Spain
The year 2022 was marked by the Spanish office welcoming leading Spanish
and international figures recognised for their commitment, including Javier
Goyeneche, Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza and Xandra Falcó, to its Advisory
Board. The Ambassador of the Principality Monaco to Spain was also appointed
to the Board to optimise the coordination of the Spanish branch’s actions and
boost the influence of both the Foundation and Monaco.
Headed by its President, Carol Portabella, the Spanish branch facilitated the
participation of Teresa Ribera, 3rd Vice-President of the Government of Spain and
Minister for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, in a video
address during the opening session of the 13th Monaco Blue Initiative.
A ‘Philanthropy and Climate’ webinar was organised by the Spanish Association
of Foundations and the Climate Foundation, during which the President of the
Spanish branch gave a presentation to the CEOs of major Spanish foundations
(Banco Sabadell, La Caixa, ONCE etc) on the Foundation’s mission in Spain and
internationally, as well as its achievements over the 16 years since it was set up.
T
he Spanish branch and the Foundation’s Monaco office took part in the
second edition of MadBlue, a leading event for innovation, science and culture
in sustainable development, which takes place every spring in Madrid. Olivier
Wenden, Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza, Milagros Couchoud, a member of the
Foundation’s Scientific and Technical Committee, and Javier Goyeneche, founder
and director of ECOALF and member of the branch’s Advisory Board, participated
in panel sessions at the event.
On 28 September, in the presence of many members of the press, the
Foundation’s Environmental Photography Award exhibition, Humanity & Wildlife:
Crossed Destinies, Shared Territories, was opened by the Mayor of Madrid, José
Luis Martinez-Almeida, and the President of the Spanish branch, accompanied
by, among others, Elena Vazquez on behalf of the Spanish Culture Minister,
Miquel Iceta. The exhibition was presented to the public from 20 September
to 23 October in El Retiro Park.
With the support of the Foundation’s Human–Wildlife Initiative team, a
collaboration agreement was drawn up with the Fundación Entretantos and the
Observatorio Grupo Campo Grande for an in-depth study into, and proposal of
measures to resolve, the conflict of human–wolf coexistence in Spain. Another
project, ‘A Blue New Deal for the Balearic Sea and the Mediterranean’, run by
the Marilles Foundation, was approved by the Scientific and Technical Committee.
Finally, the Spanish branch presented documentary film Alick and Albert at
SUNCINE international environmental film festival in Barcelona. A public premiere
was held beforehand at the French Institute in Barcelona
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