The Sustainable Planning Summit is part of the successful Liechtenstein Congress series, which has been held at the University of Liechtenstein since 2008. This event with the very best experts from the region and around the world takes place from 6^th to 7^th June 2013 and is dedicated to sustainable architecture and planning, property and infrastructure development.

Since the start of the Kyoto period in 2008 Liechtenstein‘s green house gas emissions decreased continuously. Compared to the previous year, 12‘000 tons less CO2 were emitted as in 2011 the total emissions were 222‘000 tons CO2. For the first time the total emissions dropped below the level of 1990’s 230'000 tons CO2. Despite this positive trend further efforts are required to reach the target value and to cut the green house gas emissions on the long run.

Brazil’s Clima Nativo and LIFE Climate Foundation Liechtenstein have decided to join forces in the reforestation of cleared, derelict forest land in Brazil. The two non-profit organisations have signed a cooperation agreement in which they pledge to launch specific, local reforestation projects in Brazil. The projects will be financed in Liechtenstein, an established hub for sustainable investments. press release

In mid-May 2012, the Swiss Climate Foundation and the LIFE Climate Foundation Liechtenstein therefore decided to engage in cross-border cooperation. This cooperation laid the cornerstone for Liechtenstein service enterprises to become members of the Swiss Climate Foundation as well. The three largest Liechtenstein banks – LGT Bank in Liechtenstein AG, the Liechtensteinische Landesbank AG and the Verwaltungs- und Privat-Bank AG – have decided to join the Swiss Climate Foundation and to donate their rebates from the CO₂ incentive tax. LIFE Climate Foundation will host an evening event at the University of Liechtenstein on 18 September 2012 to provide first-hand information on the cooperation, support options and opportunities for Liechtenstein SMEs (Program).  

Together with the Foundation For Global Sustainability and swisscleantech, the business association for sustainable and liberal market economy, LIFE Climate Foundation Liechtenstein is bringing the leading figures in the field of biomimicry to the first European Biomimicry Finance and Innovation Summit.

The Government plans to reach a 20% increase of homemade renewable energy production, a 20% increase of energy efficiency as well as a 20% reduction of greenhouse gas emission compared to 1990 until the year 2020. In order to achieve these goals, the Governement released the new Energy Strategy 2020.

Awaken by environmental, financial, and political challenges the global economy is transforming fast, from short-term thinking and a systemic reliance on non-renewable resources, to building an innovative and prosperous future, manifested in sustainable assets and healthy communities. Since 2008, the Liechtenstein Congress provides an international platform for practical research and informed practice in Sustainable Development and Responsible Investing, guided by effective policy and enlightened by a deep sense of responsibility. The event is hosted by the University of Liechtenstein and supported by numerous sponsors and network partners, including LIFE Climate Foundation Liechtenstein.

On the eve of the post 2012 period the future role of NAMAs for climate policy remains uncertain. At the UN Climate Conference in Durban International experts from Germany, Ghana, India, Liechtenstein and Switzerland will share their views and provide their experiences from the ground in order to identify key success factors and main barriers. Jointly organized by University of New South Wales and ClimateNet e.V. (December 1st. 2012).

The goal of the Alpine Space Project “ALPSTAR, Toward Carbon Neutral Alps – Make Best Practice Minimum Standard”, is to achieve climate neutrality in the Alps by 2050. At the initial conference on 27th and 28th October 2011 in Chambéry participants will discuss the policy requirements on energy, transport and the economy in order to reach climate neutrality in the Alps. Concepts for good climate governance and effective means of communication to engage the population are to be presented. LIFE Climate Foundation Liechtenstein co-organizes a workshop at the initial conference.

The market for sustainable investments is growing increasingly rapidly – finding one's way is becoming an ever greater challenge. A specialised online platform provides orientation help. The platform has been developed by Liechtenstein-based Center for Social and Sustainable Products.

 Business start-ups often struggle to acquire necessary capital to get their business started. Due to these difficulties in terms of financing start-ups these circumstances often lead to situations where promising business models fail to get operational. The Liechtenstein Investment Market, which is organized by University of Liechtenstein’s KMU-Centre, aims at preventing such situations by bringing together project developers and investors at both – early and later stages. For further information as well as registration access please visit www.europeanventuremarket.com.

From may 18^th to may 22^nd around 4000 people have attended this year’s “MorgenLand” festival. One of the festival’s goals was to organize it as far as possible in a carbon neutral way. With respect to this goal Liechtenstein based energy consultant Lenum AG calculated the total energy consumption of the 5 day event and identified a carbon footprint of 46 tonnes. Carbon footprints of comparable events are usually 50% higher. The remainig 45 tonnes were compensated via atlanticrainforest.org, the winner of the this year's MorgenLand’s exhibition award.

The company Technocarbon has found a way to change the characteristics of stone to that extend that a substitution of materials like steel, aluminium and ferro-concrete becomes possible. Kolja Kuse, CEO of Technocarbon, has transferred the patent rights into a Liechtenstein foundation, the foundation “Global Centre for Efficiency of Ressources and Materials. One of the first applications of this innovative product are the core of ski, produced by Swiss based ski company ZAI in Disentis (Graubuenden) and a house wall which was developed in cooperation with the Universityof Applied Sciencein Chur, Switzerland.

