13A – Climate: Managerial Courage to Tackle Environmental Issues

Face to face with Kaj Török

© Maxime Dufour Photographies

Founded in 1968, Max Burgers is the world’s first climate-positive fast food chain. For 14 years in a row Max has been chosen as the most popular burger chain in Sweden. The reason is quality and taste. In fact, in 1991 it was the first burger chain to outcompete the giant McDonald’s in its home country. Kaj Török is the CRO (Chief Reputation Officer) and CSO (Chief Sustainability Officer) of Max Burgers since 2016. He also presented himself as a caring father very concerned for his children’s future.

During his intervention, Kaj described the way his company managed to become climate-positive. The first important step is to look in detail into its production methods and measure its consumption. That will allow the company to firstly reduce its consumption and then later establish methods to give back more to nature than it has taken from it. This way, Max Burgers became a 110% climate-positive company and it only costed them 0.4% of its total turnover. After the inspiring keynote he gave us, Mr. Török took some time to answer several of my questions in an interview.

What motivated you to work in the fastfood and burger industry?

I was an advisor for Max Burgers for 10 years before entering the company. I truly supported their values and carried them. I felt like I could have a real impact on our world. 

You proved that it is possible to be climate-positive, Max Burgers did it. Do you believe that today’s biggest companies can also successfully adopt this model?

I am absolutely convinced that all companies, including the most major ones can do it and they will do it sooner or later. The Paris Agreements are all about this and all businesses should feel concerned and take action now. We shouldn’t wait 2050 to act, important steps are to be taken as soon as possible. 

Companies are the best structures to find and create solutions in our societies. 

You have now been very big in Sweden for several decades. Is it in your plans to expand your burger chain model throughout the world?

Of course Max Burgers, as any company, must be ambitious. I would ideally want Max to be the world’s best burger chain. Not the biggest one, but the best one. Quality and innovation is what we want to build ourselves a name on. 

Max Burgers is currently expanding in Denmark and Poland, and I hope to soon be able to say we opened a franchise in France!

Max Burgers achieved a fantastic goal by becoming climate-positive (110%), but will the company push its model even further and go beyond 110?

As a climate-positive business, it is tough to be fully satisfied and decide to stop. We aren’t finished trying to find and develop new ways to be climate-positive. Today Max contributes by planting trees but we might find better alternative ways tomorrow.

Even though our company runs on burgers (meat), there will be less meat consumption in the future for the profit of higher quality and more eco-friendly beef.

Our priority is now to try and introduce the taste of plants to our clients and try to show that veggie burgers can be as tasty and delicious as beef-based burgers. We want to contribute to the very needed transition in our eating habits.

If Max Burgers managed to do it, why couldn’t other companies do it as well?

Logan GUM
@GumLogan

11A – Opening Plenary of the 13^th Edition: EGO IMPERIUM, I Have the Power to Change the World

Dale Dougherty is the founder of Make: Community, Maker Faire and Make: Magazine. He is himself a typical figure of the makers: he “grows his own food”, “likes to cook” and “makes wine and beer”.

For Dale Dougherty, “we are all makers”. Makers are people who create tangible things. Their innovative spirit is limitless. Makers’ attitude is guided by passion and curiosity: they create things because they feel excited about it, not because of lucrative interest.

© Maxime Dufour Photographies

In that sense, makers are grown-ups who have kept their childish spirit. Their toys are no longer dolls or cars but tools, materials and new technologies. Instead of sandboxes, makers play in fab labs or workshops. As Dale Dougherty puts it: “Makers live in a world of their own making.” He illustrated his statement with the example of Damon McMillan, a family man who challenged himself to build a solar and autonomous boat. It took him 30 months but eventually, the boat sailed from California to Hawaii. This technology cannot be compared to Bertrand Piccard’s autonomous plane, but McMillan had no practical and monetary support.

Projects such as McMillan’s autonomous boat are presented in Maker Faires. Two hundred Maker Faires take place across the globe in cities like New York, San Francisco or Paris. Those events are a way for the public to discover new creations and feel inspired and amazed. 

