Philanthropy in the Global Age

Against the backdrop of an ever more connected and interdependent world, where the prioritization of rapid economic development has led to an increasingly fragile environment, and continued emphasis on cut-throat competition too often trumps collaboration, the symposium, Philanthropy in the Global Age, will explore options to help transform these dynamics in ways that support human-centered development and robust sustainability. Scientists, and our own observations, tell us that time is of the essence. We are squarely in the "Anthropocene" - the age in which humans are the most important drivers of change on/of the planet. We can visibly see that alongside the beauty and wonder of human innovation, the unintended negative consequences are beginning to overwhelm the ability of the earth to stay in balance. So what can be done?

Creativity, optimism and the ability to cooperate in the face of deep adversity are three vitally important attributes of the human race. They are, arguably, also hallmarks of the emerging global philanthropic ecosystem. Currently, there is no shortage of 'gloom and doom' prognoses for the planet and its ability to continue to sustain human life - or, at least, life as we have come to expect it. Faced with diminishing options on our current path, people across the globe are applying creative energy to identifying and forging new paths, seeking options and opportunities not only to ensure survival, but to model new ways for us to understand and interact with our world, our neighbors and ourselves. Systems are not static. People continue to innovate, invent, create, and apply their best intuition to finding ways to create a more sustainable and equitable world. Good ideas and good intentions, however, are not enough. How do we harness the best "philanthropic impulses", leverage them to release the most creative ideas and most compassionate visions, and effectively apply resources to (re)shape a more balanced and liveable world?

This year has shepherded in the Sustainable Development Goals, specific goals and targets to markedly improve social, economic and environmental development by 2030. There will also be the 21st session of the UN climate change conference (COP 21), a framework through which governments agree on limitations to keep global warming below 2C and seek to avert the worst effects of climate change. Even as governments negotiate grand deals, people across borders and professions are finding ways to not only support government agendas for change, but are actively identifying ways they - individually and collectively - can hurry transformation. This symposium will convene some of those very people, philanthropists, practitioners and leading thinkers, to explore what mechanisms and systems might best support renewal.

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Global Friends and Salzburg Global Seminar are inviting approximately 40 leading philanthropists and global thinkers. In general, the participants gathering together are a community of philanthropists that share visions for a better, healthier and more just world. They believe in the power of compassionately and strategically directed resources to help achieve that vision. And, collectively, this community of "Global Friends" can influence policies and international systems to align with philanthropic values - values that require resources be directed for the good of the global human community.

December's symposium launches the next phase of Salzburg Global's longstanding program on philanthropic innovation. It is also the context for TSE Foundation's launch of Global Friends, a new initiative exploring pragmatic, holistic models of global social transformation. Together our aim is to provide an opportunity to consider global philanthropy's unique ability to lead cross-sector transnational collaboration on a range of 21st Century challenges at this pivotal moment for the international community.

The symposium discussions will lead into a more narrowly focused discussion on December 5 about the transition to a low carbon economy. Many of the participants will remain to take up questions about China's role at the leading edge of developing green energy solutions. The meetingwill showcase recent clean energy innovations and consider what can be learned from the Chinese model and consider how to speed the uptake of new approaches and practices.

December 5 will also mark the formal launch of the H2O Prizes. Awarded annually from 2016 by The Global Friends (a consortium of donors representing the vanguard of global philanthropy), the H2O Prizes will recognize and promote game-changing innovation in the corporate, social enterprise, and non-profit sectors.