Adapting to climate change and minimising its impacts whilst we are looking to create a more sustainable world is one of our most complex battles. Whether as a county council, district council or combined authority, local government has its own set of challenges when managing climate change risks and climate action initiatives.
techUK is convening public sector and industry stakeholders to a workshop aimed at exploring how local authorities are dealing with the risk posed by climate change and how we can best support them on their journey to net zero. Harnessing the advantages of tech and digital innovation can have long term benefits for local councils’ digital strategies and vision to reaching net zero, reducing costs and attracting more innovative solutions that could even go further and helping tackle other issues. This is a great opportunity for county councils, district councils or combined authorities to showcase the challenges they face in a safe and neutral space, as well as connect with industry representatives to discuss what digital innovation and technologies are needed to help public sector organisations mitigate climate change risk and improve the adoption of sustainable practices in their community.
Some of the challenges and opportunities that will be discussed include:
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How can digital innovation support local authorities to understand and mitigate climate change risks? What are the technologies needed? e.g. Climate Change Statistics portal developed by ONS – How is it used by local authorities? Can the functionality be improved to support local authorities’ needs?
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What are the rural vs urban disparities and diversity in challenges when it comes to climate change action?
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How can investing in climate change action benefit the regions across the UK and support the growth of local tech ecosystems and the levelling-up agenda?
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Are there opportunities for city councils to access financial tools that can help them aggregate resources and interventions?
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Are there groups that local authorities should be collaborating with to manage climate action initiatives? e.g. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, The Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT)
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How can local authorities prepare for environmental events that could impact its citizens through disruption in broadband and telecoms?
We are delighted to have the following speakers part of this conversation:
Georgina Maratheftis
Georgina Maratheftis
Georgina is techUK’s Associate Director for Local Public Services
Georgina works with suppliers that are active or looking to break into the market as well as with local public services to create the conditions for meaningful transformation. techUK regularly bring together local public services and supplier community to horizon scan and explore how the technologies of today and tomorrow can help solve some of the most pressing problems our communities face and improve outcomes for our people and places.
Prior to techUK, Georgina worked for a public policy events company where she managed the policy briefing division and was responsible for generating new ideas for events that would add value to the public sector. Georgina worked across a number of portfolios from education, criminal justice, and health but had a particular interest in public sector transformation and technology. Georgina also led on developing relationships across central and local government.
If you’d like to learn more about techUK, or want to get involved, get in touch.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2029
- Twitter:
- @GeorginaMarath
- Website:
- www.techuk.org/
- LinkedIn:
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgina-maratheftis-0a002a102/
Ileana Lupsa
Ileana Lupsa
Ileana Lupsa is the Programme Manager for Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, at techUK.
Ileana studied electronics, telecommunications and IT as an undergraduate, followed by an MSc in engineering and project management at Coventry University.
She refined her programme management expertise through her most recent roles working in the automotive industry.
Ileana is passionate about sustainability and creating a positive impact globally through innovation.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Twitter:
- @IleanaLupsa
- Website:
- www.techUK.org
- LinkedIn:
- www.linkedin.com/in/ileana-lupsa
Craig Melson
Craig Melson
Craig is Associate Director for Climate, Environment and Sustainability and leads on our work in these areas ranging from climate change, ESG disclosures and due diligence, through to circular economy, business and human rights, conflict minerals and post-Brexit regulation.
Prior to joining techUK he worked in public affairs and policy has an avid interest in new and emerging technologies. Craig has a degree in Ancient History from King’s College London and spends his time watching Watford FC and holding out hope for Half Life 3.
- Email:
- [email protected]
- Phone:
- 020 7331 2172
- Twitter:
- @techUK,@techUK
- Website:
- www.techuk.org,www.techuk.org
- LinkedIn:
- https://uk.linkedin.com/in/craig-melson-25479936,https://uk.linkedin.com/in/craig-melson-25479936
techUK – Building Stronger Local Economies
techUK works with our members, Combined Authorities, Local Enterprise Partnerships, and local communities to identify digital solutions to local challenges. We support digital policy that reflects local priorities across each region and nation in the UK. For more information or to get in touch, please visit our Nations and Regions Hub and complete the ‘contact us’ form.
