World Bank Partners with Carbon Neutral Alcantara to Host Alcantara Dialogues/Connect4Climate: Re-Think, Re-Design, Re-New At Milan Design Week
MILAN, Italy, April 8, 2013/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- The World Bank (http://www.worldbank.org) is an international development organization dedicated to reducing poverty. Alcantara is an Italian company that produces a unique material used in high-end cars, interiors, fashion, and hi-tech. At first glance, unlikely partners. What unites them? A shared commitment to sustainability and tackling climate change.
Logo Alcantara Dialogues/Connect4Climate: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/c4c-alcantaradialogues-facebook-final.png
Logo World Bank: http://www.photos.apo-opa.com/plog-content/images/apo/logos/world-bank.jpg
Download the programme: http://www.apo-mail.org/Programme-C4C_AlcantaraDialogues-9-12April2013-final.pdf
This common goal is the inspiration for a series of panel discussions entitled Alcantara Dialogues- Connect4Climate: Re-think, Re-Design, Re-new, co-hosted by the World Bank's Connect4Climate (C4C) initiative (http://connect4climate.org) and the 100% carbon-neutral company Alcantara at the Temporary Museum for New Design during Milan Design Week (April 9-14, 2013).
The high-profile dialogues will take place in a 300-square meter pavilion designed by internationally-renowned architect Giulio Cappellini using Alcantara materials to create an innovative sensory experience. The space will also feature a C4C exhibition of user-generated climate stories and images from around the world for the more than 300,000 visitors expected during Milan Design Week.
From Tuesday, April 9th to Friday, April 12 th, 2013, the discussion series will feature influencers from the worlds of design and architecture, fashion, corporate social responsibility, global advocacy, entertainment, and the arts. Panelists include: Corrado Clini, Italian Minister of the Environment; Cyril Muller, World Bank Vice President for External Affairs; Donald Ranvaud, International Film Producer; Renzo Rosso, OTB President; Franca Sozzani, Vogue Italia Editor-in-Chief; Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; and Kenny Young, Grammy Award-winning Songwriter, Music Producer, and Artists Project Earth (APE) Founder.
As World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim has said, “To deliver bold solutions on climate change, we need to listen to and engage broader and more diverse audiences.” This unusual public/private partnership is an effort to do just that - by stimulating new conversations with thought-leaders from a wide variety of disciplines to create a greater understanding of how sustainable design and business practices can impact social behavior to mitigate climate change.
The panels will also focus on the importance of private sector commitment to fostering a more sustainable world and looking at best practices of corporate social responsibility, including the story of Alcantara, which uses energy exclusively from renewable sources and puts environmental protection at the core of their business strategy.
“We view sustainability as an opportunity, not a cost. Given our shared objectives and values, partnering with the World Bank's Connect4Climate is a natural step for Alcantara - not only because of our long-standing commitment to carbon neutrality, but also because of our desire to provide a platform for meaningful dialogues which will spur people to re-think, re-design, and re-new,” said Andrea Boragno, Alcantara's CEO and Chairman.
Connect4Climate (C4C) (http://connect4climate.org) is a global partnership program dedicated to climate change communication supported by the World Bank, the Italian Ministry of Environment, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in collaboration with more than 150 global knowledge partners. With over half a million followers on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media channels, C4C is building an ever-growing community of individuals and organizations around the world committed to climate change action.
"Today's rapidly changing social media environment presents a great opportunity for global discussion and advocacy,” said Dr. Corrado Clini, Italian Minister of the Environment. “With an impressive coalition of partners, Connect4Climate amplifies local voices, enables policymakers to listen and learn from local innovations, and is helping to bring together environmentally-engaged citizens from all corners of the globe."
Distributed by the African Press Organization on behalf of The World Bank.
Program: Alcantara Dialogues/Connect4Climate: Re-Think, Re-Design, Re-New
PRESS PREVIEW OF THE TEMPORARY MUSEUM FOR NEW DESIGN
Monday, 8 April 2013, 15.00-20.00h
GRAND OPENING OF THE ALCANTARA/CONNECT4CLIMATE PAVILION
Tuesday, 9 April 2013, 17.00-17.30h
Participants:
Andrea Boragno, CEO and Chairman, Alcantara
Giulio Cappellini, Architect
Corrado Clini, Minister, Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land, and Sea
Giovanna Melandri, President, MAXXI Foundation
Cyril Muller, External Affairs Vice President, World Bank
Franca Sozzani, Editor-in-Chief, Vogue Italia
Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Lucia Grenna, Connect4Climate Program Manager, World Bank
DESIGN AND SUSTAINABILITY PANEL DISCUSSION
Tuesday, 9 April 2013,17.30 – 18.30h
Participants:
Giulio Cappellini, Architect
Corrado Clini, Minister, Italian Ministry of the Environment, Land, and Sea
Stefano Giovannoni, Designer
Cyril Muller, External Affairs Vice President, World Bank
Marcel Wanders, Designer
Moderator: Joseph Grima, Editor, Domus
SUSTAINABLE FASHION PANEL DISCUSSION
Wednesday, 10 April 2013, 17.30 – 18.30h
Participants:
Franca Sozzani, Editor-in-Chief, Vogue Italia
Renzo Rosso, President of OTB and Founder, Only the Brave Foundation
Livia Firth, Creative Director, Eco Age Ltd., and Founder, The Green Carpet Challenge
Martina Hauser, Head of the Environmental and Carbon Foot Print Task Force, Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land, and Sea
Giovanna Melandri, President, Maxxi Foundation
Moderator:
Eliza Anyangwe, Senior Content Coordinator, Guardian
CSR AND GLOBAL ADVOCACY PANEL DISCUSSION
Thursday, 11 April 2013, 17.30 – 18.30h
Participants:
Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate
Julie Allen, Creative Director for Social Responsibility, Viacom International
Silvio de Girolamo, Chief Audit & Sustainability Executive, Autogrill Group
Kelly Rigg, Executive Director, Global Call for Climate Action
Moderator:
Zoe Fox, Content Coordinator, Mashable
ENTERTAINMENT AND THE ARTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY PANEL DISCUSSION
Friday, 12 April 2013,17.30 – 18.30h
Participants:
Kenny Young, Grammy Award-winning Songwriter, Music Producer, and Founder, Artists Project Earth (APE)
Massimo Bottura, Chef
Freddy Grunert, CEO, Selph2, General Secretary, Supranational Environmental Justice Foundation, and Curator
Ugo Nespolo, President, National Cinema Museum of Torino
Donald Ranvaud, International Film Producer, Buena Onda
Moderator:
Izzy Lawrence, Host, Writer, and DJ, MTV
All events will take place at:
Temporary Museum for New Design
Superstudio Più, Via Tortona 27
Milan, Italy
Facebook.com/connect4climate
Twitter.com/connect4climate, follow the events on #C4CAlcantara
http:// www.connect4climate.org
Livestream kindly provided by our media partner Televisionet.tv: http://connect4climate.org/blog/alcantaradialogues
Televisionet.tv is the first completely free Italian web TV with on-demand content in English and Italian: http://www.televisionet.tv
Additional media support provided by Domus: http://www.domusweb.it
Media Contacts:
Lucia Grenna +1 (202) 415-3831 or in Italy +39 339 717 0164, [email protected]
Massimiliano Paolucci +39 06 7771 0204, [email protected]