The Verbier Green Pioneering Summit (VGPS) has established itself as a high profile, annual event which brings together world-renowned experts, representatives of the public and private sectors, and members of our local community.
For its 3rd Edition, the organizers have expanded the GPS programme by setting aside a full day for the Green Business Forum on Day 1, and hosting the launch of the World Mountain Forum (WMF) in collaboration with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) on Day 3. They also celebrated the International Year of the Forest by looking more closely at their vital role in our region and globally.
Klewel webcasted the event live an on-demand:
In the framework of the Third Verbier Green Pioneering Summit, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), in partnership with the private sector, internationally engaged individuals and regional mountain initiatives worldwide will launch the World Mountain Forum during the Verbier Green Pioneering Summit in conjunction with the celebration of the International Mountain Day on December 11th 2011.
The vision of the World Mountain Forum (WMF) is to conserve, construct and celebrate mountain regions as vital ecosystems, by engaging their inhabitants and all those who benefit from mountains to jointly promote their conservation and sustainable development.
“Mountains provide humankind with stunning landscapes, recreation, inspiration and resources, such as water, that are indispensable to our common future. However globally, mountain environments suffer from widespread degradation and their people endure poverty, lack of opportunities and neglect”
Recent years have seen a massive increase in construction and investment in mountain resorts like Verbier. Climate change and environment discussions are focusing more on the risk of melting snow caps, glaciers and seasonal melt water which provide life support for billions of people around the world. Mountain communities need business development, but they also want to ensure that it is managed and sustainable in an environmentally friendly way.
The WMF is a network of individuals and organisations concerned with the wellbeing of mountain dwellers. The theme of this first Forum is to construct, conserve and celebrate our common mountain home, a subject that links the abiding reverence of traditional mountain cultures to the powerful restorative forces the modern societies still find in the high places of the world. This forum will, for the first time, unite the global community of those who live, work and play in mountains.
The WMF is a public-private program that aims at stimulating business relations for generating funding to enhance communication and implement practical sustainable solutions in the world’s mountain regions. The vision of the World Mountain Forum is to conserve, construct and celebrate mountain regions as vital ecosystems, by engaging their inhabitants and all those who benefit from mountains to jointly promote their conservation and sustainable development. The WMF will celebrate the International Mountain Day with a special interactive space with live streaming and activities focused for the younger generations.
The event will close with the prize-giving of the Everest Award which will be given to the winner of an art competition. The subject of the competition will be “why we love our mountains” for children from the four participating continents.
Partnerships are in place with the Commune de Bagnes and Business Valais, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the Federation for Sustainable Mountain Development (FDDM).