Recently, CBCGDF has released an important news, the President of International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP), the President and co-founder of the Strong Universal Network (SUNx), Professor Geoffrey Lipman made a special trip around October 18, 2018, went to Rome, Italy, to meet with Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, the Secretary-General of CBCGDF, who was attending the annual conference and the 50th anniversary of the international think tank the Club of Rome. They talked about the global network SUNx, CBCGDF’s forever mentor and friend Maurice Strong, and sustainable tourism issues.
At the invitation of the European Center for Peace and Development, CBCGDF participated in the preparation of the memoir of Maurice Strong. (Photo source: thesunprogram.com)
Afterwards, good news came from the scene of the Club of Rome conference: Dr. Zhou was newly elected as a member of the Executive Committee of the Club of Rome.
Just another exciting news came from the Italian capital: the SUNx network reached an agreement with CBCGDF. Let’s share the Media Release of this agreement, and you are invited to enjoy SUNx, the world’s leading powerful universal network, as research organization for green growth and sustainable tourism, with the leading non-governmental organization (NGO) CBCGDF, who is committed eco-environment and sustainable development in China, to establish cooperation as an opportunity for the vision and potential.
Prof. Lipman became CBCGDF's volunteer officially in July, 2018. (Photo: CBCGDF)
Prof. Lipman (middle) and Mr. Strong (first from left) (Photo source: thesunprogram.com)
Dr. Zhou and Mr. Maurice Strong met in the United States, taken during the last month of Mr. Strong's life. (Photo: CBCGDF)
Rome 18 August 2018.
In a landmark agreement, in the side-lines of the Club of Rome’s 50th Anniversary, Geoffrey Lipman, Co-founder of the Strong Universal Network (SUNx) and Jinfeng Zhou Secretary General of The China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation [CBCGDF] agreed to expand the network established as a legacy to their friend and mentor Maurice Strong.
SUNx and CBCGDF will collaborate on the development of a Climate Resilience network and capacity building in China, One Belt One Road States and associated African countries. The main components of the partnership are:
· Establishment of a Beijing SUNx Centre
· Development of the SUNx Network in China, One Belt One Road, and Africa
· Hosting Strong Climate Action Days from a Beijing base
· Developing the Maurice Strong Legacy Scholarship Program in China and beyond
The parties agreed to immediately focus on promoting Climate Friendly Travel and specifically with reference to Parks, Protected Areas and Cultural Heritage locations.
Geoffrey Lipman said “This is a massive breakthrough in a program that was inspired by Maurice Strong, one of the fathers of Sustainable Development and a visionary who saw the travel and tourism sector as vital to global development but in need of an accelerated transformation to the New Climate Economy. It also reflects his view that the next generation will be the climate champions of our world and that China will play a leading role. We are delighted to partner with CBCGDF an organization with a proud record for sustainability and conservation leadership. We agree that Climate Change is the existential reality on the global agenda and that strengthened networks in the spirit of SDG 17 are a key to our future”
Jinfeng Zhou said “I am particularly proud that we are making the agreement during the Club of Rome’s 50th Anniversary. As a newly elected member of the Club’s Executive Council, I believe it is precisely the kind of system change we stand for. It was why our friend Maurice Strong, whose legendary commitment to sustainable development of the planet and its people, is also reflected in the Club’s planetary boundaries vision. These are principles that we espouse at CBCGDF of action-oriented persuasion with a strong stakeholder engagement. Protected areas and species are a vital part of our bio-system and we need to step up our defences. The agreement comes at the time of publication of a new book Remembering Maurice Strong that shows so clearly where we have been and where we must urgently go ”
Zhou added “ We hope the SUNx Centres will also be places to showcase the renewed vision of the Club of Rome for accelerated change to a New Climate Economy”
For More Information plse contact
SUNx Olly Wheatcroft olly@thesunprogram.com
CBCGDF Linda Wong linda.wong@cbcgdf.org
Notes
Beijing SUNx Centre
A SUNx Centre is a prefabricated, solar powered, climate research and innovation centre. It is a 20m x 12m (240sq.m), steel frame building with a state-of-the-art photovoltaic system.
The Beijing Centre will act as a Focal Point, for education, innovation and action on Climate Resilience and Impact-Travel. Helping communities curate data, meet Paris targets, align with the SDGs etc, It will also be a Capacity Building Centre and a training venue, linked to local Universities and Schools.
Development of the Network in China, One Belt One Road, and Africa
Starting with two global centres in Limburg and Beijing we will plan a rollout of the network into OBOR states and Associated African countries. By leveraging databases, utilising platforms, connecting through the cloud and engaging smart committed young researchers / communicators the network will provide significant added value.
Hosting Strong Climate Action Days from a Beijing base
Putting a unique focus on how Climate Change will affect Tourism destinations and Protected areas. These will lay the groundwork for continuing community focused action, through the global SUNx System,
Developing the Maurice Strong Legacy Scholarship Program in China
The scholarship program aims to inspire smart graduate trainees focus on a brighter, sustainable future. With industry CSR partners we will help build a cadre of young smart “Climate Champions.” We will work with academic institutions and private sector champions to develop a sustainable long-term framework.
CBCGDF is one of Sunx's global network partners. (Photo source: thesunprogram.com)
Dr. Zhou is a member of the SUNx Network Advisory Team. (Photo source: thesunprogram.com)
The 17th Goal of the UN SDGs. (Photo source: the United Nations)
Original Chinese article:
http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4937/6524.html
By / Niu Jingmei