Hines introduced his friend and fellow sustainability pioneer, John Elkington, sharing a memorable story from their first meeting in 1992, when they stood side by side at the launch of one of Elkington's earliest books.
John Elkington, Founder of Volans and a globally recognised authority on sustainability, delivered a thought-provoking keynote, Regenerating Our Future: The Challenges and Opportunities. In his address, Elkington, often referred to as the "Godfather of Sustainability," highlighted the transformative potential of the next 10–15 years in the fight against the climate crisis. His presentation underscored the need for a holistic approach to sustainability. This year's conference coincided with the initial results of the US elections, and John did not shy away from discussing this topic. He highlighted that the momentum for regeneration is a global movement too powerful to be undermined by any political regime. Elkington's compelling insights ignited optimism and renewed the focus on regeneration as a solution to the interconnected environmental, social, and economic challenges we face.
The morning session concluded with an insightful panel discussion, The Hidden Footprint: Reducing Embodied Carbon, moderated by Chris Hines. Featuring Catherine Sinclair, Alex Cropley, and Stephen Dam, Retrofit Lead at Sewell Group, the panel delved into the often-overlooked challenge of embodied carbon in construction. Through thought-provoking discussions, panel members shared strategies to minimise its impact, providing attendees with actionable insights to incorporate into their projects.
After a networking lunch, our second keynote of the day was delivered by Emily Penn, Founder and Director of eXXpedition. In her captivating talk, What's Your Superpower?, Penn shared her journey from architect to ocean advocate. Her decision to travel to Australia by boat rather than plane exposed her to the devastating impact of microplastics, which led her to found eXXpedition, a women-led initiative focused on removing microplastics from the ocean and driving systemic change. Penn's inspiring story underscored the power of individual actions in creating a collective impact and motivated attendees to cut single-use plastics from their lives. Her call to action resonated deeply with the audience, encouraging them to rethink their consumption habits and embrace sustainability in their everyday lives.
Rob Charlton closed the event with a heartfelt thank-you to the speakers, panellists, and attendees, reflecting on the day's discussions. As _shift 2024 drew to a close, it was clear that the conference had succeeded in its mission: to inspire, educate, and empower all those in attendance to take bold action against climate change.
