Speaker
Jonathon Porritt CBE
Jonathon Porritt CBE is an eminent writer, broadcaster, speaker and commentator on sustainable development. The emphasis in much of Jonathon's work is on the solution rather than the problem, encouraging and multiplying examples of best environmental practice wherever possible. His criticism of politicians and other decision-makers remains as trenchant as ever.
About Jonathon Porritt CBE
Jonathon Porritt is a passionate and effective environmental campaigner and a first class speaker. He promotes an achievable goal through the employment of clean technology and fairer models of economic growth. Furthermore, he was awarded a CBE for his services to environmental protection.
Jonathan Porritt was described by Tony Blair as ‘one of the most prominent voices promoting green issues over the last twenty five years’.
First in the Green Party, then as Director of Friends of the Earth, he has raised public awareness and swayed government and business thinking alike. Jonathon stood down as chairman of the UK Sustainable Development Commission in July 2009 after nine years.
As the Government’s independent adviser, the Commission produced evidence-based public reports on contentious environmental, social and economic issues, such as nuclear power. Drawing on expert opinion, they still advise key Ministers, policy-makers and stakeholders across Government.
In addition, he is co-director of The Prince of Wales’s Business and Environment Programme which runs Seminars for senior executives around the world. He is a non-executive director of Wessex Water, and of Willmott Dixon Holdings. He is a trustee of the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy, and is involved in the work of many NGOs and charities as patron, chair or special adviser.
As co-founder and Programme Director of Forum for the Future, the UK’s leading sustainable development charity, he is committed to reaching out to as wide an audience as possible, from activists and schoolchildren to business people and scientists.
Jonathon’s books include ‘Seeing Green’, ‘Save the Earth’ and ‘How to Save the Earth’, which became a Channel 4 series. His other books include ‘Capitalism As If The World Matters’ (Earthscan, revised 2007), ‘Globalism & Regionalism’ (Black Dog 2008) and ‘Living Within Our Means’ (Forum for the Future 2009).
Jonathon Porritt received a CBE in January 2000 for services to environmental protection and he regularly contributes to radio, television and print media.
Jonathon was also Chancellor of Keele University (2012-2022).
