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Dialogue and Cooperation between Chinese and European Foundations

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Dialogue and Cooperation between Chinese and European Foundations

25 September – 01 October 2016, Nantes

Nantes Climate Chance Summit

Background

The Paris COP 21 agreement has ushered in a new era. Society as a whole must now start moving to face the challenge of turning the promises of the signatory states into action. Unlike previous challenges, climate protection requires the organized efforts of governments, civil society, cities and regions, and all sections of society - citizens, scientists, politicians, industrialists and consumers. In order to ensure that all these efforts move in the same direction we need to create the right conditions, ranging from changes in production and consumption to that of governance.

Over the past 10 years we have noted a boom for state and private foundations in China due to the easing of policy measures in their favour. In Europe a revival of the philanthropic movement is noticeable. This is partly related to the weakening of the welfare state, which will crack in the context of globalisation and promotes the development of alternative solutions.

Some Chinese philanthropic foundations are dedicated in particular to the ecological transition and protection of the environment. Their numbers remain insufficient compared with the challenges relating to preservation of the planet. In this historical context it seems judicious to encourage foundations of both sides of the vast Eurasian area to play a greater role in providing input in order to further face the challenges of the ecological transition. The creation of a foundation alliance and holding of a workshop in the Nantes Climate Chance Summit is a major step in this initiative. This is an historic opportunity because the potential of foundations is huge and under-utilised. The gathering of forces on either side of the vast territory that represents our two continents, Europe and China, will provide a significant impetus to changing corporate operating modes and promoting dialogue, mutual understanding, sharing of experiences and skills. We therefore invite the foundations of both sides and which are aimed at preserving our planet to participate in our workshop. By doing so they are enrolling in the dialogue on "The role of foundations and philanthropy in facing the challenges of climate change" at the Nantes Climate Chance Summit and will join our initiative of the creation of the China Europe Green Foundations Alliance.

Brief Presentation of the Summit

Nantes Climate Chance, a new Summit dedicated to action, aims to become the regular meeting place for all non-state actors engaged in the fight against climate change. Authorities, companies, associations, unions, scientific organisations and citizens are invited to this meeting which will be held from 26 to 28 September 2016 at the Convention Centre in Nantes. This large-scale event should bring together several thousand participants from around the world to experience a concrete dialogue between local civil society and representatives of international civil society.

The Green Capital of Europe in 2013, Nantes is a city known for its environmental and energy transition. The three-day summit will be organised around three main formats: plenaries that bring together key figures from International Climate Action; forums, an essential step for reporting on the progress of the various thematic coalitions of the people involved; and workshops to nurture collective thinking and deepen the knowledge of all the inextricable links between climate and development.

Schedule:

Day 1: 26 September 2016

- 10:00 - 12:00 Opening Plenary
- 12:00 - 13:30 Lunch
- Afternoon: Visit of the city of Nantes
- 19: 00 - 21:00 Welcome diner with the presence of Mr. Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International development, former Nantes Mayor (tbc) and Mrs. Rolland, Nantes Mayor (tbc)

Day 2: 27 September 2016
- 09:00 - 13:00: Meeting on future cooperation between members of the Chinese Foundation delegation and representatives of the European foundations (See the programme below)
- Conference speech, by Mr. Wang Zhenyao, Director of the China Philanthropy Research Institute (tbc)
- 17:00 - 19:00 : Thematic workshop – «Dialogue and cooperation between Chinese and European foundations in education and awareness in facing the Challenges of Climate Change » (See the programme below)

Day 3: 28 September 2016
- 12:30 - 14:00 Lunch
- 14:00 - 15:30 Closing Plenary
- (Time to be confirmed) - Ceremony for the creation of the China Europe Green Foundations Alliance, with the presence of Jean-Marc Ayrault, Foreign Minister of France (tbc) , Irina Bokova, Director-General of Unesco (tbc)

Workshop Programme

Thematic: « Dialogue and cooperation between Chinese and European foundations in education and awareness in facing the Challenges of Climate Change »

- Date: 27 September, La Cité Nantes Events Center
- Time: 17: 00 - 19:00

- Organisers: the China Europa Forum, the China Philanthropy Research Institute, the Association of the International Campus towards an Ecological Civilization
- Co-organiser: the World Committee for Lifelong Learning (CMA)

Objective:
- To initiate a privileged dialogue between Chinese and European foundations involved in the climate challenge
- To share experiences and results of the actions of foundations in education, training and awareness among citizens of climate change
- To enhance and develop the role of foundations in the fight against climate change.

