MEDIA RELEASE: Multi-Interest Show of Support as Energy Industry Leaders and Innovators Come Together to Launch Energy Futures Lab 2.0

The Energy Futures Lab is an Alberta-based, multi-interest collaboration designed to accelerate the development of a “fit for the future” energy system. It brings together a cohort of influential leaders to address current and emerging energy challenges, and generate opportunities for new initiatives and collaborations.

CALGARY, February 11, 2019 – A diverse group of energy innovators and partner organizations will gather at the Energy Futures Lab (EFL) Summit in Calgary on February 12 to officially launch EFL 2.0. The EFL Summit will explore the leadership role that the EFL can play in helping accelerate progress in the context of the urgent need for action and the growing polarization on energy issues in Alberta and Canada.

Building on successes and learning from its first phase, EFL 2.0 will see oil and gas executives, cleantech and renewable energy companies, First Nations leaders, environmental groups, academics, and others working together to:

• Continue to identify, develop and pressure-test innovative solutions for accelerating the transition to the energy system the future requires of us;

• Strengthen the capacity of business and government to adopt and support such innovative solutions;

• Align a growing community of leaders and their organizations behind a bold and transformative vision for the future of energy in Canada and the possible transition pathways to achieve it;

• Inspire and share stories that help depolarize the public conversation about energy in Canada and accelerate progress toward a shared vision.

“The energy and climate change debates of the past decade have left Canada polarized in a myriad of ways,” said The Natural Step Canada’s President & CEO David Hughes. “Meanwhile, much of the rest of the world – especially its technology innovators – is racing to a new energy future that will reshape politics, economics, and cultural dynamics around the world. It is a time that requires bold and collaborative leadership.”

“Since its launch in 2015, the EFL has proven a unique forum for overcoming divisiveness and finding productive common ground among diverse stakeholders,” says Alison Cretney, EFL Managing Director. “With the launch of EFL 2.0, we are doubling down on this approach and planning to deepen and extend its impact.

The Convening Partners of EFL 2.0 are committed to supporting EFL Fellows as they develop exemplar initiatives in response to the question: how can we leverage our leadership position in today’s energy system to create the energy system that the future requires of us?

The EFL partners, Fellows, Steering Committee and broader community will mark the transition from EFL 1.0 to EFL 2.0 at the first EFL Summit, which will include a dialogue with federal Natural Resources Minister The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi. Minister Sohi and several Energy Futures Lab partners will be available for a short media scrum at 9:00 a.m. following the Minister’s remarks. Media is invited to the Minister’s dialogue starting at 8:30 a.m at the University of Calgary’s Red & White Club, North end McMahon Stadium.

EFL 2.0 is proudly supported by the following Convening Partners:

• Alberta Innovates

• Alberta Real Estate Foundation

• Canada West Foundation

• Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business

• Canadian Energy Systems Analysis Research (CESAR)

• Capital Power

• Cenovus Energy

• Emissions Reduction Alberta

• Energy Efficiency Alberta

• Government of Alberta

• Indigenous Clean Energy

• JWN Energy

• Pembina Institute

• QUEST

• RBC Foundation

• Shell Canada

• Student Energy

• Suncor Energy Foundation

• The Natural Step Canada

#Culture_Shift #Fellowship #EFL_Platform #2019