Governments, Cities and Technologies for the New Age

The world faces multiple challenges caused by the sharp economic decline, rising energy security problems, worsening climate change worries and flagging confidence in governments’ abilities to resolve underlying societal problems. The 14th annual conference of the German-British Forum tackles these issues head-on by focusing on practical ways of resolving these difficulties through down-to-earth action by local government, in partnership with the business, technology and financial community.

The debate recognises that city-level solutions generated in large conurbations such as London, Berlin and Hamburg can provide a vital stimulus to sustainable policies on energy, economics and the environment at a wider national and international level.

The conference brings together practitioners from the UK and German governments, the cities of London, Berlin and Hamburg as well as larger and smaller companies involved in the energy and environmental businesses. Among the subjects under discussion will be: Are cities better equipped than central government for the task of durably improving conditions for business and employment growth? What is the best combination of finance and technology for city development? What countries have the best policies on decentralisation? What should be the respective roles of governments and business in driving structural change? What type of companies – large and small - have had the greatest impact in introducing environmental technologies at a local level? How can dynamic entrepreneurial management in smaller companies make a difference to society and the environment?

As in previous years the conference is organised in cooperation with the German Embassy, the British Chamber of Commerce in Germany and the German-British Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Air Berlin and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office are sponsors of the event. The conference should be of interest to business and finance people from both large and small companies, planners, administrators, politicians and academics.

The event develops further ideas already generated in recent years during previous GBF conferences on sustainability in 2006 and 2007.