The 2nd International Convention of Environmental Laureates is taking place from 14 -17 March 2013 in Freiburg, Germany.

The 2nd Convention will focus on "New Coalitions - To Address Limits to Growth". Public Lectures with Keynote Speakers such as Klaus Töpfer, Hans Joachim Schellnhuber and Jørgen Randers, internal discussion rounds with the adoption of a declaration, the so-called "Freiburg Call for Action" and the meeting with pupils, students and young researchers constitute the program of the 2nd Convention in Freiburg.

The convention provides a platform for an interdisciplinary and open-ended exchange on a personal level between visionaries who shape environmental policy: between laureates of renowned international environmental prizes. They include active environmentalists, publicists and civil rights activists, scientists, sponsors and business
people. Above all, they are doers, with one thing in common: They have a vision and goals, and they have found ways of implementing them.

With organizing the “International Convention of Environmental Laureates” the European Environment Foundation is looking for alternative ways beside the usual environment and climate summits to provide the important issue of protecting natural resources with a voice and strengthen it within politics and the society. Centred on a different theme each year, the conventions want to encourage consistently sustainable policies at a European and international level.

We are delighted that Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Klaus Töpfer has agreed to become patron of the 2nd International Convention of Environmental Laureates.

Prof. Töpfer is Director of the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) based in Potsdam. He is also the former Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and he has been former German Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety from 1987 to 1994.