Indeed, makers' creation are much more than just tangible objects. They represent the capability for makers to bring changes in their community. Dale Dougherty stated: “Maker movement is intended to empower people to do things and when they do so, they have an influence on themselves and on the world around them. They may not realize it, but they create culture around them.” Not only do makers make valuable creations but they also make society.

Therefore, everyone should be a maker! But not all individuals believe that they have the means and the knowledge to create what they want. To those, Dale Dougherty would answer: “Just start doing something, you have the means, you have the ability(…) Use the simplest materials that are around you(….) Look for other people doing it(….) And I think, you will find some inspiration once you start to meet other people. They will help you learn and shape your direction. Practically, you can find makers at fab labs and workshops, go there and find out what people are doing there. The important things is: start inside yourself, you are good enough to do it, you don’t need to be trained for four years at school(…), you can do something right away.“

So, what will you be creating?

Matteo DARNET

11A – Opening Plenary of the 13^th Edition: EGO IMPERIUM, I Have the Power to Change the World

Face to face with Heidi Solba

Heidi Solba is a protective person who is today the president of Let’s Do It! World, an organization dedicated to environmental protection and dealing more specifically with the human’s waste. She is also  the initiator of the World Cleanup Day, a project born in 2018. The World Cleanup Day happens on a 24-hour period, where people gather to pick up trash across the globe.

This year’s edition took place on September 21, started from Fiji and crossed all the time-zones to end up in Hawaii. Over 20 million individuals were involved in 180 countries to collect trash. Much caffeine must have been needed for her on that day : “I was awake for 36 hours during the World Cleanup Day. I was in tears when I received all the photos and videos of the event and realized the fellowship existing across the world.”

 © Maxime Dufour Photographies

A trying day for her that was filled by many emotions and hope for the future. After a second edition that was even more successful than the first one, Let’s Do It! World’s president is very ambitious for the years to come. She is already preparing herself for the next edition and wants even bigger scores. Her team hopes to reach implication numbers that go from 5 to 10% of the national populations.

Even though they claim themselves as an apolitical organization, Let’s Do It! World is starting to work more and more with governments to make things move. They also have strong confidence in local waste centrals and smaller organizations. Heidi, perfectly fitted in the Ego Imperium theme, believes that anyone can make a difference. Every gesture counts, there is no action that has no impact. “We believe that small, big or great ideas can make the change in the world.” Everyone is responsible for the climate change and anyone can take action and have a positive impact. She trusts the youth and perceives the newer generations as the change-makers. They are the ones that consume massively ,but are most importantly the ones that can reduce their consumption and be the essence of alternative ideas and actions. 

A sentence in her speech caught my attention: “Positive energy is attractive to positive energy.” What did she mean by that?

Heidi is convinced that the World Cleanup Day acts like a virus. A positive virus that will spread itself across the planet. Acting as a role model shapes the personal behaviors and will also influence other people’s actions over time. Small actions can create huge virtuous cycles. She cherishes the idea that a person participating to the World Cleanup Day will never be littering again. 

Heidi engages herself to keep on being dedicated to the World Cleanup Day. She desires to expand the concept in as many countries as possible and carries a very optimistic view on the “positive virus”.

Logan GUM
@GumLogan

11A – Opening Plenary of the 13^th Edition: EGO IMPERIUM, I Have the Power to Change the World

“It’s time to get practical.” — Philippe Vasseur

Ego Imperium. I have the power. The opening plenary of the World Forum for a Responsible Economy tells a story. It relates how I, how we, how they can make a difference today and tomorrow in a world where global issues seem far too remote for one to tackle individually.

