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34/2008
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"Sustainable Prosperity: Taking on the Global Challenge"
NetImpact conference, Geneva 13 - 14 June 2008
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We felt privileged having been able to attend this conference and its frank and open debates.
It was inspiring to feel the enthusiasm and engagement of the MBA students, able to listen and debate issues without insisting on preconceived ideas. Sustainability, i.e. the management of resources in such a way that no more resources are used than nature can replenish, is a difficult subject. Quick fixes and habitual answers may not work or even produce opposite results. The organisers conceived an interesting mix of subjects and panels, which attracted 400 participants. Most impressive was the workshop with Michael U. Ben-Eli on "Dimensions of Sustainability" in which one core problem was addressed: population growth. This issue is mostly taboo, possibly in fear of being named a racist. Actually every country of this world is already overpopulated and each increase of population increases the regional impact as well as humanity's total burden on the earth. The planet's carrying capacity was addressed and the opinion was voiced that technology and ingenuity would increase the earth's potential to sustain humanity. We advanced the notion of a carrying capacity that does not change. Humanity has shifted the balances between human consumption and the share that is available for the rest of nature. Vitousek claims that humanity is presently appropriating half of all photosynthesis production, compared to 40 per cent some 25 years ago, which obviously reduces the livelihood available for non-human life. Humanity has been able to temporarily increase its numbers and consumption levels because of the mining of fossil stocks of minerals and fuels. Some of the most important of these fossil resources, which includes ground water streams, are now reaching depletion levels. It must be feared that modern wasteful lifestyles with our exuberant luxuries and mobility can no longer be sustained in the coming years. Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 1997 to 2002, made an interesting remark in her keynote speech. She said that Corporate Social Responsiblity (CSR) is no longer what companies talk about. Today corporate leaders speak of "Corporate Sustainability". The wealthy clients of private banks do indeed discuss sustainability with their investment advisors. Scarcities of oil, soft and hard commodities, food and climate change are recurring topics. Strangely, the BPE Compact, the leaders in Business, Politics and the discipline of Economics, do not seem to see the contradiction between increasing scarcities and economic growth. They are firmly embedded - or should we say sleeping? - in their spheres of hope and optimism and ingenuity and technology that is going to solve all problems, if we only invest enough money and brain power. If technology could revive extinct species, reverse climate change, ban droughts and floods, refill deminishing groundwater streams, recreate cut-down old-growth forests, replenish minerals' stocks. We fear technology cannot do this. Neither can it feed the burgeoning world population. Malthus says hello again. The conference was organised on a low budget, without European sponsorships, and with the help of many voluntary students. Impressive. They did a magnificient job in a very short time. Congratulations. Helmut Lubbers ecological psychologist and environmental scientist 15 June 2008 Also see other ecostories, for instance: 
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The NetImpact Conferenece Curriculum
In 2008, Net Impact will bring the model of their hugely successful American conference to a European audience for the first time. The American conference is seen as the leading world forum bringing MBA students, graduates and leaders of tomorrow to exchange ideas, energy and passion with leading professionals from across sectors to discuss how business and business skills can impact social change. Net Impact is eager to host a similar event to offer this opportunity for engagement to the students, graduates and professionals within Europe.
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