September 26
Down to Action
Students spent the entire day crafting solutions for the problems and barriers to change they identified the previous day. Each sector presented short and long term actions they could take to create change. Themes that emerged from multiple sectors included better information and labeling of products helping consumers to make informed decisions, more accurate costing of goods (a price which includes the environmental and social externalities), incentive programs that reward green/sustainable behavior such as a green points travel reward system and localizing of both services and business-related benefits.
Students used various mediums to present their innovations including videos, skits, Powerpoint presentations and many had already connected to social networking tools such as Facebook and Twitter to get others engaged and to make their work more widely available. Students called on each other to utilize their networks, to work in their own communities, to follow up with the experts and academics they had met during the conference as well as conference organizers to be partners for future endeavors.
Before closing the session, the students gave their academic facilitators a standing ovation for their guidance and assistance over the past two days.
David Suzuki
Peter Schiefke