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Abstract

Eight years after Rio, the difficulties of the Sixth Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in The Hague and Bonn, 2000 and 2001 show us the virulent form of the international debate on how to implement sustainable development policy and measures. A high amount of detailed questions on how to manage environmentally sound projects in an economic and social successful way remains unclear, not only in Activities Implemented Jointly or in Clean Development Mechanism pilot projects, but also in participative Local Agenda 21 processes around the world. Additionally, the lack of capacity building, the lack of solid evaluation skills and the lack of co-ordination in the experience exchange at the global level inspired us to start a new educational activity. Environmental issues are frequently addressed only in purely scientific terms, and practical political and economic actions to deal with them are neglected. For example, it is clear that the growth of aviation world wide must have an impact on atmospheric composition, and therefore must contribute to climate change; but how can policy makers devise practical measures to reduce these impacts? Moreover, general scientific knowledge of environmental problems and potential policy responses are rarely translated into specific targets, integrated management plans, and timely schedules. The main objective of the six week Summer Session in Hamburg was to enhance the understanding and skills of young professionals so that they are now able to develop successful strategies for sustainable development in their own individual institutions. The Summer Session 2000