- October 12, 2023
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- October 12, 2023

Cities are a hub for political, economic and social developments. They not only stand for innovation, progress and change, but also bear a great responsibility with regard to climate change, social justice and inclusivity, mobility, health and the future of work. The transatlantic cooperation project “Future Cities” aims to raise awareness of the complexity of tomorrow’s city among different stakeholders in society and to provide new impetus for the development of future scenarios. The aim is to support sustainable and future-oriented development in cities and to promote transatlantic exchange between them. What should the city of the future look like? What role can transatlantic relations play in shaping it? How can cities be made more sustainable, inclusive, innovative and resilient? As part of the project, Aspen Germany will host a transatlantic hybrid conference in Berlin on October 12, 2023. This recorded conference will bring together more than 100 high-level participants* from Germany, Europe, the United States, and other parts of the world. Aspen Germany will also work with print, broadcast, and digital and social media to facilitate and engage discussion and debate across borders.
Agenda
Final Conference
9:30 – 10:00 | Welcome Coffee and Registration |
10:00-10:15 | Welcome Remarks by Stormy-Annika Mildner, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Germany |
10:15 –10:30 | Opening Keynote with Florian Hauer, State Secretary for Federal-, European- and International Affairs, Plenipotentiary of the State of Berlin to the Federal Government |
10:30 –11:45 | Discussion “Cities through the Looking Glass” with Nedra Deadwyler, Founder & CEO, Civil Bikes, Eli Lipmen, Executive Director, Move LA and Sanna Richter, Project Manager, Berlin Senate Department for Urban Development, Building and Housing. Moderated by Alanus von Radecki, CEO of Data Competence Center for Cities and Regions – DKCR |
11:45 –12:45 | Lunch |
12:45 –13:15 | Keynote “Building futures, future buildings” with Erin Bromaghim, Deputy Mayor of International Affairs, City of Los Angeles |
13:15-14:15 | Panel Discussion “Why Smart Cities matter” with Rolf Erfurt, COO, Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG), Frauke Janßen, Commissioner for Digitalization, German Association of Cities, Stefan Kögl, General Manager Siemensstadt², Siemens AG, Alexa Möller, COO and Managing Director, Polyteia and Frank Wolters, CEO, Tegel Projekt GmbH. Moderated by Matt Petersen, President & CEO, Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator |
14:15-15:15 | Panel Discussion “Summer in the City: Climate Mitigation and Adaptation as Catalysts of Transformation” with Thomas Heilmann, Member of Parliament, CDU/CSU, Anja Liebert [virtual], Member of Parliament, Bündnis90/Die Grünen, Susanne Schmelcher, Head of Unit Quartier & Stadt, German Energy Agency and Linda Vierecke, Berlin House of Representatives, SPD. Moderated by Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, Senior Advisor, Programm Europas Zukunft, Bertelsmann Foundation |
15:15-16:00 | Coffee Break |
16:00-17:00 | Panel Discussion“Fair for All? How to Combat Social Inequality in Cities” with Nicola Brandt, Head of Centre, OECD Berlin Centre and Catherina Hinz, Executive Director, Berlin Institute for Population and Development, Ana-Maria Trăsnea, Member of Parliament, SPD. Moderated by Angelika Hinterbrandner, Freelance Journalist and Architect |
17:00-18:00 | Transatlantic 2-on-1 with Jennifer Morgan, Secretary of State and Special Representative for International Climate Policy, Federal Foreign Office and Nina Hachigian [virtual], Special Representative for City and State Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State. Moderated by Stormy-Annika Mildner, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Germany |
18:00 | End |