Foreword, Sabina Santarossa: The Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) is pleased to present this dossier exploring the role of culture and the arts in the global debate on environmental sustainability. Climate change and sustainable development are common challenges, acknowledged by governments and civil societies worldwide. This year, the governments of Asia and Europe reaffirmed their commitment to sustainable development as a common denominator for achieving economic growth, social progress and environmental protection, in occasion of the 10th ASEM Foreign Ministers‟ Meeting in Hungary, in June 2011, Therefore, as part of our mission to promote understanding between Asia and Europe, ASEF – the only permanent institution of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) – has been consistently working on these issues over the years. In compliance with ASEM priorities, ASEF‟s has been engaging with the topic through programmes such as the Asia-Europe Environment Forum, the Asia-Europe Journalists' Seminar and Connect2Culture. Furthermore, by recognising a growing awareness of the transversal role of culture, ASEF‟s Department of Cultural Exchange has been particularly interested in deepening alternative and cross-disciplinary approaches to the topic of environmental sustainability.

Since the early 90s, civil society has emerged as a key actor and partner in the search for environmental sustainability and, more recently, the role of the artists and cultural workers, as catalysts of change in society, has come to be widely discussed in the context of climate change.

The need of the hour, therefore, is for innovative platforms of exchange between governments and civil society; as well as between different actors within civil society, including academics, scientists, artists, businesses and the social sector.

Therefore, while acknowledging the imminent threat of climate change, Connect2Culture recognises the opportunities for a multi -stakeholder dialogue afforded by this common challenge. Since 2008, the program has facilitated bi-regional dialogue and collaboration on the value of culture and the arts in addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our times. And in doing so, it has also served to reaffirm culture as the fourth pillar of sustainability.

With this publication, we extend that commitment. The two Discussion Papers that form the core of this dossier serve as excellent starting points for more conversations on the subject. The dossier also records ASEF‟s work at the intersection of the arts, culture and environment through the first edition of Connect2Culture (2008-11), and includes a directory of partners and alumni who have helped to build greater synergies between Asia and Europe, within the framework of this programme. As we celebrate the creative intersections between art and environment at the Fifth World Summit on Arts and Culture Melbourne, October 2011), It is our hope that this dossier can serve as inspiration for further collaboration and discussions between artists, cultural practitioners and other relevant stakeholders, en route to the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) scheduled to take place in Brazil in June 2012.

http://asef.org/images/docs/Culture%20make%20a%20difference.pdf