A conference on transition and transformation issues in the journey towards a sustainable enterprise economy
26 - 28 September 2012
South Bank, Brisbane, Australia
The Necessary Transition 2012 discussed the many transitions taking place: from high to low carbon economies, from gross inequality to egalitarianism, from massive human rights abuses to socially just societies, and from high corruption to societies with high social cohesion and integrity.
The conference brought together leading international researchers and practitioners to share their knowledge and expertise, and offer answers to many of the pressing questions that must be addressed in the journey towards a sustainable enterprise economy.
How do we justify our business and earn our license to operate?
"For us, leadership in sustainable development performance is a key success factor in achieving our vision. Alongside our core values (accountability, respect, teamwork and integrity) and a framework to ensure effective corporate governance, sustainable development drives the manner in which we conduct ourselves as a business: the way we work."
- Bill Champion, Managing Director, Rio Tinto Coal Australia
How do we draw developing countries into the discussion about transition?
"Unless policy-makers in the developing world recognise the deeper logics of transition underway, they will make decisions that will result in severe system failure in the relatively near future. By clearly demonstrating the linkages between transition, development and growth, it will be possible to draw developing countries into the discussion about transition".
- Mark Swilling, Professor at Stellenbosch University, and Academic Director of the Sustainability Institute, South Africa
Is a transition to a sustainable future possible within the logic of conventional capitalism?
"It is not as if we don’t know what to do......we just don’t have a practical framework within which to bring it all together and take change to sufficient scale quickly enough."
- Sara Parkin OBE, Founder-Director and Trustee of Forum for the Future, Chair of the Richard Sandbrook Trust
Held over three days, the conference gave attendees the opportunity to hear from sustainability experts, participate in workshops and niche targeted sessions and attend networking events.
Videos of keynote presenters, conference proceedings and photos taken over the three days are available on the Conference Blog.
View photos, videos and conference proceedings on the Conference Blog.
'People make their own history, but they do so on the basis of existing conditions, inherited from the past.'
- Marx
'We know a tremendous amount about how the world works, but not nearly
enough. Our knowledge is amazing; our ignorance even more so.'
- Donella Meadows
E-newsletter updates
See our latest e-newsletter for conference updates as well as an interview with Mark Swilling, in which he discusses his upcoming keynote presentation.
Archives:
- July e-newsletter featuring Sara Parkin