Previous Conferences
Embracing the Triple Bottom Line – Practical Solutions for a Sustainable Future
9th Jan 08 – Lincoln University
Our first conference, back in 2003, had as its theme “Towards Sustainable Countryside Management”. At that time the message we were expounding was deemed by many to be interesting – but not necessarily achievable. How things have changed!
In Jan 2008 our theme “Embracing the Triple Bottom Line” was about understanding the fundamentals of true sustainable development and getting down to the practicalities of how it can and is being achieved.
New thinking has evolved in government, business and a significant part of the population. The need to change our approach to development, work, and living has grown out of a recognition of climate change, declining fossil fuel reserves and a realisation that in a country as crowded as ours there are alternative methods with better outcomes – the triple bottom line. There is still much to do, and we need to move this change in thinking to change in policy and allow some of the very exciting schemes planned to become reality.
So this conference got down to brass tacks! As well as having the opportunity of hearing some leading lights on the main issues, the themed workshop sessions covered the three “legs” of sustainability and design. Apart from the policy, training and eco-design we added the concept of ‘sustainable business’, new forms of finance and how to audit the social and environmental value. We were fortunate in having very experienced, renowned speakers and workshop leaders who informed and generated debate about the issues.