard, initiator and chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundations, will be recognized for his efforts launching the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions, which will be selecting 1000 solutions that protect the environment in a profitable way. The solutions will be presented to world leaders at the COP24 climate talks in December to encourage the adoption of more ambitious environmental targets and energy policies.

Government and business leaders speaking at EE Global 2018’s plenary sessions include: Michael Cesarz, CEO, thyssenkrupp Elevator - MULTI; Santiago Creuheras Diaz, Director General, Energy Efficiency & Sustainability, Mexico Energy Ministry; Jason Hartke, President, Alliance to Save Energy; Joyce Henry, Director General, Office of Energy Efficiency, Natural Resources Canada; Tore Harritshøj, CEO, E.ON Denmark; Susanne Hyldelund, State Secretary for Trade, Danish Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Brian Motherway, Head of Energy Efficiency, International Energy Agency; Andrew McAllister, Commissioner, California Energy Commission; Clay Nesler, Vice President, Global Energy & Sustainability, Johnson Controls Inc.; Dr. Bertrand Piccard, Chairman & Initiator, Solar Impulse Foundation; Mark Radka, Head, Energy, Climate & Technology Branch, UN Environment; Mechthild Wörsdörfer, Director, Renewables, Research and Innovation, Energy Efficiency, European Commission; Bert Van Hoof, Partner - Group Program Manager, Microsoft; and Christian Zinglersen, Head, Clean Energy Ministerial.

“Countries across the world have diverse energy systems, yet all share the enormous potential of harnessing energy efficiency to reduce costs while protecting the climate,” said Alliance to Save Energy President Jason Hartke. “At EE Global we bring together energy efficiency leaders from dozens of countries because we have a lot to learn from each other to use energy more wisely.”

About the Alliance to Save Energy

Founded in 1977, the Alliance to Save Energy is a nonprofit, bipartisan alliance of business, government, environmental and consumer leaders working to expand the economy while using less energy. Our mission is to promote energy productivity worldwide – including through energy efficiency – to achieve a stronger economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy security, affordability and reliability.

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