Renewables are not only good for our climate - they also offer huge opportunities for an environmental friendly added value. Three experts from Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Germany will present ideas and concepts for a sustainable development of our region and economy.

 

Tuesday, 31st of May 2011, 18.00 - 20.30h

TAK Theater Liechtenstein and Club Benefactum have established the nonprofit Organisation MorgenLand, which organises the so called MorgenLand Festival (Lindaplatz, Schaan).

LIFE Climate Foundation Liechtensteinlooks back on its second successful year of business operation. Several events as well as the participation at last years climate change conference in Cancunhave proof underlined the foundation’s non-profit aims. In 2010 the foundation’s activities focussed on the topics “market-based climate protection” and "social and responsible investing".

Tuesday, 22. march 2011 LIFE Climate Foundation Liechtenstein and swisscleantech organized the event “The Role of international Networks and Cooperation within the Cleantech sector" at the University of Liechtenstein.

Liechtenstein’s Prime Minister Dr. Klaus Tschütscher, André Schneider (former COO World Economic Forum Davos), Roger Buemann (Senior Project Manager, Hilti Foundation) and Christian Köberl (CEO, Eco World Styria) will discussed the importance of an international linkage within the emerging cleantech sector and how companies will benefit from this “megatrend”.

Simon Tribelhorn, Director and Sven Braden, responsible for Environmental Markets at LIFE Climate Foundation Liechtensteindiscuss the consequences of the Cancunoutcome with respect to financial markets. The interview was published in swisscleantech’s magazine spring 2011 edition.

The most positive aspect of the results that have been achieved at COP 16 in Cancun, Mexico is probably the reenforcement of trust with respect to the capability of multinational decision making processes, especially after the experiences of Copenhagen in 2009. Patrica Espinosa, Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs and COP President, managed to lead the the climate negotiations in a balanced and transparent way and therefore achieved an outcome that went further than most participants in Cancun would have expected.

During the Seminar “Preparing for the Future – the Role of Finance” on October 27^th at the University of Liechtenstein members of the Club of Rome as well as numerous representatives from Liechtenstein’s financial centre discussed potential scenarios for a sustainable development of future global financial markets. From the left: Patrick Liedke (The Risk Institute, Geneva), Franz Josef Rademacher (Initiator Global Marshall Plan), Andreas Fischlin (Co-Author of IPCC’s 4^th Assessment Report) and Ian Johnson (Secretary General of The Club of Rome).

Approaches and investment strategies that are committed to sustainability have been steadily growing in importance. They are finding increasing interest with institutional investors as well as with private investors. The topic of microfinance as a financial investment in particular has experienced a real boom in recent years. The origins of microfinance lie amongst other things in a philanthropic movement whose aim was to provide credit aid to economically active people in poverty. Over the years, the start volume grew very rapidly and produced a new market segment which allowed micro-enterprises official access to financial services.

Klaus Tschütscher seeks to place Liechtenstein’s financial market into a new context. In the future Liechtenstein’s financial market should be associated with responsible investing and sustainable development. “Ecological values and economic gains are not contradictory, the opposite is true” said Liechtenstein’s prime minister within his opening speech mid September at the Liechtenstein Congress on Sustainable Development and Responsible Investing” at the University of Liechtenstein.

Liechtenstein and Switzerland have abolished Value Added Tax (VAT) on carbon credits. The abolition became effective on July 1^st 2010. The competent tax authorities have changed a previous practice which qualified the sales of carbon credits as a taxable issue. “This change of practice ensures that carbon trading is no longer vulnerable to so called VAT carrousel fraud”, explained Prime Minister Klaus Tschütscher.

 The Foundation Board of the charitable LIFE Climate Foundation Liechtensteinhas approved the Annual Report 2009. The Foundation was able to take significant initiatives in the first year of its existence. "The Climate Foundation's activities clear the path today for the business fields of tomorrow. The Climate Foundation thereby makes a valuable contribution to the development of the Liechtenstein financial and business location," said Simon Tribelhorn, Executive Director of the Climate Foundation, at the presentation of the Annual Report.

The third LIFE event took place on May 10^th and was dedicated to the consequences and lessons learned from the Copenhagen Summit last December. The notable guests discussed various approaches on how to get back on the green track after the failed Copenhagen Summit: Steffen Klatt (nachhaltigkeit.org) Peter Cavada (Hilti AG), Daniel Kerbach (LGT), Felix Näscher (Head of Liechtenstein UN Delegation), Klaus Tschütscher (Prime Minister), Renat Heuberger, Partner South Pole Carbon), Nick Beglinger (President swisscleantech) and Adolf E. Real (Liechtenstein Bankers Association).

On 17th November 2009 LIFE Climate Foundation Liechtenstein was represented at the one day workshop “Kick Starting Africa’s Carbon Markets” organized by the Geneva-based Secretariat of the “Africa Progress Panel”.