About this Event
After one of the hottest and driest summers on record in the UK, questions of environmental sustainability and climate change have rarely felt more immediate. Governments, communities and businesses are increasingly grappling with how to respond to the challenges posed by a changing climate, while also navigating a rapidly evolving global economy and energy system. Economic activity is central to this conversation. From the continued importance of fossil fuels and rising patterns of consumption to growing demand for energy-intensive technologies such as AI, the transition to a more sustainable economy will require significant changes in the way we produce, consume and organise economic activity. At the same time, businesses will remain essential to the functioning of modern economies – and have an important role to play in developing and implementing practical solutions to environmental challenges. Yet industry does not exist in a vacuum; communities and civil society groups are increasingly vital to forging a wider space of participation and governance. Tackling the challenges of climate change and economic imbalances thus requires a nurturing conversations among many stakeholders. This event brings together alumni and academics to explore the role of business in creating a greener future:
· How has the concept of “sustainability” evolved in relation to the private sector in recent years?
· What implications does green investment have on civil society actors (communities, social movements, advocacy groups), and what role can these actors play in ensuring more robust policy reforms?
· Is a sustainable future and rising inequality compatible?
· What role can environmental regulation, and the growing ESG sector, play in ensuring a more sustainable future?
· What new and emerging jobs are there in this space and what skills do students need to access them?
Our discussion panel contains both Queen Mary academics and two Queen Mary Alumni working in the broad sector of environmental sustainability solutions. As well as discussing the broad themes of the event, the panel will also offer students in the audience insights into the possible pathways into the environmentalism sector, and how students can start preparing for their post-university career pathways.
Participants:
Milica Apostolovic (Principal Sustainability and Resilience Consultant, AECOM)
Giovanna Rodacoski (Audit and Mapping Project Analyst, SLR Consulting)
Dr. Isadora Cruxen (Senior Lecturer in Business Politics and Development, SBM)
Dr. William Montieth (Senior Lecturer in Human Geography, Department of Geography)
Chair: Dr. Rowan Lubbock (Senior Lecturer in Political Economy of Development, SPIR)
The event will be followed by a food and drinks reception
Event venue & nearby stays
GC701, Graduate Centre Top Floor, Queen Mary Univerity, London, United Kingdom
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.