20|06|24, Hofburg Vienna

BE USEFUL – TOOLS FOR A HEALTHY PLANET

“There may be more beautiful times, but this one is ours,” Jean-Paul Sartre once said.

We are facing a multitude of new and difficult challenges. The world is facing increasingly complex conflicts and crises. Alongside the current geopolitical situation, the ecological challenges seem to be fading into the background for some. This is fatal because they often accelerate political crises. The good news for our environmental and climate protection movement is that we already have a variety of tools and solutions at hand. We can all contribute something positive – be ‘useful,’ as the title of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s new book and our motto for this year’s AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT emphasizes.

The motto “Be useful – Tools for a Healthy Planet” should be our guiding principle to create a world together in which we can all have a decent future. Because if everyone makes themselves useful and does their bit, then we can save our planet and ourselves.

Program

(subject to change)

Matt Iseman, Presenter
Monika Langthaler, Host AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Founder AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT

Unlocking Green Investments: Overcoming Financial Barriers to Climate Action

Scientific models project that investing in climate-resilient infrastructure and green energy comes at a lower cost than paying for the consequences of the climate crisis. There is no green transformation without financial drivers. Recently, significant financial stakeholders have been establishing green funds and seeking green investments. What is green money exactly, how can it be accessed? And what are the obstacles of the transformation if it is not the lack of funding? This session will explore different financial aspects such as Green Budgeting, green investments in the Global South and the barriers preventing a faster global shift towards sustainability.

Exploring Corporate and Political Roles in Climate Action: Tools and Challenges

Corporate responsibility has been a buzzword for the last decades. And indeed, the business world has many tools at hand to drive change. However, companies frequently criticize the absence of adequate legal frameworks that would enable them to operate sustainably. Politics represent one of the most influential instruments for concrete measures. Tune in to the discussion on how both businesses and politics contribute to climate action and join in to reflect what tools could also be improved.

Urban Influence: Sustainable Living in Cities

According to UNFCCC, cities occupy merely 2% of the Earth’s surface, but they account for 78% of global energy consumption and generate over 60% of greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, understanding urban dynamics and the lifestyle choices people can make within them is essential.

Old habits die hard! That is why cities and regions work hard to make a climate friendly life as easy as possible. What tools do they have? How can we as citizens become more climate friendly in our daily lives?

Creative Approaches to Inspire Change

As all aspects of our lives are affected by the climate crisis, we need unique and creative channels and approaches to react and act: Convincing people to act for the climate is an art.

Inspiring stories and innovative personalities – the best mix for an intriguing session. We present climate action heroes from all around the world proving that change is already in motion.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Founder AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT

Monika Langthaler, Director Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative