ESB and the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), have launched their joint international conference, ACCELERATE: The Transition to a Net Zero Future.

The event which will take place on 26 April at Dublin Royal Convention Centre will explore Ireland's journey

towards a clean energy future, studying developments and innovations that will be key to accelerating the transition to net zero while addressing the challenges facing Ireland, Europe and beyond.

Participants will have the opportunity to listen to a range of global and Irish policymakers, influential thinkers, industry experts and academics as they speak about their aspirations for a resilient, inclusive and sustainable net-zero future.

Speakers will include Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, and keynote speakers Michael Liebreich, a leading thought leader on clean energy, mobility, technology, climate, sustainability, and finance and Olivia Lazard, a Fellow at global think tank Carnegie Europe.

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Liebreich, founder of BloombergNEF and Presenter of the podcast 'Cleaning Up – Leadership in an Age of Climate Change', will look at the main opportunities and threats for the green transition while setting out his vision for a cleaner energy future. Lazard will address attendees on the geopolitics of energy and the risks of conflict and fragility associated with climate change.

Other confirmed speakers include, Barbara Finamore, Senior Visiting Research Fellow, The Oxford Institute for Energy and sectoral regulators Jim Gannon, Chairperson, CRU, John French, Chief Executive, UR along with Laura Brien, CEO, Maritime Area Regulatory Authority. Further high-level expert panels and speakers from academia, industry, and the world of energy regulation will be announced in the coming weeks.

Paddy Hayes, Chief Executive of ESB, said: "At ESB, our Net Zero by 2040 strategy challenges us to decarbonise electricity, to support energy resilience, and to empower our customers to use clean electricity to decarbonise further. The ACCELERATE conference provides the opportunity to hear leading Irish and global energy experts and thinkers discussing the challenges, the possibilities, and the importance of a net zero future. ESB is delighted to partner with the IIEA on the ACCELERATE conference, facilitating the sharing and generation of ideas and insights on energy and sustainability, as we drive to deliver Net Zero."

IIEA Director-General, Alex White, stated: "We are delighted to be working once again with the ESB on Accelerate: The transition to a Net Zero Future conference, which will put the spotlight on some of the most pressing issues in climate and energy policy in Ireland. With global leaders such as Michael Liebreich, Olivia Lazard and others sharing their expertise alongside leading Irish experts and policymakers, this conference will challenge us to think creatively about innovative solutions to the net zero imperative."