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EuDA Annual General Meeting Open-Part, at Sheraton Brussels Airport’Threats and Opportunities from the Sea’European Dredgers’ contribution to some of the World’s biggest Challenges

Date

16 November 2011

Place

Sheraton Brussels

Sea-Level Rise, threat of Natural Disasters, such as earthquakes, and further exploitation of Ocean Energy Sources are among the most important topics on the political agendas in Europe and around the world.

While most efforts are concentrating on the prevention of the causes of Climate Change, mainly on the anthropogenic sources of greenhouse gas emissions, little debate and attention is given to the adaptation to Sea-Level Rise.
Adding to this, our coasts can also be threatened by Natural Disasters, which can strike without warning.
What can the European Dredgers do to prevent or reduce the damaging effects of such events?
And what can they do after their occurrence?

Along with the reflection on how to reduce greenhouse gases emissions, the political debates on the international scene also focus on how to reduce fossil fuel dependence and on the search for sustainable alternative sources of energy.
Although covering the majority of the Earth’s surface, the oceans host some of the most promising, often renewable, and largely underexploited energy sources.
Which are the possibilities of cooperation and project development between the European Dredgers and the ocean energy exploitation?

After setting the scene, this conference will focus on the possible solutions the European Dredgers can offer to prevent or mitigate threats from the sea as well as to seize its opportunities.

The Open Part will have presentations on the Threats from the Sea by:

  • Dr Ida Brøker
    DHI, Head of department, Coastal & Estuarine Dynamics, presenting the threat of sea level rise on the coastal zones of North of Europe.
  • Dr Erik Van Wellen
    DEME, EuDA Environment & CO2 expert, presenting the threat of natural disasters on the coastal zones and dredging.

As well as presentations on the Opportunities from the Sea:

  • Dr Karl Christian Strømsem
    European Ocean Energy Association Director, presenting the opportunities to exploit renewable energy from the sea.
  • Hendrik Postma
    General Manager, Dredging Dep. & Hydrodynamic at Boskalis, wrapping up and presenting the dredging know how and experience with these key global challenges.