Bank of Lithuania
October 21 09:00 - 16:30
Vilnius Radisson Blu Hotel Lietuva (Konstitucijos pr. 20)

By organising this conference, the Bank of Lithuania seeks to bring together policy advisors, business representatives and academics to discuss the best practices and ways for addressing challenges. We hope that the ideas and insights shared at the event will help Lithuania’s policy makers  adopt adequate and effective policy measures. The conference is expected to bring together around 120 attendees: high level policy makers, experts and representatives from state and international institutions or organisations as well as businesses and academia.

Public awareness on environmental issues has been increasing globally, and green policies found their place among the top priorities of international institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United Nations (UN), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), as well as some governments. Scientists highlight the global need to transform the economy to a green and sustainable one, and the EU has taken a much stronger stance on this issue in recent years. Despite that, there is no clear recipe on how we should handle the transition to the green economy. The change is socially desirable and critical for sustainability, but the abrupt dismantlement of the brown economic sector entails significant socio-economic costs. Therefore, the question is: can we implement the idea of a green economy, while at the same time reducing the transition costs? Moreover, are there alternatives to urgent and bold policy actions, since we are swiftly running out of other opportunities? The ideal combination of policy measures that would both encourage more sustainable solutions and mitigate their negative impact on the economy is yet to be discovered.

With the European Green Deal, the EU aims to achieve the 2050 climate-neutrality target. While it shows a strong vision for a green and sustainable future, there are quite a few hurdles and challenges to overcome. Despite the progress made worldwide, most of businesses in Lithuania are only taking their first steps. A successful transition to a greener economy could be the push that Lithuania needs to create a more advanced economic structure. However, this also depends on timely and proper strategic decisions of the country’s institutions, including the creation of systems that motivate businesses and people to be a part of this green change.

Format of the event: hybrid, i.e. some of the speakers will join remotely, while others will participate live. We invite the participants to register and come to the venue, and for those who do not have the opportunity – to watch the conference remotely on this page.

Languages of the event: the first part will be held in English, while the second part will be held in Lithuanian.

During the event, you will also have the opportunity to be the first ones to see a gold collector coin dedicated to Social Sciences (from the series ‘Lithuanian Science’), of which economics forms an integral part. The Bank of Lithuania will issue the coin at the end of October.

Press release: A smooth green transformation of the economy can only be achieved with the right incentive system in place

Speakers (698.6 KB download icon)

PROGRAMME

08:30–09:00 Registration and welcome coffee
09:00–09:10

Welcome remarksGediminas Šimkus, Chairman of the Board, Bank of Lithuania

09:10–09:40

Keynote speech – Ian Goldin, Professor of Globalisation and Development, University of Oxford

SESSION 1
(English)

ADAPTATION VS. TRANSFORMATION: HOW DO WE MAKE ECONOMIES GREENER?

09:40–10:05

“Fiscal Policies to Curb Climate Change” (305.5 KB download icon)
Ian Parry, Principal Environmental Fiscal Policy Expert, IMF

10:05-10:30

“The Central Bank’s Role in Greening the Financial System” (125.5 KB download icon)
Olaf Sleijpen, Member of the Executive Board, De Nederlandsche Bank

10:30-10:55

"Europe’s Green Deal After the Coronavirus”  (886.6 KB download icon)
Thomas Sterner, Professor of Environmental Economics, University of Gothenburg

10:55-11:20

“Common Agricultural Policy and the Green Transformation”  (496.7 KB download icon)
Allan Buckwell, Research Director, RISE Foundation

11:20–12:20

Panel discussion and Q&A

Moderator – Tomas Garbaravičius, Advisor to the Deputy Chair of the Board, Bank of Lithuania

Panellists:

  • Ian Parry, Principal Environmental Fiscal Policy Expert, IMF
  • Olaf Sleijpen, Member of the Executive Board, De Nederlandsche Bank N.V.
  • Thomas Sterner, Professor of Environmental Economics, University of Gothenburg
  • Allan Buckwell, Research Director, RISE Foundation
12:20–13:10

Lunch break 

SESSION 2
(Lithuanian)

TRANSFORMING LITHUANIA TO THE GREEN ECONOMY: WHERE DO WE WANT TO BE AND HOW TO GET THERE?
13:10–13:35

“Challenges of Climate Change and Ways of Adressing Them” (691.3 KB download icon)
Darius Imbrasas, Chief Economist, Macroeconomics and Forecasting Division, Bank of Lithuania

13:35-14:00

“Less Waste, Less Disposal, More Recycling” (1.1 MB download icon)
Rasa Tumaševičiūtė, Circular Economy Consultant, Climate Pact Ambassador

14:00–14:20

Coffee break

14:20–14:45

“Lithuania‘s Long-term Vision for Climate Change Action and Energy Policy” (3.1 MB download icon)
Simonas Gentvilas, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania

14:45-15:10

“Business (R)evolution: The Green Deal Opens Up New Opportunities” (3.1 MB download icon)
Jurgita Giržadienė, Sustainability manager, Smurfit Kappa

15:10–16:10

Panel discussion and Q&A

Moderator – Aurelijus Dabušinskas, Director of the Economics and Financial Stability Service, Bank of Lithuania

Panellists:

  • Darius Imbrasas, Chief Economist, Macroeconomics and Forecasting Division, Bank of Lithuania
  • Rasa Tumaševičiūtė, Circular Economy Consultant, Climate Pact Ambassador
  • Simonas Gentvilas, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Lithuania
  • Jurgita Giržadienė, Sustainability manager, Smurfit Kappa
16:10–16:30

End of the conference, closing remarks

NB! Registration and National Certificate are required only for physical attendance at the conference venue.

Last update: 29-10-2021