The second day of AmCham EU’s all-digital Transatlantic Conference 2021 took place on Thursday, 25 March. Opening remarks from Zeger Vercouteren, Chair, AmCham EU (J&J) and Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU emphasised the urgency of the climate change agenda for both sides of the Atlantic, citing the need for all segments of society to accelerate efforts towards Paris Agreement targets to limit global warming.
Transatlantic Conference 2021 Day 2: sustainability and climate change
The second day of AmCham EU’s all-digital Transatlantic Conference 2021 took place on Thursday, 25 March. Opening remarks from Zeger Vercouteren, Chair, AmCham EU (J&J) and Susan Danger, CEO, AmCham EU emphasised the urgency of the climate change agenda for both sides of the Atlantic, citing the need for all segments of society to accelerate efforts towards Paris Agreement targets to limit global warming.
Back in the game
European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson delivered the day’s opening keynote speech. Reaffirming that climate change is an absolute priority for the EU, she expressed her satisfaction that the US is ‘back in the game’ in reference to the Biden administration re-joining the Paris Agreement. She expressed that commitment to climate neutrality is once again an area of strength and union between the EU and the US. Read the transcript of Commissioner Simson's speech here.
Green is the way to grow
Following Commissioner Simson’s keynote, she was joined by fellow panellists Mark Widmar, CEO, First Solar and Ilham Kadri, CEO, Solvay for a conversation on clean technology moderated by Sasha Vakulina of Euronews. The panellists highlighted a clear sense of urgency to work towards renewable solutions. Leveraging the power of digitalisation will be essential to meet climate targets. Widmar and Kadri both called for policy mechanisms that enable disruption and innovation to tackle climate change. They also underlined the importance of a common dialogue between the EU and the US to ensure convergence on common goals.
The business case for circularity
Next up on the agenda, Emma Watkins, Senior Policy Analyst, Institute for European Environmental Policy was joined by Jacques Playe, Global Head of Packaging and Product Development, L’Oréal and Guillaume Alvarez, Senior Vice President EMEA, Steelcase for a discussion on how businesses are implementing circularity solutions.
Playe and Alvarez identified the scope of initiatives that the private sector is implementing in circularity, including making products refillable, recyclable, reusable and compostable; buying plastics from recycled or bio-based sources; and overall reduction in the quantity of all packaging used in products. They both spoke of the opportunities for further cooperation between the public and private sector, and the need for more joined up legislation with common definitions of circularity and recyclability.
Sprint towards net-zero
The final panel of the day, titled ‘Climate diplomacy and the role of international cooperation’ brought together HE Marc Vanheukelen, 'Hors Classe' Adviser and Ambassador at Large for Climate Diplomacy EEAS; HE Maria O’Brien, Ambassador of The Bahamas to the EU; and David Livingston, Senior Adviser on Climate, US Department of State for a discussion moderated by Simone Tagliapietra, Research Fellow, Bruegel.
David Livingston underscored that this decade is a sprint towards net-zero, in order to keep the 1.5°C target for temperature rise alive. Deep structural advancements are required to reach this. HE O’Brien shone a light on the importance of global cooperation to overcome climate change, given the disproportionate impacts of climate change on small island states such as the Bahamas. HE Vanheukelen agreed that this decade will be pivotal for the attainment of climate ambition. He called for greater cooperation and leadership of the EU and the US to bring the G20 along and increase global climate ambition.
Join us for day 3!
Day three of our Transatlantic Conference 2021 will kick off at 14.00 CET on Friday, 26 March. The discussions will focus on the transatlantic digital economy. Join us on our digital platform or follow the event on Twitter: #Transatlantic2021.
Related items
:focal())
Position Paper
21 Apr 2026
Industrial Accelerator Act: keeping Europe competitive and open to investment
The Industrial Accelerator Act will be a key test of whether the EU can strengthen industrial competitiveness while advancing decarbonisation. With significant pressure already weighing on businesses in Europe, from high energy costs and supply chain disruptions to unnecessary red tape and intensifying global competition, getting that balance right matters. If Europe fails to send clear signals that it remains a predictable place to invest, capital will go elsewhere.
AmCham EU supports the objectives of the IAA, but its success will depend on how it is designed. A central question in the debate is how ‘European preference’ should be approached. Strengthening Europe’s economic resilience and security is a legitimate objective. However, an approach that creates uncertainty for companies from partner countries, particularly by leaving key decisions to secondary legislation, risks undermining investment and limiting access to the technologies needed for the transition.
The focus should instead be on providing clarity early and rewarding companies that create real EU-added value through manufacturing, R&D, skills and emissions reductions. Learn more in our full paper.
:focal())
News
20 Apr 2026
Discussing environment policy priorities with policymakers in Finland
From Monday, 13 to Wednesday, 15 April, AmCham EU travelled to Helsinki for a series of meetings with Finnish stakeholders on the future of EU environment policy. In discussions with representatives from the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of the Environment, the European Chemicals Agency and Members of the Finnish Parliament, the delegation examined how the EU can pursue its environmental objectives and support competitiveness by delivering long-term simplification in environmental policies.
Across the meetings, one theme was evident. Europe’s environmental legislation must be more coherent and efficient across the Single Market. Members emphasised that simplification is not about lowering standards, but about avoiding unnecessary complexity while preserving a high level of environmental and human health protection and building the business case for investment in sustainable frameworks such as Circular Economy. As the EU takes forward its next environment policy initiatives, the priority should be a framework that combines ambition with legal certainty, supports investment and delivers practical outcomes across Europe.
:focal())
News
13 Mar 2026
Joint industry statement urges review of product sustainability labelling
Together with 14 industry associations from various sectors, AmCham EU has signed a joint statement calling for the withdrawal of horizontal label requirements under the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation. While supporting the objective of improving the sustainability of products placed on the EU market and providing transparent information to consumers, the group warn that introducing horizontal labelling requirements without specific metrics and methodologies risks creating regulatory complexity and consumer confusion. The signatoires urges EU policymakers to instead address the need for a label and potential related requirements through product-specific measures supported by robust methodologies.
Policy priorities
Insights and advocacy driving Europe’s policy agenda. Our priorities support growth, innovation and a stronger transatlantic economy.
Membership
Connecting business and policymakers to strengthen the voice of American companies in Europe.