Diplomat, professor, and writer, has pioneered research and action on societal, geo-strategic and economic impacts of environmental degradation. Until August 2019 was Coordinator for the Environment and Head of the Science-Policy Interface with the Italian Development Cooperation; MFA head negotiator on water, lands, and oceans, and member of the Delegations to UNFCCC, UNCBD. Co-Chair of the G7 Group on Climate and Fragility, Chair of the UN Mountains Alliance, Co-Chair of the Global Islands Partnership. Currently, Senior Deputy Secretary General of the Union for the Mediterranean, in charge of Energy and Climate Action.
Professor of Environment and Geo-strategy at various think-tanks and universities, and member of various scientific boards, Grammenos authored numerous articles, official reports, and six books about human impacts of environmental degradation. He is a full member of the Club of Rome.

Keynote 5: Can Technology Save our Planet?

Thursday, January 16th
08:45 – 09:30 | HG F 30 | Audi Max

Abstract:

The first concept of sustainability focused on efficiency improvements produced by technological advancements. But technology is just a neutral amplifier of trends – not even of chosen paths – and in the present circumstances it could fuel a feedback loop that amplifies the root causes of an unsustainable economy which, in turn, would amplify the need for a destructive economy. What do we have to correct to enable technology to fulfill its promise of a better future?