The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation UK branch collaborated with the City of London Corporation’s charity, City Bridge Trust, on 10 July to explore the role of the green economy in ‘growing prosperity’, improving wellbeing and social equity whilst also reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.

The Growing Prosperity conference, which took place at Guildhall, brought together policy-makers, not-for-profits and other funders. The event was opened by the Lord Mayor Fiona Woolf, who drew on her experience as an energy lawyer to discuss the devastating impact of climate change, and the need for solutions to combat the global economy’s vulnerability to diminishing natural resources.

She said: “Cities and centres across the world look to London for leadership. We boast the innovation, engineering and architectural talent to make our visions a reality. For the City and the financial services in particular, this puts a tremendous responsibility upon us to create solutions and be a force for transformational good.

“This is part of a wider movement to reshape capitalism; creating a responsible system that integrates social and environmental factors into a new, mainstream notion of sustainability. The Growing Prosperity event has provided us with the opportunity to drill down into the green economy, examine its role as part of the wider economy, and our ability to seize opportunities and overcome modern challenges.”

Also speaking at the event was The Rt Hon Gregory Barker, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change.

He said: “The green economy is not a sideshow from the rest of the economic mainstream, it is real, it is increasing, and in parts of the world it is actually booming. Government is not just a spectator in this growth, we are a partner in this fundamental long-term shift, and we need to make sure that we drive that, not just at a top down level but that we unleash the opportunities for green growth at a local level.  That’s going to require local leadership and local action.”

The one day conference included a number of workshops, run by leading think-tanks and not-for profits, as well as a debate chaired by broadcaster, Jon Snow.

City Bridge Trust Chief Grants Officer, David Farnsworth, said:  “The Trust has been a long-standing supporter of projects working to make London greener and more sustainable, through its grants programmes and through initiatives such as the Growing Localities Awards which celebrate the very best growing and greening projects across London and its Parklife London website, the capital’s first green space mobile map and potentially London’s first Green Trip Adviser.

Conferences like ‘Growing Prosperity’ provide excellent opportunities for us to share the learning and expertise of those we fund.”

Director of Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation UK branch, Andrew Barnett, said:  “Our Greening the Economy programme has been about experiment and learning.  We have invested in 10 projects from which inspiration can be drawn.  The political and economic environment has been challenging but despite this the successes of Greening the Economy, demonstrate how innovation at the grass roots can influence national policy and deliver replicable and scalable solutions which have the potential to be transformative.”