A conference aimed at sketching out ideas for the World Intellectual Property Organization’s involvement in issues of global public policy kicked off Monday with explorations on the link intellectual property and environmental technology and a separate event devoted to access to reading material for the visually impaired.

“Technological innovation as well as transfer and widespread implementation of climate-friendly technology will be central to the effort” to fight environmental devastation, Francis Gurry, director general of WIPO, told the conference.