News

If you delve below the surface of the CPI inflation numbers that came out last week, you will see that whilst the broad rate of inflation is running at 4.2%, food and energy price inflation is running at 6.9% and 6.2%, respectively. These numbers are part of a global trend of rising resource prices, and they seem to support arguments from the likes of Jeremy Grantham, that the next major economic paradigm shift is being created by resource scarcity.

Have a look at how the following indices have risen in the last 18 months, between the end of 2009 and June 2011;

Our August 1st Green Monday will not dwell on the drivers of the new paradigm – that’s our theme for October 3rd – but we will look at how companies should respond to the changing paradigm. Our theme of Creative Disruption will compare this change in the economic environment with the arrival of dot com; we will look at why companies such as M&S, Nissan, Siemens, GE, Philips and PepsiCo seem to be able to navigate change better than others.

We are fortunate to have an expert and diverse panel, who will be talking on the following subjects.

Author of the recently-published “Creative Disruption”, Simon Waldman will be discussing the uncertainty that is characteristic of a paradigm shift and why companies such as Apple have prospered with the arrival of the internet. Conversely, companies such as Kodak and EMI have fought the changing behaviour associated with the internet, and have seen major destruction of their value.

John Miles is Chairman of Halo IPT, as well as being an Executive Director at Arup. He will explain how “dynamic recharging” could dramatically disrupt the car industry, how it could swing momentum towards Nissan and other leaders in electric vehicle companies. Imagine a world where you never had to stop to refuel again, and your running costs were a fraction of a combustion engine....

We will then hear from a Director at one of the biggest companies in the world, Tony Gale from GE.Tony will tell the story of how GE understood the shift towards renewable energy and energy efficiency, and through Ecomagination it now generates $18bn in revenues, or 12% of GE’s total revenues. The important lessons are in change management – separate Boards, a highly visible programme, high levels of R&D etc.

And finally, we will turn to an undisputed heavyweight in the understanding of how the economy and the environment relate to each other. John Elkington has been described as one of the “1000 Most Influential People in London” and “a true green business guru”. He will listen to the 3 previous speakers, and relate their messages to the scale of change needed for 9bn people to live peacefully in 2050.

It promises to be an inspiring and thought-provoking night. We will have a full house and a senior audience for this event, but we still have a few spaces for people with a senior strategic remit in big corporates.

If you haven't yet applied, you can apply through the usual channels at http://www.greenmondays.com/region/apply.php?newregion=1.

Jim Woods

Chairman of Green Monday events