IEF 5th Annual Conference programme

Welcome and opening remarks
Dr. Arthur L. Dahl, President of the International Environment Forum
The objectives of the conference

FROM STOCKHOLM VIA RIO TO JOHANNESBURG
Introductory keynote Dr. Arthur L. Dahl, Switzerland
Background documents:
Rio Declaration
Earth Charter
Roundtable discussion: The major challenges for the WSSD.

Keynote I: KNOWLEDGE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Professor Bedrich Moldan, Czech Republic
Background documents:
 Agenda 21 Chapter 35: Science for Sustainable Development
 Agenda 21 Chapter 40: Information for Decision-making

Key note II: VALUES AS THE FOUNDATION FOR SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOUR
Dr. Arthur L. Dahl, Switzerland
Background documents:
 Institute for Studies of Global Prosperity: Science, Religion and Development: Some Initial Considerations
 Baha'i International Community: Sustainable Development: the Spiritual Dimension

Key note III: EDUCATION: A CONSTRAINT OR A CATALYST TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Ms. Victoria Thoresen, Norway
Background document:
 Agenda 21 Chapter 36: Education, Public Awareness and Training

Panel I: Knowledge for sustainable development
Panelists:
Dr. Sylvia Karlsson (Germany): Knowledge for Multilayered Environmental Governance
Dr. Laurent Mesbah (Bosnia): Panel discussion on Knowledge for Sustainable Development
Dr. Bettina Moser (Germany): Role of Knowledge for Sustainable Development
Questions for the panel discussion:
What is the role of science in determining human behaviour for sustainability?
Is scientific knowledge sufficiently accessible to the general public?
How could it be made more accessible?
Are there other kinds of knowledge that are important for sustainability?
What prevents knowledge from fostering more sustainable development?
Can you give examples of the successful use of scientific knowledge to change public behaviour?

Panel II: Values for sustainable development
Panelists:
Ms. Judith Fienieg (Netherlands): Environmental Values in Industry
Ms. Patty Van Zanten (Lithuania): Values
Dr. Friedo Zoelzer (Czech Republic): Can ethical norms be justified by rational arguments alone?
Questions for the panel discussion:
How are values related to sustainability?
What are some values that are especially relevant for sustainable behaviour?
Are there values that encourage unsustainable actions?
How are knowledge and values related?
How can we influence peoples' values to make them more sustainable?

Panel III: Education for sustainable development
Panelist: Dr. Irma Allen (Swaziland)
Questions for the panel discussion:
What is the role of education in instilling or transmitting values?
What would be some of the characteristics of education for sustainable development?
What forms should such education take? What educational processes should be used?
What are the relative roles of the family, the schools, business and the media in sustainability education?

Panel: Synthesis and integration
Panelists: Chairs and rapporteurs of each panel
Questions for the panel discussion:
Should equal importance be assigned to knowledge, values and education?
In what ways do they play unique roles?
To what extent do they complement each other?
What characteristics do each possess that are most conducive to initiating change at the local, regional and international levels?
What internal dynamic is needed among them to facilitate a societal transition?

Final consultations on the result and report of the conference
Closing remarks

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENT FORUM

IEF ANNUAL REPORT

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