Participants evaluated climate change
policy on international, national and
regional levels and discussed the
opportunities of carbon offsetting.
Business opportunities present in
adaptation and mitigation strategies
were also discussed, along with
talks about how the lack of concrete
outcomes from COP15—The United
Nations Climate Conference in
Copenhagen—is affecting business.

Financing the Low Carbon

Economy

Who and what are the drivers in the

new green economy? Generating

profits based on the triple bottom

line approach was the focus of this
section. A specific seminar

also focused on the role of the Asia-

Pacific partnership—seven partner

countries that collectively account

for more than half of the world’s

economy, population, and energy use.

Discussion revolved around countries

and companies working together

to meet goals for energy security,

air pollution reduction, and climate

change.

The Future of Energy

With a heavy reliance on non-
renewable energy, an incorporation
and eventual transition to renewable
energy will be necessary. At one

of the seminars, CEOs of some of
major energy corporations discussed
options surrounding alternative
fuels, renewable energy solutions
and carbon capture. Although our
economy is largely fossil fuel driven,
alternative energy sources are ever-
emerging. The energy sector will

no doubt play a massive role in the
sustainability shift.

The Urban Infrastructure
Revolution

Over half the world’s population now
lives in cities. Buildings consume
massive amounts of energy and,
therefore, contribute greatly to
climate change. Cities provide an
enormous opportunity for change

in terms of economical, social

and environmental issues. Experts
shared ideas about how to make the
cities more vibrant, liveable and
prosperous. Water and water use
played a particularly significant role
in the discussions. Municipal leaders,
planners, engineers and designers will
need to continue to look at long-term
sustainability when planning cities.

Auto Futuretech

The future of the electric and hybrid
cars and alternative fuels, as well as
opportunities for sustainable mass
transit, were discussed. Converting
existing vehicles to run on electricity,
improving the efficiency of vehicles
in the future and the construction

of sustainable transportation
infrastructure, is vital to the
success of environmentally friendly
transportation in the future.

Clean Technology

Companies learned how to leverage
their current strengths in order to
plan for future obstacles. Strategies
to develop and market clean
technologies and develop operations
that are both sustainable and efficient
were discussed.

 

Spotlight on Retail

Light was shed on ways to connect
retailers and consumers in a cyclical
sustainable system rather than a linear
system. “Wins for environment,
equals wins for the bottom line” was
the focus of this section. Participants
looked at present and future consumer
demands, in order to adapt to a

lower demand overall fuelled by

the “reduce, reuse and recycle”
philosophy.

The event also included a trade fair,
which provided a good opportunity
for consumers and businesses from
around the world to get an up-close
look at cutting-edge environmental
technologies and business solutions.
Over 400 exhibits showcased
environmental products and services
from around the world. Exhibitors
represented such industries as:
alternative energy, air quality
management, transportation, green
buildings and waste management.
The fair also provided a perfect
opportunity for networking and
relationship building among business
representatives, in turn creating

the perfect foundation to build
sustainable business practices into the
future.

This conference is especially
important for students because it
represents the changing tide of
business, the economy and the world
as a whole. As consumers, businesses
and governments realize the impacts
of climate change, environmental
degradation and the consequences
of inaction, business practices will

TEAL Un V-

continue to change. More and more
business leaders are realizing that
taking a proactive approach can put
a company on the cutting-edge. This
means more job opportunities for up
and coming students not only in the
environmental sector but in every
sector. Every industry is going to
have to make business recalibrations.

In terms of society as a whole, it
is important to realize that there is no
“silver bullet” solution. Rather, it is
about cooperation and collaboration.
Concerns about economic growth
and the environment must go hand
in hand. Ecology must be taken into
consideration in order to overcome
the long-standing conflict between
business and the environment.
Luckily, businesses are embracing
an industrial ecology and seeing
environmental issues not as obstacles
but rather as opportunities and
indicators of inefficiencies in their
operations. The GLOBE conference
provided a platform at the epicentre
of this shift.

Although it is valuable to see
these companies and industries
working together toward a more
sustainable future, it is really about
consumer demand—and much can
be done on behalf of the individual.
It will take consumer engagement
and encouragement for companies to
embrace environmentally sustainable
business practices. The realization
and recognition of environmental
problems is starting to reshape
institutions and restructure modern
society. We are on the road, even if
only at the beginning, of change and
increased sustainability.

Mutual participation in the path
toward a more environmentally
sustainable low-carbon economy
is vital. The GLOBE conference
is a sign that people are talking
and things are happening on the
environmental front among some
of the people with the most power
to affect change. There is no better
way to generate innovative ideas
than to get a bunch of like-minded
individuals together. The GLOBE
2010 conference will hopefully
help enable businesses to continue
innovating and investing in pragmatic
and sustainable alternatives —not
only for the benefit of the economy,
but also for the benefit of society and
the environment—at least enough to
keep the complaints down, if only
temporarily.

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