Resource scarcity and degradation, biodiversity loss, and climate change are both a cause and a consequence of  change. As economies and populations grow, the burdens on the planet do as well. Philanthropists, government leaders, corporations and entrepreneurs must focus their actions on preserving and restoring ecosystems while enhancing human well-being.

This track will feature various strategies that foster truly sustainable development, including advocating for the environment and re-thinking consumption through the “sharing economy.” Speakers will also examine what ingenious actors are doing to tackle the crisis in sanitation.

As the world population steadily rises, many demographic drivers of change — increased urbanization, rapid growth of aging populations, greater education and workforce participation of women and girls, and higher demands for economic opportunities by youth — must be addressed. Will demography be destiny, or can we leverage these drivers of change to confer dignity for all?

This track will focus on ways to address these demographic changes, including creating resilient cities that foster safe, equitable and sustainable urban environments, managing private sector demands and societal needs of a changing global labor force, and enhancing opportunity for both adolescent girls and boys.

Philanthropy worldwide is in the process of being redefined, as newly wealthy individuals seek to solve large societal and environmental problems. These “new philanthropists” are bold, engaged and strategic. In their search for solutions that endure, they leverage all tools at their disposal— be they their grants, investments or voice. In the process they are redefining philanthropy to include all private means of financing the public good.

This track will showcase ways philanthropists can leverage markets to achieve social goals, grow and strengthen community philanthropic knowledge networks globally, and ask participants to consider myths in development and philanthropy that may undermine effectiveness.