Hamburg Sustainability Conference 2024
DEKRA participated in the Hamburg Sustainability Conference on October 7-8, 2024. The event brought together global policymakers, business leaders, and civil society representatives to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With participants from over 70 countries, the conference focused on forging partnerships and driving high-impact actions to address global challenges.
DEKRA was proud to support and actively contribute to the event. We look forward to sharing the key results and insights gained with all those interested in advancing sustainability efforts.
About the Event
DEKRA Panelist
Stan Zurkiewicz
DEKRA CEO
Panel: From Risk to Reward: Boosting Private Investment in Power-to-X Projects
Hydrogen has emerged as a pivotal element in the transition towards a sustainable energy future, offering potential as a clean, versatile energy carrier capable of decarbonizing various sectors, from transportation to industrial processes. Realizing the full potential of hydrogen requires substantial investments in production, infrastructure, and technology. In developing countries, launching green hydrogen projects involves significant risks that can slow development processes and increase production costs for private companies. Empowering private investment is crucial for unlocking hydrogen's potential as a green energy solution. By leveraging private capital and fostering innovation, the journey toward a greener and more resilient energy future can be accelerated. What strategies can be implemented to empower private investments and ensure the success of green hydrogen projects while effectively managing risks?
Stan Zurkiewicz
How Testing, Inspection, and Certification Can Help Boosting Private Investments in Power-to-X Projects
The bankability of Power-to-X projects is impacted by the degree of investors having transparency regarding all relevant risk areas, among them safety, security, and sustainability risks across the entire supply chain, i.e. hydrogen. Trusted third parties like DEKRA can play a key role in de-risking these projects, as we specialize in end-to-end risk management, covering hydrogen’s full lifecycle—from well to use—ensuring that the infrastructure and supply chains are fit for scaling hydrogen safely and sustainably and meet legislative requirements. DEKRA’s CEO Stan Zurkiewicz pointed out that “we need to push towards a 360-degree risk-management, as well as globally aligned and accepted standardization and certification frameworks for renewable energies to make hydrogen a sound investment case across regions and along the whole value chain”.
Three Pillars to Grow Trust, Investments, and Rewards
Global Standards: Clean energy must be officially recognised by authorities, industries, and trading zones as genuinely "decarbonised" or "green." This requires verification systems and traceable standards. We see some progress here, but the affected industries need accepted standards more quickly.
Digitalization: In hydrogen and other Power-to-X projects, it is not just about the physical infrastructure. Software solutions are integral to optimizing processes, ensuring safety, and reducing operational risks. Although this adds complexity, it is crucial for scalable and efficient energy deployment.
Training: The energy transition introduces new players to the market who ignite innovation but may lack the experience to handle the technology and operational risks involved in hydrogen. or in applying related legislative requirements. Guiding them through these challenges, standards, and requirements throughout the entire hydrogen life cycle is essential to forming a reliable industry with bankable projects.
Hydrogen is a cornerstone of the global energy transition. Yet, to fully unlock its potential, we must effectively manage the risks that hinder private investments, and build a reliable, trustworthy, safe, and sustainable ecosystem. DEKRA is fully committed to serve this target.
Stan Zurkiewicz, CEO DEKRA
Solution Talk: AI and Mobility Data for All
Digital data and AI are crucial for advancing efficient and sustainable urban mobility. However, many developing regions still lack access to these essential tools. This session will explore strategies for bridging data gaps and ensuring equitable access to mobility data, AI technology, and expertise, with a focus on overcoming challenges in underserved regions. How can we achieve universal access to mobility data globally?
Stan Zurkiewicz
Safe & Secure Mobility is a Basic Human Need That AI Can Help Fulfill
In low- and middle-income countries, which account for 60% of the world's vehicles but over 90% of road deaths, there is a pressing need for improved traffic safety. Advanced digital systems and AI technologies can address these challenges. Countries that have successfully implemented technologies like Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) have seen significant reductions in traffic fatalities. This underscores the urgent need to ensure global accessibility to mobility data and AI technologies.