© Maxime Dufour Photographies

Change yourself before you change the world

“Deep down inside your heart and head, you want to change the world.” Bertrand Piccard, psychiatrist, world-record setter and a guest to the 2019 edition of the World Forum for a Responsible Economy started his talk with this simple yet powerful quote. It is a child’s dream in grown minds that none of us could give up. It does not matter how deep it is buried inside us, it is still there, waiting. Bertrand Piccard gives a compelling speech aimed at all of us as individuals. The very idea of changing the world might seem crazy. It might seem impossible. It inspires fear, fear to step out of our comfort zone, of our linear paths and careers. But we have to try. The man standing before our eyes has been in our stead. He tried, he failed, he tried again and eventually succeeded. Moving forward requires the boldness to go against people’s expectations, to be ready to fail, and to learn. The speech ends with an inspiring video clip that sums up Mr. Piccard’s career, from the stuttering beginnings to a kid’s dream come true. His individual inspiration and dedication finally developed into a global call for hope in new energies. If he did it, why can’t we?

1+1=3, the strength of positive collective action

Individual changes of mindset are a first step toward collective action. It is our story and we all have the opportunity to write it. On the stage, Heidi Solba, the leader of Let’s Do It! World, the organization in charge of the World Cleanup Day, and Dale Dougherty, president of Make: Community and organizer of Maker Faire, have exalting stories. They too, started by themselves to eventually reach more and more people throughout the planet. Their positive collective action both come from individuals adding up their singularities: it resulted in sets of matching and clashing interests that are the core of global movements. Bertrand Piccard emphasized how important it is that people with antithetical perceptions be allowed to discuss and create a third way. This is how, the 21 September 2019, 20.1 million people gathered throughout 180 countries for the World Cleanup Day. This is how, in 48 different countries, hundreds thousand people gathered in 200 Maker Faires to share kids' dream and turn them into reality. Beyond helping our planet by picking up waste at an unprecedented scale, beyond creating milestones in renewable energies, those collective projects bring back positive social interactions into our lives. “We want to feel good by doing good.”

The Egothon: what is my commitment?

Now, what is your commitment? How will you contribute to building a better working world? The essence of the 2019 World Forum for a Responsible Economy is conveyed by the Egothon. It is a call to get practical. Jean-Pierre Letartre, president of Réseau Alliances and the World Forum takes the first step. He decided to buy an electric bike instead of a second car to move around town. Philippe Vasseur, president of Mission rev3 commits to get involved in the local elections campaign in the Hauts-de-France so that rev3 measures become widespread. Heidi Solba commits to spreading her movement, “to be bold and to get bolder”. Bertrand Piccard commits to put forward 1,000 profitable solutions to preserve the environment. It is hard to emphasize enough how important this event is. It highlights each singular commitment to making the world a better working place and demonstrates that you are not alone in trying to disrupt the status quo. It should be a call to action for everyone. 

“So, let’s do it!”

Martin DAMBRICOURT
@martindamb

Every year since 2007, the World Forum for a Responsible Economy invites speakers from all over the world to come share their ideas and present new and more sustainable economic models to encourage entrepreneurs to get involved in a responsible economy.

The World Forum is a fantastic meeting that raised the issue of social business and now the region has declared they want to get involved. This is amazing that the North region wants to be fully commited to the social business idea and take leadership on it. It is inspiring not only for France but for the whole world.

Pr. Muhammad Yunus, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Bangladesh.

Here are 5 reasons why you should attend the World Forum 2019!

01. To bring about corporate change

The World Forum is an active driving force in the innovation process of the companies. It shows companies managers new perspectives and makes them discover more sustainable economic models thanks to the topics dealt with, the speakers and the way all the sessions are conducted.

02. To connect with the region

The World Forum launches, boosts and supports projects in the Hauts-de-France region. It participates in mobilizing regional actors who are absolutely essential when working on big projects.

In 2012, rev3, encouraged by Jeremy Rifkin, turned the Hauts-de-France into a pilot region for economic change. In 2014, SoBizHub was created thanks to Muhammad Yunus, integrating the region into the global movement of social business. In 2018, with B Corp, the World Forum made Réseau Alliances the relay for regional companies that wish to set up a responsible economy.

