Sept 30 - Oct 3, 2009: University of Zagreb and Instituto Superior Tecnico invited to the 5th DUBROVNIK CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF ENERGY WATER AND ENVIRONMENT SYSTEMS. The event was partnered among others by UNESCO and the Croatian, Slovenian, Austrian Associations and European Support Centre of the Club of Rome.



CoR Members Ivo Šlaus and Aleksander Zidanšek organized a special session on "Interconnected Crises: Energy, Climate, Demography and Economy - New Approaches to Solutions." at the event.

Prof. Ivo Šlaus



Prof. Ivo Šlaus, member of the Club of Rome, discussed the economic crisis which today shakes the whole world. The current financial stress affects almost all countries. The world is in a global economic and moral crisis compounded by the destruction of our environment, by scarcity and unreliability of energy supplies, by declining social capital – lack of trust among people, of self-confidence and of leadership. All these crises are interconnected and interdependent, and are being studied using a self organised modelling approach.


Prof. Robert Blinc



Prof. Robert Blinc, President of the Slovenian Association of the Club of Rome, showed that the present crisis is not a crisis »of democracy« but rather a crisis »within democracy«. The point is that the economic system which fits into democracy is free-market economy. The crisis of democracy thus means the crisis of the free-market system. Within the free-market system the banks and the financial order have a leading role. He showed that the present financial crisis is due to wrong investments and the lack of financial regulations and is not an inherent property of the free-market economy or even democracy.


Prof. Aleksander Zidanšek



Prof. Aleksander Zidanšek, Secretary-General of the Slovenian Association of the Club of Rome, discussed the interaction between happiness and sustainability in respect of the recent interconnected crises of economy, society, finances, energy, ethics and environmental sustainability. Taking into account that the observed social system is very complex, a simplified analysis has been attempted, which searches for dependences between happiness and several indices, which measure sustainability. Possible solutions to these crises are suggested, which would simultaneously improve both happiness and environmental sustainability.

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All documents which had have been presented at the conference are available for download:

• From Crisis to Economic Development and Social Cohesion
  (I. Šlaus, E. Tefera, A. Zidanšek)
  The presentation is available for download
  
  
• A Social Pillar for Sustainable Development: the Demographic Revolution
  (O. Giarini, presented by I. Šlaus)
  The presentation is available for download
  
  
• A Crisis "of Democracy" Or a Crisis "within Democracy"
  (R. Blinc, I. Šlaus, A. Zidanšek)
  The presentation is available for download
  
  
• Sustainable Development and Happiness
  (A. Zidanšek)
  The presentation is available for download
  
  
• The Possibilities to Influence Global Climate Change
  ( A. Lukan, A. Zidanšek)
  The presentation is available for download
  
  
• Sustainability Analysis of Solar Orbital Power
  (M. Ambrožic, R. Blinc, A. Zidanšek, M. Martinšek, N. Lior)
  The presentation is not yet available
  
  
• Climate Change and Global Green System of Innovation
  (D. Marinova, V. Todorov)
  The presentation is available for download
  
  
• The Interconnection of Problems and The Janus-face of Technology
  ( T. Schauer, I. Šlaus)
  The presentation is available for download
  
  
• The Concept of Sustainabilityin The Social Sciences
  (J. Laznjak)
  The presentation is available for download
  
  
• Geopolitics of Energy and Climate Changein South East Europe
  (A. Boromisa, S. Knesović, M. Staničić, S. Tišma)
  The presentation is available for download
  
  
• Climate Change, Kosovo Energy Scenarios and Sustainable Development
  (S. Kabashi, S. Bekteshi, S. Ahmetaj, Gazmend Kabashi, D. Najdovski, A. Zidanšek and I. Šlaus)
  The presentation is available for download
  
  
• Greenhouse Gas and Air Pollution Emissions and Options for Reducing from The Kosovo Transportation Sector-dynamic Modelling
  (S. Kabashi)
  The presentation is available for download
  
  
• Management of Human Resources in Crisis (R. Blinc, M. Srebotnjak Borsellino, J. Slak, D. Najdovski, A. Zidanšek)
  The presentation is available for download
  
  

For further information about the event in Dubrovnik, please visit the Conference Website.