The forum was part of an Advantage.Green initiative; an online marketplace that encourages companies and consumers to work together towards a more sustainable future.
The annual forum allows international and global leaders to discuss sustainable consumption, digitalization of commercial activity, safety and global resources.
Economists, entrepreneurs and politicians alike participated in the talks, both in person and via video calls, to debate their visions of the future.
The choice of Venice as a venue was deliberate, due to the city’s high profile in both environmental and economic circles.
Venice’s future is completely reliant on reversing the effects of climate change, and its precarious fragility is showcased year after year, with the annual acqua alta which regularly threaten Venice’s infrastructure and citizens, something Umberto Vattani, the president of Venice International University, mentioned in his opening address.
Kenyan Ambassador to Rome Jackline Yonga was the next person to speak.
“65% of our population is made up of young people and so the issues linked to the economy and sustainability impact our country in particular,” she said.
Director of Office Ana Luiza Massot Thompson-Flores spoke on behalf of UNESCO, stating that “the fragility of our society reminds us of the irreplaceable role nature and science play for the protection of the planet and its resources”.
