Sustainable Innovation: Global Challenges and Opportunities

28th Jan 2009 00:00

Global society is facing unprecedented levels and speed of change driven by a range of issues including the fuel, food, and financial crises, climate change, the rise of Chindia ( China and India ) and the growth of internet use. As the economies of Chindia still continue to grow, there is increasing pressure on scarce resources. Concerns over the sustainability and equity of global consumption and production patterns are also growing in the context of predicted major increases in the population in the developing world coupled with less predictability of weather patterns. How will consumers and producers adapt? Despite the on-going prospect of economic downturn, environmental awareness remains high driven by continued media and societal interest in climate change. Perhaps we now face a cross roads. Is there a need for a Blue-Green roadmap to re-generate our struggling economies. The Green Economy Initiative (or 'Green New Deal') was launched in October 2008 and is being spearheaded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) as a new engine for growth and job creation through sustainable technology development. Is the world ready for a new, New Deal? There is a need for all key stakeholders, to accept the need for more radical (sustainable) change alongside the change that is already happening. New systems and structures are needed to take global society forward; however, the process to do this is, as yet, unclear. Perhaps, the 'Green New Deal' will provide the impetus for leadership and 'buy in'. To achieve this will require 'sustainable innovators' and change agents in all spheres of global society. People, leadership and creativity will be at the heart of that change.

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