SPI Shortlisted, Cited in Prestigious Think Tank Awards

By Kara Tan Bhala

The Prospect Think Tank Awards 2016 shortlisted and cited the research of Seven Pillars Institute (SPI) on climate change mitigation, praising its “deft work on eco-tourism”.

Prospect Magazine made the announcement of winners and finalists in the Speaker’s rooms inside the British House of Commons last night. The event this year was especially significant given Brexit, the US presidential elections and the worrying rise of enraged populism in the West. The organizers of the competition say it well when they write “Think Tanks today confront a political culture in which reason is no longer an accepted ground-rule of the game, but a contested value which has to fight its corner; a culture where disdain for the evidence is too often wrapped up in the language of anti-elitism.” Thankfully, this annual competition still highlights the beneficial work at think tanks. The Prospect Think Tank Awards were founded in 2001. They are an annual recognition of the important and influential work carried out by think tanks across the globe. The competition is highly competitive with impressive submissions from top-level think tanks, such as the Peterson Institute, the Rand Corporation and Chatham House, from the US, the UK and EU. SPI is gratified by its honorable mention. Being on the shortlist in the category of “American Energy and Environment” was especially motivating as the winner was the well-established and funded Center for Climate and Energy Change Solutions.

The Institute’s research “Financing Ecotourism Ventures to Support Climate Change Mitigation. What Should the Financial Sector Be Doing in Regards to Climate Change?” was published in the Volume 5 Issue 1, Winter/Spring 2016 issue of Moral Cents. The author, Eva Rachmawati discusses how the finance sector can contribute to climate change mitigation and adaptation through ecotourism schemes. There are few studies on climate change and tourism, particularly ecotourism. Knowledge on how ecotourism may support climate change mitigation and how the finance sector can contribute is critical. According to Rachmawati, tourism must play a significant role in addressing climate change as part of its broader commitment to sustainable development. One way to mitigate climate change in the tourism sector is to implement the concept of sustainable tourism, a form of ecotourism. There is growing recognition the world needs to shift capital and investment from high to low carbon activities to avoid dangerous climate change outcomes. Global financial institutions should support the ecotourism development with sufficient capital to implement best practices such as sufficient energy management. The article was published in a special Climate Change issue of Moral Cents.

SPI wishes to thank Prospect Magazine for recognizing its work. We need also to extend our gratitude to supporters and to the researchers who contribute their time and energy with shared heartfelt belief in the mission of Seven Pillars Institute.

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