Business told to lead the way on environment

Corporate events organisers MotivAction’s second Going Green – Inspiring People, seminar encouraged firms to adopt greener practices not just to reduce emissions, but also to increase their appeal to consumers and other businesses.

Environmental writer and Independent columnist Donnachadh McCarthy told delegates that businesses needed to lead the response to climate change because they can adapt quickly to a changing market.

Mr McCarthy, a former deputy chair of the Liberal Democrats, said: “I think business is the only way that we actually can help tackle some of these things fast enough.

“Politics doesn’t work fast enough. The mechanisms and how they operate are too slow.”

Mr McCarthy, who said he leads a “carbon negative” lifestyle, added that businesses – and individuals – should lead by example.

He said: “I think if you want to convince people, the person carrying that message must have done it.”

Hertfordshire-based MotivAction, which says it has reduced its own carbon footprint by 30%, aimed to inspire delegates by making the seminar as green as possible.

This included using 100% recycled paper, using low-energy lighting, and laying on an electric car from the Nice Car Company to transfer people to the venue.

Tim Waygood, MotivAction’s managing director, said: “This is a first step in educating companies that we all need to change the way we run businesses.

“We are not living a sustainable way of life and the sooner we can influence others to alter the way they use resources, the sooner we can try to turn things around.

“MotivAction are committed to using the events industry as a means to communicate this.”

Kate Martin