📣 Following your feedback, we have postponed Session 2 Comprehensive courses to start after the Easter weekend on w/c 8 April.

Erik Orsenna conference: Initiatives for the future of large rivers

Date: 18 Feb 2016, 6:30pm - 8:30pm GMT+10 Melbourne


Lecture (in French only), Thu 18 Feb at 6.30pm | FREE EVENT
Alliance Française de Melbourne
51 Grey Street, ST KILDA

Depuis « L’exposition coloniale », Prix Goncourt du roman en 1988,  on connaît d’Orsenna sa passion pour les voyages et son goût des belles lettres, qui lui vaut d’entrer à la prestigieuse Académie française en 1998. Moins nombreux en revanche sont ceux qui connaissent son engagement en faveur du développement durable. Ardent défenseur des énergies renouvelables, Orsenna est aussi un grand spécialiste de l’eau : « A l'heure de la transition énergétique, cette problématique se retrouve dans le monde entier ».

Auteur en 2008 d’un ouvrage sur l’avenir de l’eau, Erik Orsenna est aujourd’hui Président de l’Observatoire pour l’Avenir des Grands Fleuves, créé il y a un an par la Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR), premier producteur français d'électricité d'origine renouvelable. « On s'est préoccupé énormément de l'atmosphère avec notamment l'effet de serre. Depuis assez peu de temps, on s'intéresse à la mer mais les fleuves sont les grands oubliés de la COP 21».

A travers cette conférence exceptionnelle, Erik Orsenna porte la voix des fleuves en la situant dans le débat international sur la lutte contre le changement climatique. 


Si vous souhaitez vous procurer un ou plusieurs livres d’Erik Orsenna, à faire signer par ce dernier lors de notre séance de dédicace du 18 février, rendez-vous sur le site Internet du Forum afin de passer votre commande


Since his book, "Love and Empire", winner of the Prix Goncourt du roman in 1988, Erik Orsenna has been known for his passion for travel and his taste in great literature, which earned him entry to the prestigious French Academy in 1998. However, less is known about his commitment to sustainable development. A strong advocate of renewable energy, Orsenna is also a leading expert in water issues: "At the time of energy transition, this problem is present throughout the world."

Author of a book on the future of water in 2008, Orsenna is now Chairman of the College of Permanent Members/Initiatives for the Future of Great Rivers which was created a year ago by the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR), the leading French producer of renewable electricity. "The world is tremendously concerned about the atmosphere, particularly the greenhouse effect. For quite some time, some attention has been paid to the seas, but the rivers have been forgotten by the COP 21".

In this one-off lecture, Erik Orsenna will be the voice of the rivers by bringing them into the international debate on the fight against climate change.

A specialist in sustainable development, the environment, agriculture and emerging economies, author Erik Orsenna has lectured at the Ecole Normale Supérieure and the Université Paris I. Having been cultural adviser to François Mitterrand, he was later appointed to the Conseil d’Etat. Elected as a member of the Académie française in 1998, he has published many books since the late 70’s. “Journey to the Lands of Cotton”, published in 2006, was the first part of his “Brief Manual of Globalization”. It was followed by “The Future of Water and The Paper Road”. For more than fifteen years, his travels around the world have fuelled his essays on the hidden rationales of globalization and the management of natural resources.


If you wish to purchase one or several books by Erik Orsenna prior to our book signing on the 18 of February, please visit Le Forum website to place your order


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