Sun launches soft power think tank

Links travel, art, culture, climate change and sustainability

In a new initiative, announced in London at the Leading Cultural Destination Awards, the SUN Program linked with Leading Cultural Destinations and Lord Cultural Resources to establish a Soft Power Leaders Think Tank.

Professor Geoffrey Lipman, the curator of SUN – Strong Universal Network – and President of ICTP said that he was delighted to build this important collaboration with recognized experts in the Art and Cultural field, which is so important to community lifestyles.

"Our partners’ knowledge and relationships will add a vital dimension to our work to support travel and tourism destinations as they adapt to Climate Change targets and Sustainable Development Goals. The Soft Power Leaders Think Tank will help to deliver better understanding, governance, metrics and education through community lifestyle engagement." Said Lipman

SUN is a unique global initiative said to provide lasting local impact, helping travel and tourism destinations as well as their stakeholders, develop Climate Resilience and respond to the new Sustainable Development Goals, agreed by all Heads of State in 2015.

The initiative is a system for continuously identifying the economic, social & environmental impacts of travel related trends, innovations and processes on a local, national and international basis.  It also keeps a priority focus on climate impacts and serves as a resource for response to natural emergencies.

 At a community level, it provides access to international green growth, climate resilience and sustainable development networks, as well as a focal point for linking into soft power social, cultural and educational systems

SUN Centres are free-standing solar powered buildings, distinctively branded to support Green Growth transformation and positioned throughout the world in a range of communities which include national parks, urban green centres and historical/cultural sites.

Permanently cloud connected and managed by well-trained, globally and locally focused graduates, they will support community trend analysis, policy, innovation and financing of activities related to related to Green Growth and Travelism.          

They will serve as local project demonstration sites, showcasing information and providing insight into related global initiatives and opportunities. They will be training sites for policymakers, practitioners and students, educational hubs and demonstration areas for travelism, local climate resilience and adaptation initiatives.

They will be funded by international and local sources, driven by public/private partnerships, alternative financing, impact investment and crowdfunding.

Organized by a not for profit "Green Growth and Travelism Institute" based in Brussels, the plan is to spread globally over an initial 5 year period covered by the Paris Climate Agreement. It has already gathered momentum, with public and private supporters as well as close engagement with ICTP, the International Coalition of Tourism Partners – see www.thesunprogram.com

Valere Tjolle

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