中欧社会论坛 - China Europa ForumPresentation
INTERNATIONAL CAMPUS TOWARDS AN ECOLOGICAL CIVILIZATION
The project is aimed at creating, at the heart of Europe’s Atlantic seaboard, an international campus for sharing experiences, training, and skills development dedicated to establishing an ecological civilization.
The initiative is supported by the European and Chinese foundations involved in the transition to an ecological civilization as well as by those in civil society : business and cultural leaders, academics, scientists and professionals…
CONTENTS
- THE INITIATIVE
- JOINT REFLECTION
- THE AIM : TO OPEN AN INTERNATIONAL CAMPUS TOWARDS AN ECOLOGICAL CIVILIZATION
- THE ROLE OF THE CAMPUS
- FOUNDING AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
- SKILLS AND STAKEHOLDER NETWORK
- PLANNED ACTIVITIES AND TRAINING
- PROJECT PHASES
THE INITIATIVE
At COP 21 the European Union and China made a commitment to the future of the planet. China, a signatory to the accord, is determined to work actively towards the transition to green energy. President Xi Jinping himself spoke of an “ecological civilisation” to underline how important the environment is to China and the rest of the world. With the Chinese Philanthropy Research Institute, the benchmark in Chinese philanthropy, the most active players in Chinese civil society are moving to play a role in this innovative project. The European Union is a lead player in the transition to green energy and the fight against climate change. Civil society in Europe is already playing a pivotal role: with an increasing awareness of what is at stake, it is putting forward proposals and solutions on an international scale. Cooperation is already underway in a variety of forms, and a new cross-disciplinary and inter-sectorial structure will invigorate the message that is to be sent around the world.
The initiative calls on members of Chinese and European civil society to cooperate effectively in an ambitious joint project so that together we can formulate the best response to the climate challenge.
JOINT REFLECTION
We are at the dawn of a new era that obliges us to adopt the best possible governance if we are to surmount challenges with worldwide consequences. Without living in the shadow of an “environmental crash” that would wipe out humanity, we need to acknowledge that humanity’s shared resources are seriously threatened by predatory activities on the one hand and confiscation through self-serving interests on the other.
Our natural resources are not infinite, and the intensive exploitation of our planet is to the detriment of the most vulnerable. The exaltation of “more is better” leads us to choose quantity over quality, with a concomitant waste of human and natural resources.
We believe that solutions cannot be restricted to corrective actions because every human activity governed solely by the cult of economic performance affects and is affected by the degradation of the climate and the destruction of biodiversity.
Like many people around the world we have been asking ourselves the question that T.W. Adorno has already analysed:
Is it possible «to lead a good life in a bad life?»*
*Judith Butler asked this question in the French translation of her Adorno Prize acceptance speech, published in France as “Qu’est-ce qu’une vie bonne?”, Payot 2014.
What is needed is a change of direction - initially in the meaning we give to our lives and our work. If communities and leaders invest in a new, more virtuous process of creating and delivering solutions that will bring about the transition to clean energy, humanity can be proud of choosing to fight in its finest hour.
Philanthropy is undergoing a renaissance in Europe, especially in France, and is actively developing in China. It offers individuals as well as national players leaning towards a new model of green growth, the ability to access the resources they need to take action and deliver their projects. A number of public and private foundations from Europe and China are involved in the Campus project and are working together on the transition to green energy in order to formulate and sponsor actions which will unite the parties involved.
At the international convention “Climate Chance”, organised by the Metropolis of Nantes for September 2016, they will call on other philanthropic organisations and foundations to join them in a “green alliance of Chinese and European foundations”. This event marks the first step towards the creation of an International Campus for an Ecological Civilisation.
THE AIM: TO OPEN AN INTERNATIONAL CAMPUS FOR AN ECOLOGICAL CIVILISATION
Thanks to active support from these foundations, the International Campus dedicated to sustainable development and the transition to green energy, built on contributions from every scientific discipline, will promote the design and development of innovative projects. Through joint efforts by researchers, practitioners, experts and informed non-professionals, the campus will openly examine the unprecedented issues, explore new avenues for possible solutions and promote the development of operational projects to deliver those solutions.
THE ROLE OF THE CAMPUS
HELP TO REDEFINE TERMS AND SET NEW PARADIGMS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT to provide present and future generations with a living space that cares for the environment and all life on our planet.
CREATE A FORUM FOR DEBATE AND REFLECTION accommodating all scientific fields, all freshly discovered knowledge and every technological innovation so that we can understand, grasp and study the environmental metabolism of humans and natural resources.
PROVIDE AN OPEN SPACE WHERE EVERYONE CAN HAVE THEIR SAY for stakeholders from civil society, the business world, academia, science and research from different viewpoints and from every corner of the world.
DELIVERING INNOVATIVE COURSES FOR DECISION-MAKERS IN THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR AS WELL AS PRESTIGIOUS QUALIFICATIONS taught by researchers, experts and managers from business and local authorities, in an original setting designed with support from higher education establishments federated by the recently created Université de Bretagne - Pays-de-la-Loire.
