BIG2050 and BISS
Celebrating a birthday in style
One year after their launch, the two CSCP - BMZ projects have reached over 160 stakeholders in five countries through their Workstudios. In the digital world, they have also been strengthening the Global Network on Sustainable Lifestyles and the Global Network on Sustainable Innovation and Entrepreneurship day by day.
The Workstudios and stakeholder events
Brazil was the first country where stakeholders gathered around the topics of
innovations and practice to live sustainably under the umbrella of the BMZ-sponsored projects Budding Ideas Glocally for 2050 (BIG2050) and Business Innovation for Sustainable Scale-up (BISS). In June 2012 the Global Network on Sustainable Lifestyles and the Global Network on Sustainable Innovation and Entrepreneurship were launched within the context of Rio+20. Four workstudios: China, Colombia, Ghana and the Philippines, have taken place since then.
From a low carbon 2050 to today // October 2012 // Wuxi, China
Experts agreed that: There is a global need for China to become a pioneer in leading a global economic transition, as well as a need to exchange experiences with other countries in terms of consumption, patterns and lifestyle transformation.
(Workstudio report)
Collaboration for sustainable lifestyles through innovation // December 2012 // Bogotá, Colombia
One of the outcomes of the workstudio, was an assertion that: when talking about high impact entrepreneurship, one must talk about enterprises based on ethics (Workstudio report English/Spanish). The action roadmap created by the participants pointed to four priorities to move Colombia forward in terms of sustainable living. These objectives link communication campaigns with a coordinated financial sector, a strong educational program with supporting core policies that support the effective use of resources. The workstudio identified a need for additional follow up on entrepreneurial actions and practices that enhance sustainable lifestyles! The Workstudio was hosted by CSCP, the Chamber of Commerce of Bogotá, the Avina Foundation, Corporacion Ventures and RS magazine.
Innovation for competitiveness towards sustainable lifestyles // March 2013 // Manila, Philippines
Organized by the CSCP and ECHOSi Foundation this Workstudio concluded that:
The Filipino economy is currently driven mostly by consumption from overseas remittances and that the current high rate of economic growth is hollow if is not inclusive and does not benefit the poor (Workstudio report). Participants envisioned a range of pathways to support sustainable public infrastructure through a coherent set of policies, effective sustainability-oriented educational and training systems, connectivity and mutual support among stakeholders. The workstudio also concluded that there is a need for new business models that include a range of innovative funding mechanisms such as microfinance.
Action map
Follow the discussion on entrepreneurial actions
Follow the discussions on impacts on lifestyles through current promising practices
Collaboration and sustainability: a multi sectoral path for growth // June 2013 // Accra, Ghana
To commemorate the anniversary of the launch of both projects, the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry hosted the fourth Workstudio just in time. During this Workstudio participants debated the existing mechanisms that govern the use of natural resources and opportunities for energy generation. A significant finding from the Workstudio was that: Illegal deforestation to enable mining and support local communities are key challenges in Ghana. There is a need for alternative approaches to create sustainable livelihoods that are economically viable, practical, and aligned with local cultural values.
…What the experts said…
Each of the Workstudio reports contains reflections from different stakeholders respecting sustainable living scenarios by 2050. The components of the Workstudio events enabled participants to create future sustainable lifestyle scenarios and identify the impacts on lifestyles. Workstudio participants also explored existing actions that can be scaled up and/or replicated. Furthermore, the mix of experts and practitioners from diverse industries and backgrounds enabled fruitful conversations about opportunities and challenges that the respective communities face. The events also generated comprehensive road maps that can be taken forward through different cooperation channels. Illustrated below is an assessment of lifestyle impacts by priority, greatest priority being placed on areas ranked as most relevant for immediate action.
What do YOU say?
Whether you’re located in a country that hosted a Worksudio or elsewhere, the chance to discuss actions, opportunities and challenges is open to everybody through the Global Network on Sustainable Lifestyles (www.vision2050.net) and the Global Network on Sustainable Innovation and Entrepreneurship (www.scaling-up.net).
These networks enable members to follow up on action plans drafted during the Workstudios and offer many other interactive features and tools, publications, manuals and frameworks for scaling-up sustainable living, promising practices, multimedia files, and interviews with experts, project competitions, and a wide range of other ways to discuss, collaborate and network.
