World Green Design Organization (WGDO) hosted a roundtable on Green Design and Science and Technology Cooperation on 28 November 2025 in Brussels. WGDO is the world's first non-profit international organization dedicated to promoting the development of green design. It was established in Brussels, Belgium in 2013 as an officially accredited NGO of the European Union. It also stays in special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council.
Green design, sustainability, S&T and innovation were the key aspects of forward looking deliberations at the roundtable. Centrality was given to the identification of partnerships and pathways for implementing positive change. The key actors were identified as cities/districts, civil society associations, and industry. There was general consensus that the value of the transfer of knowledge in the fast changing international context could not be understated.
WGDO Belgium Charter presented its mission and activities embedded in a comprehensive approach to a sustainable and efficient economy, and a pathway to ecological environment of higher quality. Chaoyang District (Beijing, China) provided an example of opportunities and potentials of a hub that offers an environment for international cooperation. Union of International Associations (UIA) and EIT Climate KIC highlighted the value of the engagement of civil society associations and communities for triggering and maintaining positive change. The quest of the electric mobility industry for government accountability in a comprehensive industrial green transition was exemplified by Associazione per la Promozione della Mobilita Elettrica (MOTUS-E).
The potential for cooperation of the key stakeholders at the roundtable may be summarized as follows.
The Chaoyang District, with over 3.4 million residents, is a science and technology hub, and home to a large number of international organizations. It offers an infrastructure for hosting headquarters of NGOs and businesses, and for organizing international fora and conferences.
UIA, as one of the oldest international associations documenting the nature and evolution of international civil society, has an extensive database about world problems and solutions proposed by civil society.
The core activity of compiling the database of the UIA and its vast collection of information on international organizations and their conferences was described by Ryan Brubaker Web and Database Developer for UIA, with practical examples, showing the ways in which the database can be used.
The UIA appreciates the support of its partners in the Round Table: platinum partners Lucerne Convention Bureau and Switzerland Convention Bureau, silver partners visit brussels and Stuttgart Convention Bureau and our technology partner Conference Compass. The conference facilities and fine catering of Marriott Grand Place provided an excellent setting for our event.
Climate KIC is Europe's leading climate innovation agency and community, bridging the gap between climate commitments and current reality. Climate KIC stresses the importance of addressing world problems in a systemic way and working on a portfolio of innovation.
MOTUS-E is an association for the promotion of electric mobility and is active in promoting accountability of governance and government/industry partnerships and pathways.
There is general consensus among participants that global green transition, high quality societal development, and quality economic growth, require green models of governance. This implies that civil society, climate communities and industry need to engage with governments, cities, and municipalities to ensure effective knowledge transfer for informing and possibly contributing to improving green policies.
The roundtable on Green Design and Science and Technology Cooperation did not end with a list of possible solutions, as this was not its aim. It did trace some promising pathways for cooperation that include a portfolio of innovation in cooperation between science and technology hubs in business districts and cities, civil society associations and electric mobility associations. The next step for the UIA will be to define the scope and scale of the Union's contribution to promoting the green transition in cooperation with other key stakeholders.
Issue #22 – February 2025