One of the UK's foremost environmental campaigners will be visiting the island from Monday 17th March until Wednesday 19th.
Craig Bennett, Director of Policy and Campaigns, will be visiting the Isle of Man to discuss a range of issues. He will be giving a public talk (details below, and also meeting with members of the Island's Government. In addition, his packed schedule includes visits to the DEFA Headquarters to meet members of the Environmental Health and Climate Team, to the MEA headquarters for a meeting with Director Phil King and DED's Senior Manager for Energy Policy, Ken Milne, and to Secondary School QE II, to meet with senior students who were involved in the winning of some high profile environmental awards.
Phil Corlett, Co-Ordinator of Isle of Man Friends of the Earth, said: "We're really delighted that Craig has found time in his hectic schedule to come to the Island - it's a great opportunity for members of the public to learn more about how one of the the UK's - indeed one of the world's - foremost environmental campaigning groups sees the future, and how it works at the highest levels of government to help formulate policy".
Friends of the Earth in the UK is one of the country's most influential environmental campaigning groups, with over 200 local groups. In addition it's active in over 75 countries and has scored many successes for people and planet, including bringing about new climate change laws, support for clean energy, laws to protect the countryside, changes that have brought about better food and cleaner water, and changes in the way many big companies behave.
Craig is the UK body's lead campaigner and policy strategist. He leads Friends of the Earth's tactical response to the changing political and policy context in the United Kingdom - and works with politicians and other influences to bring about much-needed changes in attitudes and policy. With more than fifteen years of professional campaigning experience, covering everything from climate change to biodiversity and corporate accountability, he has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share - which is why this is such a unique opportunity.
it's clear that he hasn't got where he is by accident: Craig's career history prior to taking up his current role is highly impressive - from 2007 to 2010, he was Deputy Director at the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership and, in this role, was also Director of The Prince of Wales's Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change. During this time, he built The Corporate Leaders Group into one of the most influential and progressive business voices in the international climate debate, primarily through its series of hard-hitting, punchy statements in support of a strong, effective and equitable global climate deal. The Copenhagen Communique, for example, secured the support of 1000 companies from more than 60 countries and was widely seen as the definitive progressive statement from the international business community ahead of the UN climate conference in Copenhagen (see www.copenhagencommunique.com). So it goes to show that campaigning can, and does, work!
Craig also maintains his links with the University of Cambridge, both as a Senior Associate of the Programme for Sustainability Leadership and as a visiting Programme Director at the Judge Business School. He is also an Educator at Duke CE, the world’s top rated corporate education provider. Phew - a busy man. Also an educated one - he has a BSc (Hons) in Human and Physical Geography and an MSc in Biodiversity Conservation. He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, and Vice-Chair of the charity Stakeholder Forum. As you'd expect of someone with this experience and knowledge, Craig also regularly appears in the broadcast media, and has had articles published in several national newspapers and magazines.
So for all members of the Manx public, business and political community who care about the island's future, and its context in a changing global environment, here's a great opportunity to hear - direct from the horse's mouth - some key ideas on where changes in the world around may be taking us. Craig is a personable, entertaining and well-respected speaker, and we'll be asking him for his observations on what the future might hold for an environment and economy such as ours - and what actions we and our leaders should be taking to secure a safe, healthy and prosperous future.
The public event is free and open to all. it will be held at Keyll Darree, adjacent to Nobles Hospital, on Tuesday 18th March starting at 7.00pm - so please, come and join us, and join in the discussion. We'll be really glad to see you there!
