Sustainable Development & the Environment

How well prepared are developing and developed countries to respond to the predicted increase in wind, storm and flood as a result of climate change? What lessons can be learnt from recent best practice to provide an improved immediate response through preparedness, rescue and rehabilitation? What can and should the international community do to better to prepare for and respond to floods in developing countries? What role for the insurance industry? Are governments responsible for those with little or no insurance? This Wilton Park conference continues the series of conferences focusing on the response to natural disasters and the preparedness for them. A conference specifically focused on Prevention for and Recovery from flooding will be the next conference in this series, currently planned for January 2010.

How can the increasingly influential private funders of development (foundations, trusts, philanthropists, the private sector) best help to counteract the negative impact of climate change on international development? What are the key policy and scientific drivers relating to climate change and international development, and how can funders add their voice to the international policy-making debate? What strategies can funders develop, whether singly or in partnership, to make a difference on equity and social justice; migration and health; community development and resilience? What opportunities are there for funders to take higher profile action on policy development and advocacy? How can funders build knowledge and networks to raise awareness and to strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations to deal with the impact of climate change on development? This Forum will bring together foundations and other funders with governments, international agencies and NGOs to discuss and develop cooperation and practical strategies on how private funding can best be harnessed to meet the serious and urgent challenges of climate change on international development.
Location: Wilton Park

How can fragile states best address the development challenge? How can the cycle of repeated relapses into armed conflict be avoided? How can donors cooperate to develop state capacity to manage the development process? What are the ‘lessons learnt’? How can best practice be incorporated into planning and delivery?
Location: Wilton Park

How can low income groups gain access to financing for affordable housing? What innovative models for financing already exist? How can revolving funds be established on an affordable basis, but still generate returns for investors? What response is needed from governments, development agencies and financiers to enable such schemes to flourish? How can conflicting objectives of pro-poor finance schemes and lenders’ need to make a viable rate of return be combined?
Location: Wilton Park

The annual conference with the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) will bring together policymakers, practitioners, industrialists and networks of those contributing to the creation of lower carbon, high growth economies. The focus and themes of the conference will be finalised in early 2009.
Location: Wilton Park

What is the political and economic outlook for Iran following parliamentary and presidential elections? How will mounting public dissatisfaction with the economy and political developments be handled? What are the shortcomings in Iran’s economy, and how should these be addressed? Can sanctions provide an answer after having exerted little influence over Iran’s nuclear development? How will US policy towards Iran evolve under a new administration? How will Iran relate to its neighbours including Iraq, Afghanistan and the Gulf States?
Location: Wilton Park