Women CEOs came together to attend a Forum in Deauville, France (Oct 13), dubbed the ''Davos for Women'', to discuss the future of the energy landscape.  The unofficial theme of the conference seemed to be that it is impossible to achieve success without a fighting spirit, creative thinking and persistence.

Birame Sock, CEO of Third Solutions and a Cartier Women’s Initiative Laureate for North America, told delegates that entrepreneurs have to deal with crises every day, and the will to fight to resolve those challenges is a precondition to success.

Anne Lauvergeon of Areva SA, France’s nuclear power giant, stated that ‘’Corporations and states cannot tackle climate change challenge alone." adding that, "We are trying to understand global issues like climate change, energy issues and the lack of global governance.”

An exchange on climate change and the current energy landscape led to discussions about the uncertainty regarding the safety of nuclear energy, the need for investments on renewable energy and the future of fossil fuel exploitation.

Manoelle Lepoutre, Senior Vice-President of Sustainable Development at France’s energy giant, Total, noted that ‘’We are not putting new energy against fossil energy. We need old energy, we need to innovate and coordinate our actions and investments in old and new energies to avoid detachment supply to create volatility and prevent and do the right action on environmental issues.’’

Asked about a worldwide carbon tax, Lepoutre said that the tax could be a  “powerful tool to change consumption habits’’ but said that at the international level it is more important to encourage investment and create incentives rather than more taxes.

Responding the the same question, Lauvergeon said a carbon tax would be one ‘’way to create new habits’’ but the greater need was for global governance and noted the lack of  decision making from influential countries on the issue.