John Elkington
A world authority on corporate responsibility and sustainable development.
One of the ideas I have been laying with this year has been that of framing, a theme I imbibed at university when doing Sociology – through the work of Erving Goffman, and then more recently through the thinking of George Lakoff. All this has crystallised in a blog published today by the Harvard Business Review. Any comments very welcome.
Haunted by that old black dog at the moment, and Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner 2049 – though extraordinary – didn’t make me feel much better today. It even has a big black dog padding around the debris field of one attempt to pulverise Harrison Ford. Its claws clicking on the floor, as it laps up puddled Scotch.
Set 100 years after I was born, the film is a sci-fi nativity story, bleak, violent and, by its own admission, soulless – particularly if you happen to be a replicant.
So what heaven to walk out of the Olympic Cinema in Barnes and smell the autumn leaves, see the swans and other wildfowl on the pond, and contemplate the fact that – despite the fires still raging in California, creating skies akin to those in the film and showering friends’ houses there with ash, we still have it in our hands to turn this juggernaut of ours around.
Here’s my latest GreenBiz blog, on the launch of our Breakthrough Pitch slide deck and guide.
Flew on Monday to Sao Pãulo and then Brasilia, for a major sustainability event held by CNI. Wonderfully well hosted by Daniela Cestarollo of CNI (Confederação Nacional da Indústria). Did a well received 2.5 hour session with Marcos Troyjo, Director of the BRICLab at Columbia University, on Wednesday morning. Back into London earlier today, having finished off Omar El Akkad’s American War as I flew. Brilliant, dystopian view of the future of the USA.
Our Breakthrough Money video has had over 15,000 views following my LinkedIn post, which is something of a breakthrough in itself. Busy week, including a great lunch with Mark Watts of C40 and ending with the first set of interviews for our new Executive Director. We have had an extraordinary response – though Sam will be very difficult to replace. And now to get ready for Brasilia tomorrow.