22-23 May 2024, Seoul, South Korea – The Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean (PAM), represented by its Special Rapporteur on Environmental Crimes, Hon. Adele Tonnini (San Marino), attended and contributed to the Asian Leadership Conference.
The Asian Leadership Conference, also known as the “Davos of Asia”, is an annual international event gathering political leaders, global corporate CEOs and academic scholars to discuss the challenges and potential solutions on pressing environmental, economic, and governance issues.
This year, the event saw the participation of 260 Speakers, including Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, and Sanna Marin, former Prime Minister of Finland, 112 Countries represented and 3,200 delegates attending in total.
Hon. Tonnini participated as keynote speaker in three panels.
During the session on “Eco-conscious Leadership: Managing Dilemmas of Sustainability and Survivability”, joined by Jerrlyn U. Sengebau Senior, Vice President and Minister of Justice in the Republic of Palau, and Andrew Okaikoi, Founder of Gravitas World Limited, moderated by Pushpi Weerakoon, Sub Regional Program Manager of Gender at the International Organization of Migration. Hon. Tonnini underscored the essential balance between ecological sustainability and economic survivability. In this context, she recalled her work on environmental crimes in the PAM regions, underscoring the threats emerging from fake green certificates and from green washing, which have severe consequences for the environment and in terms of climate change.
Hon. Tonnini also addressed the panel on “Governmental Leadership: Strengthening Capacities for Responsible Outcomes”. During that panel, joined along with Khairy Jamaluddin, Former Minister of Health of Malaysia, and Mahen Sandrasagren, Former Director of General Management and Coordination at World Health Organization (WHO), Giacomo Canepa from the andean Parliament, Hon. Tonnini emphasized the excellent relations between PAM and WHO – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic – and the importance of fostering solidarity mechanisms at the international level through the correct implementation of key international agreements.
Finally, joined by the H.H. the Prince of Liechtenstein, Hon. Tonnini contributed to the panel on “The Future of Europe”, where they addressed issues related to challenges faced by microstates and the need to reinforce international organisations as key platforms for sharing information and discuss decisive actions, including legislative ones.
To further discuss all these issues, Hon. Tonnini invited fellow guests and attendees to participate in the upcoming PAM events, including the II Edition of the Women Parliamentary Forum in Paris (21-22 June) and the 2nd Economic Parliamentary Forum in Marrakesh (11-12 July).
Hon. Tonnini’s participation in the Asian Leadership Conference illustrates PAM’s commitment in engaging with governments, institutions, citizens and civil society organisations at the global level. Moving forward, PAM will continue to collaborate with all relevant international actors, to share best practices with international leaders aimed at enhancing innovative solutions to global challenges. //