Széchenyi István University launched a new dialogue and collaboration between the public, industry, government and academia to create an increasingly sustainable future at the 1st Eco-Picnic and Green Economy Conference held over the weekend. The two-day event was organised to raise awareness, but its results go far beyond that: the foundations were laid for professional cooperation in the short term.

Ensuring a healthy, liveable environment and achieving sustainable economic development are a priority, said the Secretary of State for Environment and Circular Economy of the Ministry of Technology and Industry (TIM) at the 1st Eco-Picnic and Green Economy Conference in Mosonmagyaróvár on Friday. Dr. Anikó Raisz, one of the main patrons of the event, said in her welcome speech that they see the way to achieve these goals in the coordination of economic growth and environmental protection. She added that research and development is of great importance in this regard, and the government is giving universities a central role in this.

"We are especially pleased that Széchenyi István University and its faculty in Mosonmagyaróvár are part of and actively shaping activities for the implementation of sustainability." - she pointed out in her opening speech.

The other main patron of the conference, Dr. István Árvay, Mayor of Mosonmagyaróvár, referring to the recent inauguration of a liquid natural gas filling station, stressed that great things can happen in a small rural town. He announced that thanks to geothermal research and related development, part of the city's district heating could be solved using alternative energy from September. In his speech, he thanked the university for bringing the issue of environmental awareness closer to the people.

At the first Eco-Picnic and Green Economy Conference organised by Széchenyi István University, the current issues of sustainability were discussed on Friday and Saturday with the participation of government, business, academic and research institutions, civil society and opinion leaders.

"The dynamically developing Széchenyi István University is actively involved in supporting domestic sustainability efforts in research, education and professional work, as well as in the fields of attitude formation and knowledge sharing. Our institution has recognised the importance of sustainability and the need to place even greater emphasis on this area than before." - Dr. Anikó Zseni, Vice Rector of Széchenyi István University, explained the university's commitment in her welcoming speech.

She emphasised that Széchenyi István University also places great emphasis on supporting the future potential of the region, in addition to providing internationally high-quality education and research. In this spirit, the institution is participating in the regional waste awareness and innovation pilot project, which enables representatives of the public, industry, government and science to find common answers to the most important current challenges related to sustainability.

"Today, it is no longer enough for universities to serve science alone, it is important that their results and innovations help businesses in the region, our economy and strengthen our future." - underlined the Vice-Rector.

Round table: with Daniella Deli, Deputy State Secretary for Climate Policy of the Ministry of the Interior (second from right), Dr. András Torma, Associate Professor SZE (right), Sándor Gyökeres, Managing Director of Büchl Hungária Kft., Zsolt Zentai, Head of Building Technology and Infrastructure Planning of Audi Hungaria Zrt., István András Tóth, Head of the Department of E. ON Energamegoldások Kft., Zoltán Czinege, Research Development Director of Alfaped Kft., Szabolcs Mizseri, Managing Director of the Hungarian Energy Efficiency Institute and Róbert Szabó, Director of Huawei PV Smart Solutions.

Daniella Deli, Deputy State Secretary for Climate Policy at TIM, in her keynote speech at the roundtable on climate protection, energy efficiency and energy security, stressed that one of the most pressing issues today is how to reconcile energy efficiency and energy security goals.

“Hungary has set clear and strong strategic goals, so energy and climate policy is based on a stable strategic framework," she said. She explained that the second national climate change strategy had been prepared, setting out the objectives to address the long-term impacts of climate change. A national energy and climate plan for 2030 and a new national energy strategy have also been adopted, setting medium-term targets. In addition, Hungary will achieve climate neutrality by 2050,” she said.

According to the Deputy State Secretary, energy security can also be examined in terms of whether energy is affordable for the population. In this context, she said that the government's aim is to maintain the support for utility costs.

Before the next round table, Nikoletta Keszthelyi, Deputy State Secretary for the Environment at TIM, said in her opening speech that the UN and EU sustainability documents are not only about the environment, as to be truly green, we also need social, political and business solutions.

On the second, residential-focused day of the conference, participants had the opportunity to discuss current environmental issues with "green" influencers and experts in the field - mobility, fashion design, culture tourism, gastronomy, sustainable lifestyle (Photos: Hybridcycle)

Forward-looking round-table discussions, real collaboration, a recycling workshop, local producers, a surprise concert, nationally renowned opinion leaders and, last but not least, new cooperation agreements to be signed in the near future - these were the results of the first conference, which was organised with the intention of creating a tradition, as Dr. András Torma, Associate Professor at the Department of Applied Sustainability of Széchenyi István University, the main organiser of the event, listed.

"The state of our environment and the changes that have taken place in it make conscious thought and action equally important. I'm proud to say that we have put on an event that promotes this," he concluded.

In view of the great success of the event, Széchenyi István University plans to organise the eco-picnic annually.