Shell Powering Progress Together 2013 Rotterdam

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Shell Powering Progress Together 2013 Rotterdam

On May 15th, 2013, the Shell Powering Progress Together Forum brought together 500 delegates from all areas of society, including government, business and civil society. Presenters from the different areas of society discussed the implications and solutions for the worlds’ vital resources that will come under greater pressure over the next decades to come.


Below is the full coverage shared during the event itself. Further information can be found online here. For more about what Shell is doing on resilience, click here. 

  • Welcome to the Shell Powering Progress Together Forum live feed. Starting tomorrow morning at 09:00 CET, the one-day forum will spark debate around how we can all survive, adapt, and grow in an increasingly volatile world. Here on Shell.com we will cover the full day of debate and discussion as it happens.
    5/14/2013 2:08:33 PM
  • Thekla explains that Shell is running a project connecting young professionals with local entrepreneurs. One initiative includes building vertical gardens at two schools providing food such as tomatoes.
    5/15/2013 2:28:27 PM
  • The young professionals are taking a bottom up approach to increase resilience in Rotterdam: they are connecting with local entrepreneurs in the city on pilot programmes that will make a difference within the timeline of the next year.

    by camera on May 15, 2013 at 4:27 PM via email

    5/15/2013 2:28:39 PM
  • We may not be CEOs with a lot of power, but what we have in common is our passion.

    5/15/2013 2:30:00 PM

  • Thekla asks for freedom, space and time to put their energy into these projects. She says the projects will then fly.
    5/15/2013 2:30:48 PM
  • Victoria shows an example of the hanging gardens. It seems that eating out of a wall is a Dutch tradition- but this is a healthy version,
    5/15/2013 2:32:43 PM


  • 5/15/2013 2:32:54 PM
  • A floating greenhouse in Rotterdam on the Maas River is another tangible, local initiative that the young professionals are involved in.
    5/15/2013 2:34:54 PM
  • Ahmed Aboutaleb and Peter Voser are now joining Maryam Nazeem on stage for a closing discussion on the issues raised today and the key actions that have been highlighted.
    5/15/2013 2:35:19 PM
  • Ahmed says that resilience is vital for Rotterdam. He has been looking into what investments are needed to protect the city into the future, fro example against flooding. But at the same time it faces the threat of a shortage of fresh water.
    5/15/2013 2:36:39 PM
  • There is a lack of leadership in Europe to tackle these issues. But CEOs like Peter Voser are taking initiative in place of action from the EU.
    5/15/2013 2:38:13 PM


  • 5/15/2013 2:39:11 PM
  • Brussels pays farmers to do nothing. They leave land unused as they receive subsidies for it. We need to change our policies. And we need to take local action.

    by camera on May 15, 2013 at 4:38 PM via email

    5/15/2013 2:39:24 PM

  • Illustrating #ShellPoweringProgress Together ???? Showing that collaboration and partnership is important. #client #work #edelman #shell

    5/15/2013 2:41:28 PM
  • Peter Voser explains the need to take actions, find the right partners, and the right collaborations. What he's learned from his three decades in business is that once you have a project that works, others will join. Working with action-oriented partners and finding concrete actions to work on together are key steps.
    5/15/2013 2:42:53 PM
  • Having a carbon price that reflects today's reality would be helpful. But we can't wait for that, we need to act now.
    5/15/2013 2:42:57 PM

  • Speaking now: Ahmed Aboutaleb - City of Rotterdam



    by Shell on May 9, 2013 at 5:09 PM

    Ahmed Aboutaleb was installed as Mayor of Rotterdam on January 5, 2009. Prior to this, on February 22, 2007, Aboutaleb was appointed State Secretary for Social Affairs and Employment in the fourth Balkenende government. 




    5/15/2013 2:44:37 PM


  • 5/15/2013 2:44:52 PM
  • Ahmed was invited to New York by Mayor Bloomburg and former President Clinton to discuss Building Resilient Cities. He compares it metaphorically to eating an elephant- it must be done in small pieces.
    5/15/2013 2:46:02 PM
  • Ahmed explains his work with New York City in helping build greater resilience in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Being a low laying Delta like Rotterdam you need to build in resilience in plans and get investors and others on side.
    5/15/2013 2:47:57 PM
  • Peter agrees that actions must be taken now. He says that sustainability and climate change are becoming increasingly important to investors.
    5/15/2013 2:50:04 PM
  • There are really fundamental questions that we need to ask such as why we eat tomatoes in the winter that are grown under extreme circumstances.
    5/15/2013 2:52:19 PM
  • Maryam asks which one thing the speakers would like to highlight. Peter comes back again to the theme of collaboration.
    5/15/2013 2:54:17 PM
  • Peter explains how he is leading an action-oriented initiative to help increase societal resilience that includes companies from across different sectors such as the insurance industry.


    5/15/2013 2:55:20 PM
  • Water management will be key, for instance. It is about our existence.

    by camera on May 15, 2013 at 4:38 PM via email

    5/15/2013 2:56:15 PM


  • I've learned a lot over the past few years about bringing different people together to work on solutions. Only integrated solutions will work. What I learned today is that there is a lot going on, a lot is being tried, and we know we need different business models. We are on the right track. I will continue to work with other companies - for example the resilience initiative I am involved in with nine other companies - to continue taking action to build societal resilience. - Shell CEO Peter VoserShellMay 15, 2013 at 4:56 PM

    5/15/2013 2:57:18 PM
  • Peter ends by thanking Rotterdam for being an excellent host. Great round of applause.

    Learn more about what Shell is doing on resilience here reports.shell.com
    5/15/2013 2:58:10 PM


  • 5/15/2013 3:01:59 PM
  • Thank you very much for joining us online today from all overt he world for Shell Powering Progress Together here in Rotterdam. All the coverage will be here on the website to look back over and delve into in detail over the coming days and weeks.
    5/15/2013 3:05:20 PM
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