The Climatters 2025 program series began on Monday evening at the Budapest headquarters of the Mathias Corvinus Collegium (MCC) with an exclusive VIP reception combined with a professional panel discussion.
The discussion, titled “New Approaches to Climate and Energy Transition: International Institutions and National Strategies,” was attended by H.E. Penny Dewi Herasati, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia; Frédéric Mousseau, Policy Director at The Oakland Institute, USA; and Krzysztof Mulawa, Regional Leader of the Polish Konfederacja party and Member of the Sejm, who kindly accepted to join the panel. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Katarína Sárvári, a researcher at MCC’s Climate Policy Institute.
The conference continued on Tuesday morning with a full-day program, attended by a large audience. The event’s motto highlighted the importance of local expertise, perfectly summarizing the essence of the conference: demonstrating how innovative solutions tailored to national characteristics can contribute to effective climate policy and maintaining energy security.
In his welcoming speech, Dr. Gergely Deli, Rector of the National University of Public Service, emphasized that responses to the challenges of climate change should be grounded in tradition and continuity. He drew attention to the importance of connecting technological, economic, and cultural aspects, as well as the strategic significance of water management.
Zoltán Szalai, Director General of MCC, described evidence-based, calm professionalism as the key to effective environmental policy. He emphasized that real change often begins locally and can be implemented sustainably while respecting national particularities.
Daniella Deli, Deputy Secretary of State for Climate Policy at the Ministry of Energy, highlighted that Hungary achieved its 2030 climate targets by 2023, while the share of renewable energy tripled and carbon dioxide emissions were significantly reduced. She also stressed that while Hungary is fully committed to EU climate goals, national conditions are taken into account during their implementation.
Krzysztof Mulawa advocated for a pragmatic energy policy cantered on national interests. He emphasized that the EU is responsible for only about 6% of global emissions, and therefore the energy transition must be carried out with fair and proportionate burdens.
Several innovative domestic exhibitors also showcased their work at the event, including Objekt, which makes bags from recycled banners; MiReHu, presenting the activities of the Miskolc Reuse Center; and the Zöldövezet Association, which highlights the importance of a waste-free lifestyle through its sustainable products and awareness-raising programs.
Following the professional panel discussions, the event featured a forward-looking initiative: the Greenovation Competition, which provided a unique platform for student teams to present their sustainability project plans. Among the many excellent ideas in this closely contested competition, the Lovoice team emerged as the winner, followed by Ecologit in second place and the Partifecskék team securing third place.
