Hertford Talking: setting the green agenda

26 June 2015

We hosted a lively discussion on the green agenda in London on 25 June.

Our speakers (all Hertford alumni) included the CEO of the RSPB, the Director at Whitley Fund for Nature, and the Director for Environment and Sustainable Development in the Department for Natural Resources in the Welsh Government.

Discussion ranged from the need for a new paradigm on ecosystem resilience, the unintended consequences of buying organic coffee and tea, and the dangers of electoral politics trumping long-term public policy making. Mike Clarke warned of an increasing ecological illiteracy, especially amongst policy makers, noting that less than 10% of our Parliamentarians and none of our current cabinet secretaries have a science degree.

• Listen to an audio recording of the discussion
• Read more about the speakers

Hertford counts a number of influential environmentalists amongst our alumni; this event was inspired by the centenary of Gavin Maxwell, a Hertford alumnus known for his best-selling book Ring of Bright Water, which sold over a million copies and inspired a generation of naturalists. We also discussed the work of Max Nicholson, another Hertford alumnus who founded the World Wildlife Fund, during the evening.