Sustainable Energy Finance and Investment Summit 2011

Croatia – Home of diversely beautiful landscapes and a ‘blossoming’ renewable energy sector.

Unlike Copenhagen, where the what some might refer to as ‘disastrous’ climate change summit took place in 2009, Croatia is a more ‘unlikely’ destination for a leading European renewable energy conference.

It is in this ‘unlikeliest’ of places, which is to be the location for Sustainable Energy Finance and Investment Summit 2011, placing Croatia firmly on the business and commerce map.

Legend has it that the name of the Croatian city of Cavtat derives from the old Croatian verb ‘captiti’ – ‘to blossom’, in reference to the surplus of yellow juniper which rampantly ‘blossoms’ throughout the town, spreading its sweet aroma and sunny aura with it.

Perhaps it is this fascinating Cavtat charm, which made the European Environment Agency (EEA) decide to hold the Sustainable Energy Finance and Investment Summit in Cavtat in Croatia this year, backed up by the town’s harmonious architecture and rich cultural heritage, born out of its Roman colony.

Nonetheless, delegates of this important climate change summit, which will take place on October 19 of this year, will be arriving at a truly beautiful town, steeped in history, culture and with a growing sense of commerce.

Europe has committed to obtaining 20% of its energy from sustainable sources by the year 2020. The aim of the Cavtat summit is to identify ways of financing renewable energy projects so that Europe will be more on target to achieve its goals.

The conference will involve a number of invited speakers highlighting the importance of investment and regional co-operation to promote more efficient forms of energy that are much kinder to the planet, with a key focus on reducing energy costs. There will also be two workshops put on during the conference, the first being ‘The keys to making sure your sustainable energy project will be financeable’ and the second is titled, ‘A project Financing for Public Authorities – Capacity Building Workshop’.

Croatia, with its vast, varied and rural landscape, has great natural potentials and possibilities for the use of renewable energy sources. The importance of implementing renewable energy projects was recognized as early as the 1970s and 80s in Croatia, when programs promoting wind, solar and geothermal technologies established and supported with financial and legislative measures.

Latterly, Croatia has harmonized the general concept of the energy industry reforms with the legal EU requirements. It is within these realms that make Croatia the perfect location for Sustainable Energy Finance and Investment Summit 2011, and those lucky enough to be attending the critical climate change conference, will have the pleasure of exploring the beautiful town of Cavtat and its charismatic bay.