"UNEC Hosts International Seminar on Future Perspectives in Energy Economy and Green Transition"

The international seminar titled "Future Perspectives on Energy Economy and Green Transition, and Adaptation to Climate Change" was held through the joint organization of UNEC, the Permanent Secretariat of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), and the Black Sea Universities Network. Participants from Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, and Ukrainian guests first acquainted themselves with UNEC's infrastructure.

During the opening of the seminar, Associate Professor Fariz Ahmadov, the deputy rector in charge of science, representing the REFRESH team, greeted the participants, spoke about the relevance of the topic, and provided information about the program of the event.

Neman Muradli, the project manager of REFRESH under International Relations and Programs, spoke about UNEC's international projects.

The seminar continued with discussions on energy economy priorities, climate change, transition to green economy, green energy, and sustainability in the member states of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC), alongside Azerbaijan.

Dr. Grigoris Zarotiadis and Nicolas Moussiopoulos, professors from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, discussed contemporary and future issues in energy economics. Dr. Marina Stefanova, a professor from Sofia University in Bulgaria, talked about an active approach to green transition and attracting interesting aspects. Professor Tamer Atabart from Boğaziçi University in Turkey discussed Turkey's role in balanced and intelligent energy transition between Asia and Europe.

Narmin Ibrahimova, the director of the Department of International Cooperation and project coordinator of REFRESH team, provided information to the seminar participants about the Erasmus+ REFRESH project (Green and sustainable global economic improvement at Azerbaijani Universities: renewable energy and climate change mitigation). She noted that the project, covering a period of three years, involves five local (Sumqayit State University, Lankaran State University, Mingachevir State University, Ganja State University, and Azerbaijan Technological University) and four international partners (University of Bologna in Italy, University of Barcelona in Spain, Technical University of Denmark, and the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden). Additionally, she highlighted that the project consists of seven work packages aimed at developing programs on sustainable and renewable energy within the framework of the project, organizing experience-sharing visits, preparing ToT programs after visits, research seminars, and several other activities for future activities.

Former Secretary-General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, Ambassador Michael Kristides, Secretary of the Permanent Secretariat of the Black Sea Continuous Development Solutions Network, Nikos Theodossiou, Professor Sergey Byelikov from Zaporizhzhia National Technical University of Ukraine, Prorector Michael Musov from Sofia University in Bulgaria, and Secretary of the Continuous Development Solutions Network, Marta Garsia-Haro, presented talks on research priorities in energy economics.