03. To benefit from 25 years of expertise

For 25 years, Réseau Alliances has been uniting 350 companies committed to a responsible economy from the Hauts-de-France region and helping them carry through their CSR projects. Réseau Alliances is trying to meet the companies’ expectations and answer their concerns thanks to its expertise during the World Forum and all throughout the year.

04. To hear speakers from all over the world

Thanks to the work of 50 partners spread around the world, many experts come to the World Forum to present their ideas and projects. We are also inviting stakeholders of all kind, CEOs from big companies or innovating entrepreneurs, from all around the world to come share the success of their commitment to a responsible economy.

05. To let your voice be heard

We have at heart to make the World Forum a collaborative event. For that reason, we make sure every year that all our stakeholders have a say in the organization of the event. Moreover, all our sessions are conducted so that the audience gets to participate, talk and share ideas during three days.

In 2019, the World Forum for a Responsible Economy returns for its 13th edition.

The World Forum is an annual event for the entrepreneurs who are interested in CSR. During the last 12 years, it showed through practical examples that the economic performance could be improved by an approach more respectful of both human beings and the environment.

The World Forum’s purpose is also to get regional economic stakeholders involved and to help develop great projects like the Third Industrial Revolution with Jeremy Rifkin or SoBizHub with Muhammad Yunus.

“Commitment” is the keyword of this 13th edition.

Because we are convinced that change depends on the individual, we will give you during these 3 days all the keys to help you reveal your power to change the world.

I have the power
to change the world

15-16-17 October 2019 in Lille

Come meet the economic stakeholders of the ecological and social transition, attend practice workshops and conferences to reveai your power.

I have the power to work differently.
I have the power to change the way I’m doing business.
I have the power to reduce my environmental impact.
I have the power to consume locally.
I have the power to move differently.
I have the power to act for my city.
I have the power to hire differently.
I have the power to join an association.
I have the power to promote well-being at work.
I have the power to teach my skills to others.

I have the power...to change the world!

Keep up with the latest news about the event,
the program and all the speakers on our website.

Registration opens at the end of August

The first headliners of this 13th edition

Thursday 16:30. The time to put an end to the 12th edition of the World Forum has come. Three days during which the “super local” has dominated discussions and minds. To close this 2018 edition, Philippe Vasseur had invited a special guest: the ecologist, photographer, reporter and film producer Yann Arthus Bertrand. The closing plenary session began with the original soundtrack of “Home”, a movie realized by the latter. We can already feel the atmosphere changing.

We can all be “super-local”

Michael Shuman is the first one to take the stage: “Look, up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! No, it’s Super-local man!” His entrance is a success: people are laughing. The co-founder of BALLE wanted to give a message to everyone in the room: we can all be super-local man and super-local woman. But for this, we have to answer to seven questions. How to be a good resident, a local consumer, an ambitious investor, a better entrepreneur, how to measure the social business, create an international partnership and be a global citizen? “If you answer to these seven questions, you will be magnificent”. A message of hope: for Michael Shuman, “everything we do is significant”.

The international is local

A hope which is supported by photos from all over the world. A gift for Yann Arthus Bertrand, which is transformed in something optimistic in the room. We are seeing people helping each other after a deadly fire in Chili, a woman getting back returnable bottles: an example of circular economy at a local level. In Melbourne, there is a movement of arrangement of urban spaces; in La Baie de la Canche a development policy is going well since 2009 as people can only travel by feet or bicycle. In India, we can see a farmer benefiting from a program for improving the productivity of local producers. People in other countries are doing “super-local”: all these actions are possible at a local level. Now, we have to take example and put in practice what we heard during those three days to do something bigger at a national and international level.

