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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