Ashden celebrates those who have chosen to take action

Posted by James on 27th June
Tagged with: ashden green thing mathaai
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My highlight last week was attending the 7th annual Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy – and I’m not just saying that because Ashden are generous donors and supporters to Green Thing.

Why?  Because it left me inspired as to all of the positive things that are going on in the world and demonstrated that the Daily Mail really could find some better things to write about.  

You can find out more about the Awards and the Winners and Finalists here.

Speakers included Sir David King, the former Government Chief Scientific Advisor, and Dr Wangari Maathai, the tireless campaigner for environmental conservation and social justice and Nobel Prize-winning tree-planter whose work with the Green Belt Movement her work has led to the planting of 40 million trees across Africa.  Yes 40 million.  We are also delighted that she is one of Green Thing’s Advisors.

Sir David King provided a brilliant synopsis of Climate Change.  Spare just 11 minutes and you’ll be given both a history lesson and an up to date primer on Climate Change.  A few things that stood out for me:  that scientists have been aware of Global Warming since 1896;  and, that the Greenhouse Effect really ought to be called the Duvet Effect if you want anyone to understand it.  Sir David is not prone to over-exageration and he did not mince his words saying that  “climate change is the biggest challenge that our civilisation has ever faced.”  In conclusion he stated that, in addition to individual, corporate and government action, it was critical to embed a low carbon culture throughout society.

Next up was Waangari Maathai.  She spoke so peacefully yet powerfully and had such an aura about her.  Her simple observation was that “we can all take action”.  She urged us all to act with commitment, patience, urgency persistence, determination, respect and gratitude.  You can watch her speech here.

Two thanks.  Firstly – to Sarah Butler-Sloss and the Ashden team – what a fabulous initiative so brilliantly executed.  Secondly - to the finalists and award winners themselves.  Their work and their stories are inspiring

As I cycled home with a big smile on my face and passed posters advertising Sex in the City, it did make me wonder what the world would be like if more people were introduced and exposed to the work of the winners and people like Wangari Maathai.  Surely this would inspire us and help us move to a more sustainable future more quickly. Come on the Daily Mail.