Countdown 2021

In 2019, Adelaïde launched the Youth for Climate movement with Anuna De Wever, organizing school strikes for 20 weeks. Since then, climate has become a daily concern for them. It has also changed them personally: the way they travel, eat, consume... In October 2019, they embarked on a sailboat with around thirty young people en route to COP 25 to draw attention to other modes of transport. At the beginning of 2020, they began an internship at the European Parliament. Later in the year, they agreed to become a special advisor to the Vice-President of the European Commission, Mr. Timmermans. With the health situation, they have been very active in organizing webinars and disseminating information on social networks. With other activists, they ensure that the climate emergency is not forgotten by conveying this message at meetings with politicians such as Ursula Von Der Leyen, Angela Merkel, Emmanuel Macron, etc.

Anne is an engineer by training. After a career in the private sector, she took over as head of Axedis, an adapted work company, in 2015. The 170 disabled workers with whom she works every day have convinced her that difference is an asset and that everyone has a place in society. She is very sensitive to the impact of climate change and the urgent need to act now, in a radical way. It is necessary to accelerate, but without leaving anyone behind.

Audrey Speyer is a designer-researcher and founder of PuriFungi, which uses myco-remediation as an innovative method of fungal decontamination of cigarette butts. The cigarette butts are digested by the fungi, and a new material is born from the combination of the cigarette butts and the mycelium. This myco-material has many properties (fire and water resistance, mechanical absorption and carbon sequestration during production), thus creating new resources for various applications such as ashtrays, insulating panels and packaging.

Célia Sapart is a Swiss climatologist, specializing in greenhouse gas emissions and historical climate reconstructions. After 13 years of academic research, including several long expeditions to the polar regions, Célia is committed to the front line of climate action as Director of Communications and Climate Science at CO2 Value Europe. This European non-profit organization promotes the development of a circular carbon economy to "decarbonize" industry and achieve EU emissions targets.

Stefaan De Rynck heads the European Commission's Representation in Belgium, creating a bridge between the EU executive and Belgian politics and society. His experience in European affairs and public policy covers transport, sustainable urban development, financial services regulation and the single market. From 2016 to 2021, he was Senior Advisor for the Brexit negotiations led by Michel Barnier. De Rynck also teaches EU governance at the University of Leuven (KUL).