Yes, we can beat climate change

The Press 10 June 2009

Last Friday's Hillary Institute of International Leadership's symposium in Christchurch - The Real New Deal - focused on leadership and economic opportunites in the future from climate change solutions. MARK PRAIN reports.

Summary - Live from the Hillary Symposium Trading Floor...world environment day - June 5th, 2009

10 June 2009:

 “…icons of our time…Julia Roberts, George Clooney….Al Gore - Global Warming is thetheme of the whole (Vanity Fair) magazine – this is somethingverydifferent. But we face a triple crunch, financial, energy and climate and we need, all of us, to respond.” Jeremy Leggett , the UK’s most prominent renewableenergy CEO and the Hillary Institute of International Leadership’s international Laureate - 2009.

The best stories are those that defy convention and resolve conflict. The second annual Hillary Symposium did the first and had little need of the latter. It set out to model a cross-sectoral trading floor, based on the moot of a ‘Carbon Positive’ Christchurch city-state.  

Leggett’s initial provocation as the Hillary Laureate was a graphic, and very powerful exploration of the coming together of three primary challenges, one which held his audience riveted throughout and in the Q&A that followed live from London.“As we head toward Copenhagen, we know what we’re capable of collectively, if we manage to get to tipping-points where progress in society occurs at the pace of epidemics – that’s what we have to angle towards…” >> read full article here

The Second Annual Hillary Symposium

09 June 2009:

The second annual Hillary Symposium, which took place this past June 5th in Christchurch, was a resounding success – and this year, you’re welcome to participate. Visit the blog for summaries, slide decks, and video clips of all the provocateurs – and share your feedback!

The Institute congratulates its patron, former NZ Prime Minister Helen Clark, on her appointment to head the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The US$5 billion organisation works in 166 nations and its goals include cutting poverty by half within six years, promoting good governance, protecting the environment, empowering women and combating HIV-Aids.

We have no doubt Helen's contribution will be felt quickly and endure.

"It is not the mountain we conquer, but ourselves."
Sir Edmund Hillary

Photograph by Bruce Percy - www.thelightandtheland.com