Alvin Toffler published Future Shock in 1970, at a time of great social and economic upheaval. Toffler sought to help people make sense of what was going on around them, when many felt overwhelmed, and to help society avoid the risk of what he called "massive adaptational breakdown".

"Do not be mistaken. There are many thousands of business leaders and investors at all scales who want to align their actions and their decisions with the goals of the new economy." - Bob Massie, President of the New Economics Institute (NEI).

Out with the Old

In many ways, the Rio+20 Earth Summit is a huge distraction; with an estimated 50,000 participants, and so much time, money and energy spent on negotiations for something that, in reality, is non-negotiable. While the politicians and other interest groups debate and water down draft agreements, one wonders how we...

In the fifth and final part of our 'Sustainable Business: As If people Matter' series, Michael Townsend looks at the skills challenge - and how we might close the gap as we move towards a sustainable and low-carbon economy.

In the fourth part of our 'As If People Matter' series, we take the investor's perspective, as they too try and make sense of a changing world.
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The cost of heating and powering our homes has risen drastically in the last few years. Since 2008, domestic heating oil has doubled in price. Only slightly less dramatic, gas and electricity prices have taken since around 2003 to achieve the same notable feat. It is no surprise that fuel...

In the third piece in our five-part series 'As If People Matter', Michael Townsend discusses the qualities that business leaders must show, if they are to shine in a changing world.

"A new generation of CEOs will emerge."
Ray Anderson
Founder & Former Chairman, Interface Inc.

Who would...

"The biggest challenge in sustainability is engaging people and delivering the necessary behavioural change. This is all about how to turn a moment into a movement."

Cristina Amorim
Vice President of Global Citizenship,
Life Technologies.

In the second of a five-part series As If People Matter,...

"If you have too many useful machines, you get too many useless people." - E.F. Schumacher

In this, the first of a five-part series, As If People Matter, covering all perspectives of a people-centered approach to sustainability in business, I explain how the strategy links to superior business - and...

There is much talk of business needing to become more sustainable, in the face of an increasing number of challenges, such as climate change, peak oil, new legislation, repetitional risk, and increasing costs. That companies need to change is no longer the debate, but there is a need to understand...