On September 28th, the Danish European Movement hosted a climate conference in the Danish Parliament with nearly 150 stakeholders and professionals participating...

Introduction to a new series of articles outlining current Chinese think tank discussion.

Any donor considered responsible absolutely supports policy coherence for development (PCD). All action within trade, agricultural, environmental etc. policies must consistently support the MDGs´, poverty reduction and sustainable development. But do all these good intentions always come true? Unfortunately not.

Frances Cairncross, Rector of Exeter College, Oxford University, was a coffee guest at e2 on Tuesday, 30 January. In connection with her visit in Finland, Cairncross wished to get to know the local think tank culture and, among other things, education policy.

Cairncross was previously one of the leading journalists at the Economist magazine. She specialized in environmental economy, new technology and corporate management to name a few areas. One of her books, from 1993, has even been translated into Finnish with the title “Ympäristömme hinta”.

Climate change is not a new phenomenon, but in the Finnish political debate it has become a real issue only during the last few months. Environmental debate that was previously limited to small circles has suddenly become an election theme.

So far only the experts, and lately even quite a few political decision-makers, have taken part in the discussion. Citizens’ contributions have remained few.

The British Council, The Society for Progressive Research and Demos Helsinki organised a seminar on think tanks and their role in society in the Music Hall of the Vanha Ylioppilastalo on September 20, 2006.