By bringing together universities and university colleges, businesses and clusters of excellence, which form a particularly dense and diverse fabric in these regions, we are guaranteeing an innovative cross-disciplinary approach which transcends traditional boundaries between different fields and is open to all.
OFFERING INNOVATIVE TRAINING/ACTION SESSIONS FOR OPERATIONAL PLAYERS is essential for learning how to identify risks and implement corrective and preventative actions in different fields. The campus is designed to “deliver lifelong learning” in all its forms, including collective education, with the aim of boosting skills locally and nationally. This forms part of an effort to promote versatile entrepreneurship that is open to working as part of a stakeholder ecosystem in which we can create and produce together.
BEING A VECTOR FOR A FAIRER SOCIETY - one that is more inclusive, more welcoming, better informed and better trained thanks to technological advances made in the digital world.
FOUNDING MEMBERS AND ASSOCIATE MEMBERS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPUS PROJECT
The International Campus for an Ecological Civilisation project is backed by European and Chinese partners who form part of a provisional association.
Founders and associate members1:
• CHINA-EUROPE FORUM • LIFELONG LEARNING WORLD COMMITTEE (CMA) • BREMOND GROUP AND ITS COMPANY FOUNDATION LE DAMIER • ECOORIGIN • LATIN AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (CCLAM) • BEIJING NORMAL UNIVERSITY CHINA PHILANTHROPY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
• ECOLE DES METIERS DE L’ENVIRONNEMENT (EME)
1 A presentation of founding members and associate members can be found in the appendix.
SKILLS AND STAKEHOLDER NETWORK
A number of organisations have been mobilised in France, Europe, and China around the founding members in order to contribute the skills and expertise needed to make the Campus a reality:
− From both the private and public sectors: businesses, consulates, artists, technical organisations and assessors, local authorities, town planning agencies and architects, professional bodies, cultural sector companies, and more.
− The academic world: a number of higher education and research establishments, in particular those in Brittany and the Pays-de-la-Loire, will lend their support to the work planned by the Campus.
Committed and active players in civil society working in their own fields (whether academia, business, local government, or the voluntary sector) and fully aware of the challenges set by the transition to clean energy, will pool their efforts, knowledge and resources to create, coordinate and expand the International Campus for an Ecological Civilisation.
PLANNED ACTIVITIES AND TRAINING:
3 THEMES
A FORUM FOR DEBATE AND RESEARCH: Inviting French and international researchers to present their work, hold debates and find opportunities for cooperation. The Campus sees itself as a forum for networking and a catalyst for new projects.
A PLATFORM FOR LEARNING:
− Practical modules and specialist courses for undergraduates in partnership with higher education establishments. – Training sessions for teaching staff and trainers. – A collaborative portal and gateway to the ecological civilisation, providing access to information and learning materials, distance learning (MOOCs, e-learning, etc.).
TRAINING AND CONSOLIDATION OF SKILLS ON THREE LEVELS:
− A Chinese and European course at policy level providing attendees (business leaders, members of elected representatives, senior civil servants, etc.) with open sessions and a free curriculum (culture, philosophy, geopolitics, future prospects, etc.) to better understand cultural approaches to environmental challenges. – A strategic-level course with an “Executive MBA” in the ecological transition for those designing and backing multicultural sustainable development projects. This will be developed with input from our partner higher-education establishments in China and Europe and players in the field in an effort to combine outlooks and skills. – An operations-level course with seminars which can be applied to business activities represented on the Campus (sustainable tourism, hospitality school, accommodation, catering, organic farming, herbalists store, etc.), as well as other sectors hosted on the campus, turning it into a space for demonstration and experimentation, and a hatchery for projects.
PROJECT PHASES
2016-2017
PREPARATORY PHASE
PROJECT CREATION, TWO LEVELS: 1. Design – Development: • Provisional project association founded. • Feasibility studies and development. • Sourcing backers and future partners. • Design of courses and other activities. • Creation of trilingual website (French, English, Chinese). 2. Infrastructures: • Adaptation of existing infrastructure to accommodate initial training courses. • Research into development of complementary facilities. • Site access study (mobility). • Infrastructure coordination and funding.
2018
OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE INTERNATIONAL CAMPUS FOR AN ECOLOGICAL CIVILISATION
2019
FIRST OPERATIONNAL PHASE • The International Training Centre in Land Rohan opens for business. • Gradual launch of programmes and activities. • Research networks activated.
This project was launched by Chinese and European civil society. It is independent, proactive, dynamic and open. The multiple organisations already committed to building an International Campus for an Ecological Civilisation together would like to invite every member of civil society to join them.
For the climate actors world summit, Climate Chance, taking place in Nantes from 26 to 28 September 2016, the project initiators are calling on all private, public, European and Chinese foundations to together found a Europe-China Green Foundations Alliance to work independently to bring about an Ecological Civilisation.