Strategy and decisions during difficult times

From an historical perspective, our great family of CIGRE endured a Session in 1939 whereby “heavy storm clouds already threatened the world.” [Quotes from 1946 Opening Session by Ernest Mercier, the President of CIGRE from 1933 to 1948]. “They burst with the implacable fury of a world-wide cataclysm.”

For CIGRE’s 25th Anniversary, delegates called for a great Paris Session in 1946. President Mercier continued…
"You have eloquently answered by easily beating all your previous records, for today there are 950 (delegates) registered, thus showing your impatience to resume those trusting and warm contacts of which you had established the tradition, like the members of a single great family dispersed all over the globe.”

Other important statements made then that are relevant now are as follows:

“And now, it is for us to work together, with all our strength, above our troubles, for the rehabilitation of the world and the reconstruction of its ruins by Peace” [...] “Let us always remember, that today we are all citizens of the same ideal motherland of which our countries are merely different provinces.”

The last statement fully reflects the community of CIGRE where we are all one motherland with our countries being merely different provinces.

In this edition of Electra we reflect on the tough times endured through which CIGRE emerged successful. The full speech given at the 1946 Session is included in this edition for interesting reading. Other interesting facts is that there were 950 attendees, they had 110 papers which are all bound and presented to the delegates. They also had buffet meals provided prior to the war but could not provide these after the war due to restrictions.

The main aspects of the strategy undertaken by CIGRE during the present difficult time was as follows:

1. To ensure CIGRE remains relevant and provides value to Members.
2. To ensure CIGRE remains financially sustainable during and post the Covid-19 crisis.

To this end we have had to make some tough decisions relating to the Paris Session and events in the following years.

It should be noted that the current strategy included increasing reserves to cater for a complete cancellation of the Paris Session. The increased reserves have allowed CIGRE to function at this difficult time without reducing staffing or curtailing support to Members.

As you are no doubt aware, CIGRE has moved the Paris Session to 2021. This decision was taken as it was thought very unlikely that global travel and attendance at conferences would be permitted by end June which would enable registrations to commence. The expected poor attendance, if the Session was permitted to continue, was considered a financial risk that would be too large to bear.

We felt that, in order for CIGRE to provide value to Members that we should share the vast technical information contained in the papers already submitted. This information may also become dated by the 2021 Session. CIGRE will therefore undertake the first e-Session in August/September 2020. This will include presentation of the papers already submitted as well as the holding of workshops, Study Committee meetings and Working Group meetings. Presentations will be recorded allowing for delegates to view the presentations at their convenience. Tutorials already prepared will also be presented via the CIGRE Academy webinar platform.

In addition, at the e-Session, there will also be a brief opening event with the guest speaker Anne Olhoff who is Head of Strategy for Climate Planning and Policy at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). She will provide a short resume of the longer speech. A summary paper is published in this issue. The main points of the speech is that the emissions gap in 2030 is 15 gigatons of CO2 equivalent (GtCO2e) for a 2°C goal, and 32 GtCO2e for a 1.5°C goal. The total emissions of the six largest emitters was around 32 GtCO2e in 2018. The current level of climate ambition sets us on course to a global average temperature increase of 3.2°C by the end of the century. Urgent action therefore needs to be taken.

This will ensure Members are not penalised in any way by the moving of the Session to 2021. Authors will be asked to update technical content of their papers for the 2021 Session. Papers that cannot be updated will be complemented by invited papers from selected authors. The 2021 Session will follow the normal format with the Special Reporters’ reports determining the questions to be answered and contributions being received. The 2021 Session will therefore not be a repeat in any way of the 2020 e-event but will provide new updated technical information for delegates.

As 2021 marks the Centennial of the formation of CIGRE, it is intended that the Centennial Session will be a special celebratory event with over 800 papers as well as topics dealing with the learnings from the current Covid-19 crisis.

The decision had to be made regarding the following Sessions. The Technical Council (TC), consisting of the Study Committee (SC) Chairs, recommended that CIGRE keep to the original 2022 date with even years from then on. Although this will mean more work for the TC, it was considered feasible. The call for papers and preferential subjects will be issued in early 2021 as per schedule. The reason for the suggestion was the running of symposia and conferences in the odd years many of which already had fairly advanced plans and commitments. An additional important fact was that the Palais des Congrès could not accommodate CIGRE at the same August slot in the odd years. If the Session date was moved it was not certain if we could obtain contractors and support required to hold the Session at the new dates.

With regard to the second point on the strategy, CIGRE will be able to recover losses with the events taking place in three consecutive years. It is expected that we will be able to recover the reserves by 2022 with the Session being held in 2022. If the Session was not held it would take at least 5 years to recover the desired level of reserves. This is taking into account the likely poor attendance due to the expected suppressed economic situation.

In addition certain non-revenue activities were curtailed in 2020 and we are focussing on the introduction of digital Electra and other virtual platforms to serve Members remotely, provide easier access for prospective Members to join as well as provide excellent opportunities for sponsors to realise benefits of global advertising.

The postponement of the Session in 2020 was a tough decision to take. With the work of the office bearers and the Technical Council, it is possible to make other arrangements to mitigate the negative effects of the postponement and provide Members with an enhanced CIGRE experience with three Sessions in consecutive years albeit in different formats.

It is understood that there is a risk in holding the 2020 Session virtually. However, the TC is committed to making this a success. The Central Office (CO) is prepared to manage the technology required and with the ability to record the presentation sessions, workshops and tutorials, it is possible to accommodate those in different time zones for those that cannot make the allocated time by the presenters or delegates. It was also felt important to have a presence in 2020 to keep Members abreast of the latest developments expressed in the papers.

It is also realised that the TC will be working on the 2022 Session in parallel with the 2021 Session. The TC felt that this was definitely achievable as different Special Reporters will be employed in the two Sessions. The CO will have to obtain additional resources to manage the updated papers in 2021. This again, is considered feasible.

The proposal for the virtual Session in 2020 (albeit scaled down) followed by the 2021 and 2022 Sessions is considered the best options to allow CIGRE to recover financially and provide Members will the updated latest information. The time schedule allows for incoming office bearers, Study Committee Members, TC and Steering Committee Members to take office at the normal time and serve their terms in line with current regulations.

I hope to see you at a CIGRE event when the crisis is a memory.