Greeting address by Mayor Elke Kahr
13.01.2026
The mayor of Graz conveys her greetings.
Excerpt from the greeting address of the Mayor of the City of Graz Elke Kahr:
"
For decades, the energy sector in Europe has been able to ensure security of supply and affordability while increasingly relying on renewable energy sources. Like many other aspects of our daily lives, however, this security is increasingly being called into question. Geopolitical upheavals confront us with challenges that go far beyond the energy sector. Energy plays a central role in the daily lives of all people, which has placed it at the heart of global distribution conflicts.
The question of how Europe can design its energy supply to be resilient, affordable for all, and sustainable has long been and remains a key issue for the future. Never before has it been more important, in light of current conflicts over the control of raw material resources, to reduce dependence on fossil energy sources and thereby also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Economic realities show that this is an extremely demanding task, one that also requires the development of appropriate instruments for governance and regulation. Only a strong interplay between technological innovation and prudent, forward-looking policy can ensure that people are willing to support the necessary changes.
The 19th Symposium Energieinnovation offers a unique platform to address these questions. The diversity of contributions illustrates how broad the spectrum of necessary solutions is. Science, industry, politics, and public administration are all called upon to pool knowledge, sharpen perspectives, and develop pathways toward a resilient energy system across Europe.
As Mayor of the provincial capital Graz, I am grateful that in our city, institutions such as the Institute of Electricity Economics and Energy Innovation contribute to finding approaches that help move closer to answers to these questions. I wish all participants a fruitful and constructive exchange!
"