“Only love will change the world”

A picture of trees making a heart appeared on the screens. Yann Arthus Bertrand is taking place on the stage. He started by telling us the story of his life: how he became a photographer and reporter, how all the things he has seen made him loving the nature, the people and more generally the planet. He reminded us important numbers: when he began to study lions, there were 400 000, now they are less than 20 000. Elephants were 20 million at the beginning of the last century, now they are only 350 000 to live on earth: “the time we are talking now, two elephants are died”. A picture of the Kilimanjaro without snow on its top: “The Kilimanjaro’s eternal snow, no comments”. The military budget of the world is 1 800 billiard of dollars per year: “do you imagine what we could do with this budget?” asked the photographer. Yes, maybe we could save the planet. Then, he told us one thing that most people didn’t realize: fossil fuel is the first cause of climate change, but in the COP 21 report, there no mention of fossil fuel at all. “There is a kind of hypocrisy in politician discourses today”.

All these facts came with beautiful pictures. “The worst source of pollution becomes graphic and something beautiful to photograph” remarked the photographer sadly. Now Yann Arthus Bertrand had the attention of everyone in the room.

After this, it is the movie maker who stood. He decided to play some extracts from his film “Human”. The session took another dimension at this moment.

The video began with the intervention of the ancient Uruguayan president José Mujica, who spent 10 years of his life in a hole, including seven without reading one book. “That left me time to think. And this is what I discovered: life is one thing money can’t buy.” With this extract, Yann Arthus Betrand wanted to pass a message: we, as representing the whole society, have to change in order to live better. We have to be more responsible.

With the second video, Yann Arthus Bertrand decided to point the politicians directly. “Who is going to help us? The politicians? My children are dying!” is exclaiming a woman living in extreme poverty. The atmosphere is becoming grave and people in the audience are realizing how lucky they are to sit here. Misery is everywhere around us, but we are pretending not seeing it.

And that is when the ecologist decided to play an extract of his next film called “woman” that the emotion attained its paroxysm. Some people in the audience are crying in silence when hearing the story of this French woman who has been sexually aggressed and hit by a man almost ten years ago. We can clearly see that she is still destroyed by what happened to her.

The video stopped. A moment of silence is spreading in the room. Then the French ecologist, still in tears, spoke: “being ecologist, this is loving the trees, but also loving people. Only love will change the world.”

The public stood and applauded for a long time, with a lot of emotion.

The 12th edition of the World Forum closed on the words of Philippe Vasseur: “act where we live, where we want and where we can”. There is still hope in this world, but we have to wake up now.

In an economy accountable for the current landscape filled with natural disasters, ecosystems in danger and social inequality; CSR and cooperation turn out to be the best path to follow in order to walk away from such a panorama. The testimonies of Paul Ducasse, Suvankar Mishra and Michel Pernot du Breuil confirm such central place of Corporate Social Responsibility. It  conceives cooperation from northern to southern regions and creates new ways of functioning more concerned and engaged to confront the current challenges irresponsible economy produces. How do we put those principles into force?

Withdraw from real needs

The global population increases, always more people have to be fed. Agriculture is becoming more and more central and strategic, especially in what we call the South.

Suvankar Mishra is an Indian entrepreneur. He is very aware of this issue as 20% of the world population comes from his country. His theory: the future lies in the hands of small farmers. They are the ones who will feed the next generations. And they need help, they need assistance, they need security. Suvankar Mishra decided to react and invented a tool to help those isolated, often non educated farmers.

In Africa, 60% of the population depends upon agriculture. 35% is suffering from malnutrition. Starting from this point, Michel Pernot du Breuil created an association called SENS (Solidarité Entreprises Nord-Sud). Its mission? Create contact, build cooperation between small,independent, often isolated farmers and bigger corporations. The goal is to ensure nourishing, qualitative foods for the populations as well as substantive incomes for small farmers.

Not only foods are lacking in some african regions but also electricity. And electricity is central to get access to new technologies and improve the ways of life. Within the Pole Medee, Paul Ducasse proposed a program aiming at supporting the installation of electric commodities in various countries of Africa.

Import Northern assistance to the South

A first attempt to make the things move and allow the South increase his capacities is in adapting technologies, methods, machines which proved their efficiency in the Northern countries to the Southern territories.

Hence the project of Paul Ducasse. The goal is to provoke a meeting of northern electric technologies with southern realities. That “cooperation” must create new models and ways of addressing problems, adapted to the needs of southern populations. It should be profitable to the region, and shall not damage the local ecosystem.