17:00 – 17:20 Welcome address and opening speeches:
- Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former Prime Minister, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs, Defence, and Senate armed forces Commission, chairman of the Prospective and Innovation Foundation (tbc)
- Ronan Dantec, Senator for the Loire-Atlantique department (tbc)
- Wang Zhenyao, Director of the China Philanthropy Research Institute
- Chen Yan, Director of the China-Europa Forum

17:20 – 17:50 Thematic speeches:
- Commitment of civil society to the ecological transition and renewal of the philanthropic movement in Europe
- Pascal Canfin, Chief Executive Officer of WWF-France (tbc)
- Role and responsibility of Chinese foundations in facing environmental challenges
- Wang Zhenyao, Director of the China Philanthropy Research Institute

17:50 – 18:50 Presentations of experiences and projects to raise awareness facing the challenges of climate change by representatives of Chinese and European foundations.
- Chinese Foundation
- European Foundation
- Presentation of the China Europe Green Foundations Alliance by one of the signatories of the Declaration for the creation of the Alliance.

18:50 – 19:00 Conclusion

Meeting Program: between Chinese and European Foundations

27, September 2016

- 9h-13h : Meeting at Land Rohan*

- 9h-9h30 : Welcome of the delegation at Land Rohan

- 9h30-10h30 : Land Rohan site’s visit with comments and presentation of the domain’s sustainable management (biodiversity, fauna, flora…) by Mrs Danièle Brémond, chairwoman of the Le Damier Foundation

- 10h30-12h30 : Exchange meeting between Chinese and European foundations

  • 10: 30 - 10 :45 Presentation of the educational project of the International Campus to an Ecological Civilization by Mr Jacques Brégeon, the Association of the International Campus to an Ecological Civilization
  • 10 :45 – 11 :00 : Presentation of the infrastructures by Mr Bernard Brémond, Founder and Chairman of the Brémond Group

- 11 :00 – 12 :30 :

  • Discussion – Questions/answers on the CICE project
  • Discussion - Questions/answers on other cooperation projects of the China Europe Green Foundations Alliance

- 13:00 -14:30: Lunch organized by the Association of the International Campus towards an Ecological Civilization

Speeches by:
- Mr Bruno Retailleau, President of the region Pays de la Loire (tbc)
- Mr Ronan Dantec, Senator for the Loire-Atlantique department (tbc)
- Mr Jopseh Bézier, Mayor of Vigneux-de-Bretagne (tbc)
- Ms Karine Daniel, Deputy Mayor of the City of Nantes (tbc)
- Mr Yvon Lerat, President of the local council community Erdres & Gesvres (tbc)

*Note on Land Rohan : Land Rohan, the historical site of Bremond (French Real-estate developer) ’s head office, located between the cities of Rennes and Nantes (in the west of France), is a 170-acre multi-faceted estate where the tertiary sector, farming, buildings and nature can coexist. Thanks to the sustainable development and responsible management of the estate, it offers a remarkable place, to think debate and learn in a preserved environment.

Schedule (25 Sept – 01 Oct 2016)

Meetings and Field Visits (for Chinese delegation)

Sunday 25 Sept: Arrival in Nantes

Day 1 - 26 September:
- (Morning, for all participants) Attendance at the opening plenary of Nantes Climate Chance
- (Afternoon, Chinese delegation) Cruise on the Erdre River and Visit of the Little Amazon (preserved wetland in the heart of the city) in Nantes

Day 2 - 27 September:
- (Morning, for all participants) Exchange meeting between Chinese and European foundations and visit of the Land Rohan estate.
- (Afternoon, for all participants) Thematic Workshop

Day 3 - 28 September:
- Morning: Presentation Nantes, Sustainable, Innovative and Smart City
- Afternoon: Closing Plenary (for all participants) Day 4 - 29 September: Visit to a local enterprises active in ecological transition

Day 5 - 30 September: Arrival in Rennes
- Campus tour and presentation of the School of Environmental Professions
- Visit to Rennes companies active in the field of ecological transition

Day 6 – 01 October: Visit to Mont St Michel