WUSME at the R20 AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT

June 25th, 2019 – WUSME took part in the annual R20 AUSTRIAN WORLD SUMMIT held in Vienna on May 28th and 29th 2019. Attending the event in representation of WUSME, its General Secretary Prof. Dr. Norbert W. Knoll-Dornhoff.

The Austrian World Summit, at its third edition, is a long-term initiative to help regions, states and cities implement the sustainable development goals of the UN Agenda by 2030 and achieve global climate protection goals defined in the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit climate change.

The UN General Secretary António Guterres (to hold a World Summit on Climate in New York City in September 2019) addressed the Summit stressing that “many of the countries that promised to make a certain number of actions are not pursuing what was promised”. Then, he added that “taxpayers’ money should not be spent on harming the planet. There are still many people who believe that subsidizing fossil fuels is a way to improve life. But there is nothing more wrong”. Speakers included Arnold Schwarzenegger, founder of R20 Regions of Climate Action. The former Governor of California urged leaders around the world to “invest in the green energy of the future”, adding that innovations in industry, commerce, craftsmanship and agriculture will be crucial to success “.

During the event, WUSME GS Norbert Knoll had the opportunity to approach the UN General Secretary Guterres and present the Organization and its commitment to promote the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations (SDGs) and the goals on climate defined by the Paris Agreement.

Consistent with its mission and the concern towards climate change and environmental protection, WUSME is particularly committed to enhance the world of SMEs as stakeholders able to play an active and important role in contributing to the SDGs and fighting change climate, sharing their successful experience and implementing sustainable projects, also by virtue of the relationships consolidated in institutional and international fora.