Speaking at environmental tradeshow Sustainabilitylive! in Birmingham on Thursday, the record-breaking sailor said her travels had woken her to the vulnerability of the planet and she would be campaigning to change perceptions about the way use natural resources.
She drew parallels between the need to carefully manage the limited supplies taken on a competitive boat race and the way we are squandering fossil fuels while taking a reliable energy supply for granted.
Ms MacArthur told delegates she had spent the last three years researching environmental issues and that she now wants to drive home the fact that sustainable living is of vital importance to as wide an audience as possible.
Ellen MacArthur at Sustainabilitylive!
Sam Bond