The Importance of Trustworthy AI
While the benefits of AI are numerous, it is undeniable that, like any technology, it has its vulnerabilities, whether from cyber attacks or poor data quality. “We must ensure that AI in mobility is trustworthy. It needs to be safe, secure, and responsible towards people and the environment,” said Stan Zurkiewicz, DEKRA’s CEO. He also highlighted two best practices of DEKRA to ensure trustworthy AI in mobility:
Establishing Reliable Standards
Robust quality management systems, comprehensive risk assessments, and effective testing and conformity assessment procedures are indispensable for trustworthy AI. DEKRA is working with industry and government bodies to establish such standards in Europe, with implementation set to begin in 2026.
Pre-Regulation Compliance
There are many early adopters in the AI & mobility market who want to launch their products pre-regulation. To secure their future compliance, DEKRA can apply both existing standards and unique methods developed specifically for AI. For instance, DEKRA has assisted leading AI and ADAS creators in certifying the quality of their data labeling processes, which are essential for developing accurate and reliable machine learning models.
The Mobility Data Space: A Successful Approach to Promote Equitable Access to Mobility Data
Data is the raw material for the future of mobility, that’s why equal access is so essential. However, data & cyber security remain a top priority. “Given the complexity of data exchange in the mobility sector, it is crucial that future data-sharing solutions incorporate a secure identity management system, standardization of data transmission, data certification, and an intermediary to manage approvals, billing, and usage restrictions,” explained Stan Zurkiewicz, DEKRA’s CEO.
The European Mobility Data Space (MDS) could serve as a blueprint for promoting such safe mobility data sharing and facilitating access to innovative technologies, thereby enabling safe, more sustainable, and equal mobility. As part of the European cloud initiative Gaia-X, the MDS provides a secure data infrastructure for European mobility stakeholders, fostering collaboration among transport companies, the automotive industry, and local authorities. DEKRA is proud to be one of the participants in this initiative.
Accelerator Group II: Hamburg Charter for Inclusive and Just Mobility
The world is entering an era of zero-emission transport to combat climate change, necessitating an equitable transition that ensures dignified jobs and equal opportunities for all. A just transition requires increased participation of women and marginalized groups in the workforce, alongside social protections for workers. Focusing on investments in sustainable transport systems highlights their potential as key employment drivers. Establishing alliances among the private sector, labor organizations, and policymakers is essential for shaping the decarbonization and digitalization of the transport sector in a socially equitable manner. What global principles can be adopted to ensure an inclusive mobility transition as outlined in the Hamburg Charter for Just Mobility?
Stan Zurkiewicz
Principles for a Fair and Sustainable Transport Transition
Together with around 20 organisations and institutions, DEKRA signed the Hamburg Charter for Inclusive and Just Mobility, promoting equitable access to mobility, climate protection, and resource efficiency. The Charter was co-created by international organisations, private sector representatives, and policymakers. Moving forward, DEKRA will engage in ongoing dialogue and collaborative efforts to implement the charter's commitments and ensure a just mobility transition for all.
The Key Principles
The Hamburg Charter for Inclusive and Just Mobility outlines eight key principles aimed at creating an equitable transport system. We plan to contribute to them.
Implementation on Different Levels
The Charter is implemented at local, national, and international levels. Each level works to align mobility practices with the charter’s principles. Collaboration across these levels ensures a coordinated approach to achieving inclusive and sustainable mobility.
Climate-Friendly Mobility Industries and Businesses
DEKRA is committed to supporting the development of sustainable value chains and practices in the transport sector. Our testing, inspection, and certification expertise includes climate-friendly energy generation, transportation, and usage as well as ZEV vehicle homologation & inspection.
Promotion of Electric Mobility
Empowered and Integrated Transport
Data, Transparency and Planning
Fair and Dignified Jobs 1
Fair and Dignified Jobs 2
Our commitment to the charter reflects DEKRA's mission to enhance safety, security, and sustainability in mobility. As a global leader in Testing, Inspection, and Certification, we play a crucial role in ensuring that vehicles and infrastructure meet the highest safety and environmental standards.
Stan Zurkiewicz, CEO DEKRA
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