(from left) Gasper Hrastelj, Miroslav Polzer,
Gerry Salole, Wilhem Krull, Janez Podobnik,
Lucka Kajfez Bogataj, Peter
Volasko, Emilio Rui Vilar,
Jerome C. Glenn, Blaz Golob
Group photo taken in the evening of June 1 2008
Background
Global challenges,
in particular climate
change, require new,
committed and global problem solving alliances. In
light of the unprecedented magnitude of the
challenges humanity is facing today, innovative and
strong approaches are needed -
partnership-oriented approaches
from public authorities,
international organisations, business, civil
society, the scientific community and last but not
least,
philanthropists.1
As we live in 21st century in global
information and knowledge societies,
knowledge generation, dissemination and
utilization has to be placed at the center of
global concerted action in climate change
mitigation and adaptation.2
Philanthropists worldwide have a unique role to play
in this arena. First of all, they have the ability
to complement the work
of public authorities and international
organisations. Their
vision is neither limited by short-term electoral
nor business considerations.
Philanthropists have the freedom to
think outside the box.
This freedom can lead to
optimised results, as it offers advantages of speed
and scope to implement more effective responses to
global challenges.
Philanthropists have the necessary
means to finance programmes
which are consensually identified as appropriate
responses to global challenges. Philanthropists can
contribute to the building of human capacity
worldwide to disseminate knowledge about behaviour
that is appropriate to safeguard our common global
future.
The US and EU are the origin of most international
philanthropic giving worldwide, but there are
players in other regions of the world that are
beginning to step up. For these new actors, global
issues such as climate change, mitigation, and
adaptation, as well as the
Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs) etc. are high on
the agenda.
With this international conference, we hope to
identify areas in which philanthropists, together
with the above-mentioned stakeholders and all
concerned citizens, can work together to
safeguard our world.
Objectives
-
Encourage cooperation among philanthropic
organisations worldwide to respond to global challenges, in
particular that of climate change.
-
Promote partnership
between philanthropic organisations,
governments, the EU, the United Nations, and
other key stakeholders to address global
challenges.
-
Highlight the role of foundations in advancing
research, innovation and human capacity-building
for knowledge-based responses to global
challenges and identify and develop appropriate mechanisms of
philanthropic funding for activities in this
field. The
European Forum on Philanthropy and Research
Funding will be a central point of departure
for discussion.
-
Identify practices and approaches
and trigger innovative and partnership-oriented
actions with new actors.
---------------------------------------------------------------
1
A
philanthropist
is someone who engages in
philanthropy. Philanthropy is the act of donating
money, goods, time, or effort to support a
charitable cause. Philanthropy is very often
institutionalised in foundations.
2
With regard to the
aspect of investing in
science/knowledge, the
international conference "Global Philanthropists-Partners for a Knowledge-based Response to Climate
Change" can be seen as a follow-up to the
international conference and ministerial round table"Why
Invest in Science in South Eastern Europe?"
http://www.investsciencesee.info/organized
by Slovenian Ministry of Higher Education, Science
and Technology, Austrian Science and Research
Liaison Office Ljubljana and UNESCO Venice Office in
Ljubljana/Slovenia in September 2006. The Portoroz
conference chooses a thematic focus (Climate Change)
instead of the regional focus on South Eastern
Europe, highlights the role of philanthropists as
especially interesting -new-partners for promotion.
