John Elkington

Over our heads Buddies Stilted Architecture Museum Snøhetta studio Snøhetta studio, 2

Pebble-like modules for model buildings

Great lunch at a small restaurant behind the cathedral. Later, absolutely blown away by a visit to the Architecture Museum, where the work of the Snøhetta is featured, ranging from the Oslo Opera House to the Library of Alexandria. Bought the book Snøhetta Works – and have been dipping into it ever since. Have also been reading Antony Beevor’s stunning book D-Day.

False modesty aside, there are a fair few things I feel I have contributed over the years, but the triple bottom line continues to amaze me with its stamina.  It’s more or less exactly 15 years since I came up with the term, after perhaps 18 months of wrestling off-and-on – with the help of Andrea Spencer-Cooke – in an attempt to explain the core sustainability challenge to business audiences.  The term has popped up repeatedly at conferences I have spoken at this year, most recently at the Oslo Sustainability Summit, where I spoke on Tuesday.  Now The Economist is on the case.

Opera House 1 Opera House, 2 Opera House, 3 Opera House, 4 Opera House, 5 Opera House, 6 Opera House, 7 Opera House, 8 Opera House, 9

We have walked around – and over – the Opera House several times now, in sunshine and in the twilight. Glorious.

Elaine and I walked around the Oslo Opera House twice today, once in full sunlight, once in the twilight.  What an astounding building it is.  Photos will follow when I have a certain cable to hand.

BI, interior Blurred shot of Elaine and Joel (Bakan), en route to our session

Met Bill McKibben today, after being blown away by his presentation on the 350 campaign. Resolved to get both Volans and SustainAbility involved, if it kills me. Then did the session at BI, the management school, with Joel Bakan, who I first met some time ago when I chaired a discussion panel at the London premiere of his film, The Corporation. Great fun.

Introducing my session, I spotlighted Jorgen Randers, who had kicked off the event, as a “dinosaur”, in the sense that 1972’s Limits to Growth study had been seminal in my evolution, a mere 37 years ago. He got an ovation. Then, to spread the insults around, I noted that Elaine and I just realised that today was our wedding anniversary – another ovation.

Last night, Joel and his wife Rebecca played guitar (him) and sang (her) at the US Embassy, where many of us had repaired for dinner. They hugely endeared themselves to me by doing one of my favourite Grace Slick/Jefferson Airplane songs.

After our Summit debate, Joel and I did a session with students. Then on to the British Embassy for a reception, where we were treated – among other things – to a rap band and a duet playing Tchaikovsky.