On the same continent, Michel Pernot du Breuil’s association (SENS) built a partnership between the Picardie region and Benin. Knowledge from France and more especially from that region is imported in Africa, allowing small producers to get in touch with agricultural methods and administrative procedures. They are formed, they are coached and they are integrated in networks of local entrepreneurs.  

Thousands of millions of little farmers are active on the indian soils, they are our future and they need to be as aware as other big producers about the weather conditions and the market’s functioning. They need coaching and security. And that is possible thanks to Shivanka Mishra and his corporation eKutir. Surfing on the wave of the fourth revolution and the era of digitalisation, they created a platform, Bloom, directly inspired by apps such as Uber and specially dedicated to small farmers. It gives them tips and informations but it also collects datas. An aspect particularly interesting for governments or even banqs, which can adapt or rethink their policies to address real, concrete needs.

Generate local possibilities and sustainable development

Elaborating possibilities for southern populations to further continue the job being done and to continue to develop by themselves  is just as key as giving assistance. That is why these three companies believe on the importance of education, co-planning, co-producing and co-managing the projects settled. To do so, strong bonds between locals and the companies are established. SENS and Pôle Medee do so by going to the cities they work with a long time in advance to carefully study all the different possibilities, as well as the locals’ opinions, ideas and points of view. When the decisions are taken,  a formation process begins with the people. The Bloom app does so by giving useful information to farmers, available at any time. They get to see what seed they can grow, what kind of products they should use on their seeds, and at what price and market they could sell their work. Farmers can therefore be independent. Through such an app, farmers can also contact other farmers.

From those possibilities generated, not only can locals develop themselves but also establish a new type of collaboration: a south-south bonds and links are being created to support fellow locals.

Paula Franco and Servane de Pastre

Born and raised in Chile – the number one residue-generator country in Latin America – Petar Ostojic Orador was continuously exposed to the unfortunate consequences of human action on the environment. As a result, his commitment to build a better tomorrow by fighting climate change is firmly rooted in his actions and ideals.

As CEO of the energetically efficient pump company Neptuno Pumps and as the founder and director of the Centro de Inovación y Economía Circular (CIEC), Ostojic Orador contributes to the setup of a more sustainable earth. The innovator and entrepreneur adopts a circular economy model where valuing and recycling residues is key for the companies’ performance. He does so by building bridges between the philosophy of the fourth industrial revolution, advanced manufacturing, 4.0 industries, 3d impression, blockchains and sustainability. The Chilean attended the 12th edition of the World Forum for Responsible Economy to walk us through the utopia he dreams of building with his commitment to fighting climate change.

What opportunities are given to entrepreneurs and innovators by circular economy?

Three main benefits are granted by such an economic model:

Firstly, it encourages companies to develop new ideas and concepts, as well as new business models. It is an opportunity to generate disruptive innovations: solutions that create new markets. Additionally, it provides quality jobs and makes companies prove themselves as an alternative to climate change.  

For those who wish to innovate and use a circular economic model, is wanting it enough? Or are there requirements for success?

Every entrepreneurship begins with an idea, a passion, but it is necessary to later land a project with a long-term business model. Otherwise, the business will barely maintain itself throughout time.

What advice would you give companies wanting to make the change and adopt this model?

The first recommendation comes from a quote I learned from Professor Deming of the Columbia Business School: “If you cannot describe your business on a process, you do not know your business”. It is therefore necessary to make a general analysis of processes and establish one for your company.

Secondly, it is essential to identify what the different stages of the company’s process are and the extra-production. Later on, they must study and identify alternatives to reuse such wastes at other stages of the process.

Also, identifying potential collaborations with other local or national projects is key to potentially incorporate wastes to their process. Lastly, one needs to include technology, and to be aware of the surrounding trends. Through that, generate content: tell the world what you are doing - social media was revolutionary for Neptuno Pump.

