Smith School World Forum on Enterprise and the Environment, July 2009
7 July 2009
“We ought to approach this challenge with a sense of joy. What a privilege to have work so worthy of one’s best efforts, a challenge so crucial to all future generati
ons, an opportunity to address these multiple other crises…It can happen. It will happen. We have everything we need except political will and political will is a renewable resource.”
These were Al Gore's closing words at the end of the 2009 Times/Smith School World Forum on Enterprise and the Environment.
The former US Vice-President was highlighting our ability to tackle climate change not the threats it is posing and left the 2009 World Forum delegates uplifted and inspired.
Sir David King hailed the event a triumph and said Mr Gore’s speech had left those present “totally energised.” He added: “One of the most important things to emerge from our conference was that the technological solutions we need are already there.
“We are making progress both in the manufacturing industry in the west and in developing countries like China and Rwanda, where reforestation is taking place on a massive scale.”
Thinkers and doers
The World Forum, in July 2009, lured some of the world’s leading climate thinkers and doers. It was staged to find ways of promoting global, low-carbon economic growth.
Paul Kagame, the President of Rwanda, and President Nasheed of the Maldives were among World Forum speakers together with former London Mayor Ken Livingstone, Lord Anthony Giddens and Lord Browne, the ex-BP chief.
At the outset, Sir David asked whether we could overcome our carbon addiction putting sustainability at the heart of our lifestyles, developing renewables and other low-carbon technologies and allowing habitats such as wetlands and forests, which provide clean water and air, to replenish rather than dry up and die.
President Kagame particularly showed that this was possible with his account of reforestation and wetland restoration, and his efforts to encourage low-carbon development less than 15 years after his country was ravaged by genocide.
Lord Browne highlighted the opportunities climate change was creating for businesses but warned that low-carbon technological growth could only happen if market forces were strong enough.
Other speakers stressed the importance of cutting emissions in cities and other built environments. Professor Jacqueline McGlade of the European Environment Agency said farming must play its part too by embracing new, perhaps revolutionary, ideas.
Fit for purpose
The World Forum will be will be a regular event and will be supported by associated smaller conferences, seminars and projects.
Sir David King said: “The business world realises that our competitive future depends on companies that understand that moving to a low-carbon economy will give them an edge over their competitors.
“None of them wants to be a GM of the future – a large carmaker that suddenly goes bust because it hasn’t geared its products to modern times. GM going bust has left the door open to entrepreneurial businesses to step in with cars fit for purpose in the 21st century.”
The World Forum will help create fit for purpose economies for this century and beyond.