Where should new public policies be orientated to promote entrepreneurship, innovation and circular economy?

The most significant role in making crucial changes relies on people, on entrepreneurs and ideas. Together they have to prove to governments and politicians that different alternatives are possible and better than the ones we always take. We have seen that happen in Chile. Politicians found out about the circular model of economy and thanks to this created helpful legislation and programs.

Paula Franco.

The grand recap after half a decade

The first was coal and the telegraph; the second was oil, electricity and communications. Celebrating its fifth anniversary, the Third Industrial Revolution has become a beacon of hope and a newfound dynamic for progress. Undeniably, the summary of these last five years proves that the project is full of potential. For only in times of change are we able of gathering and creating solutions together, as well as implementing them.

The World Forum’s child prodigy

In 2012, Jeremy Rifkin was asked to put his theories into practice at the World Forum. Five years ago he presented, along with Philippe Vasseur, this great project called “REV3, the Third Industrial Revolution”. At the time, they did not know that the Nord-Pas-de-Calais would merge with Picardie into the Hauts De France, extending the reach of this philosophy.

1000 projects, 10 construction sites about hydrogen, circular econom and many more. The economist speaks about the Hauts-de-France region as « It's been a real honour to work with the region for 4 years. Where there is a real sense of fraternity. Which puts theory into practice. It inspires other regions to go back home with a narrative that makes sense. »

Besides, seeing political and economic actors alongsides university presidents on stage is symbolic. These « worlds » are starting to reconnect. Third revolution, three generations willing to cooperate and move forwards together.

5 years through but many left to go

The economist came back on his masterclass with 1.500 students from the whole region and emphasised that the climate emergency is no longer rumour but a reality, causing multiples naturals catastrophes. His speech was deliberately directed at young adults aged 25 and under, for they can put Rifkin’s theories into practice and are those who can win the race against time.

“It is not only another political moment in history but a moment when we decide our future fate.”

We have to take a few moments tolook back onthepathtaken and totry to answerthat crucial question which is climate change. Above all else, we must understand and estimate the power of a whole new generation of actors. “The biggest problem with climate change is denial: ‘it's business as usual’, ‘it is too late’. You cannot fail here. Let's move now.” Jeremy Rifkin insisted upon its immediate urgency. “We must become aware that, in this flourishing planet, we can do this too”.

A European dynamic

To stimulate demand among European politicians, we must start by developing the offerby breakingdowna few barriers. It will then be of interest to present several propositions toopening thedoors of the political system.

Territories are places of innovation. They are stem cells, that one day will eventually spread to the entire body of society. Maro Sefcovic, a Slovak diplomat, showed his support and made a clear promise. The vice president of the European commission, running for presidency, what to lead a new commission to develop REV3 at a Continental level. It is the next stage on European Development.

The Commission has already proposed ten projects with a dual vision, both European and International. This demonstrates a vital interest in theregion and itseconomic viability, a compass thatguides us alongthe path of progress. For Jeremy Rifkin the 1000 projects are easily feasible if we work at a European level and with mindful governments. In addition, he implored governments to “Please let France lead Europe ».

Economic rendezvous

« We have a plan that will work. This REV3 is not rocket science, we know that if we involve region »

Unique to France, REV3 is expanding towards territories and to Europe first, then on a global scale. Individualprovincesand territories aremoving forwardwith their own approaches to developing targets. They are ready to guarantee this transition. The battle also takes place within mentality: when the concrete effects of these measures appear on the ground. Regarding employment and the economic reality, for Xavier Bertrand « it is necessary to know how to deliver ».

Patrice Vergriete talked about the « city of tomorrow » and its to ability to meet today's challenges and prepare for the future, the Green Project is on its way. Dunkerque is working alongside the region for the decentralisation. Economic challenges within the transitions that the industries know – climate-related challenges, flood control, social exclusion – mostly concern them.

As Jeremy Rifkin declared, « We are the most social species on earth. In times of change we can gather, create and implement solutions ». Will your region be at the rendez-vous ?

Estelle Kammerer