High-profile sustainability conference at Royal Wootton Bassett

It will be held at the Sustain Farm Shop on Brinkworth Road, Royal Wootton Basset, on Thursday 17 September, followed by the free annual conference for the general public on 18 September.
Addressing major issues such as how to break the UK’s dependency on imports and multinational conglomerates, the conference will focus on the vital role that self-sufficiency has to play in food security and sustainable living in Wiltshire and beyond.
Opening with an introduction from South Cotswolds MP Dr Roz Savage, who will explain her role in the Stronger South Cotswolds initiative, the conference will introduce a series of eminent speakers who will be attending both the schools and public conference.
Dr Savage said: “I applaud the work being done by Sustain Britain to rethink how we meet our material needs in ways that build community and connection with each other and with our locality. 
"I am very much looking forward to the Sustain Britain Conference, as an opportunity to share knowledge and connect with like-minded people who are working together towards a brighter future.”  
New for this year is Dr Tony Juniper CBE, Chair of the official nature agency Natural England, who will be speaking in his own capacity, addressing the question: “Are Green Halo communities an opportunity to change the way we live?”
Back by popular demand, Hannah Pathak, CEO of Forum for the Future, will run the conference’s first ever interactive Future Games session, giving delegates the opportunity to address challenging and thought-provoking sustainability scenarios in a unique role-play session.
Ed Gillespie, writer, serial entrepreneur and futurist, will investigate: “How can Sustain Circles have a key part to play in delivering sustainable change? 
Jarvis Smith, pioneering eco-warrior, will ask: “How can we create a society centred on sustainable production?”  
Presentations will be made by Sustain Cotswolds, the Wilts & Berks Canal Trust and the Royal Wooton Bassett Environmental Trust. 
Delegates will also receive an update from Nick Ash, Project Director for Sustain Operations Community Interest Company (CIC), on a series of groundbreaking projects that are being developed locally, including:
- The world’s first growing dome powered by landfill gas, situated at the Crapper and Sons Ltd landfill site on Brinkworth Road
- Groundbreaking work on the generation of landfill gas from solid waste
- Progress on proposals for a Green Halo community for Royal Wooton Bassett
- How the Greenprint for a Sustainable, Independent Britain is creating opportunities for communities across the UK to make a meaningful difference through their own sustainable solutions
This will be followed by a Q&A panel debate.
The conference starts at 8.30am and runs through to 5pm on both days. Guests can look forward to a free lunch featuring fruit and vegetables harvested from what is both Wiltshire’s and the world’s first Growing Dome powered by landfill gas.
Free to attend, the public conference takes place at the Sustain Farm Shop and Café on Friday 18th September. Tickets must be booked in advance on Eventbrite.
Nick Ash, Project Director for Sustain Britain and Sustain Operations CIC, said: “Last year was a huge success with delegates from across the UK, but what was notable was the absence of anyone under the age of 30.  
“We wanted to address this directly, which is why we’ve invited A-level and T-Level students to join us on 17 September. 
"That’s led to a sell-out schools conference where students from Cirencester College, Malmesbury School, and Royal Wootton Bassett Academy will join us for an incredible day of discussion, debate and discovery.
“What particularly excites us is the new interactive Future Games session overseen by Hannah Pathak, CEO of Forum for the Future, who has held similar sessions at other high-profile venues including The Eden Project in Cornwall.
“Alongside our lineup of inspiring speakers, we hope that both days of the conference will leave a lasting impact on our leaders of tomorrow, who will play a key part in creating a more sustainable future for us all.  
“Our hope is that, by bringing like-minded individuals together at the conferences, we can deliver the seeds of change, creating a positive movement that will make greater self-sufficiency and sustainability a reality.”
Keynote speaker Dr Tony Juniper CBE said: "Sustainability is not about distant future threats, but pressures that we must face in the here and now. 
"Threats to food security, water availability, resilience to extreme heat, the severity of floods and risks to public health are all becoming more serious and it is vital to adopt plans now to cope with all of that.
"The good news is that by restoring the natural world and investing in modern technology and infrastructure we can make ourselves more secure at the same time as more efficient, saving costs and improving quality of life.
"Sustain Britain offers opportunities to build common cause for what works, sharing ideas and making connections to accelerate the positive changes that will help us navigate the challenges at hand. It can be done, and I’m looking forward to being part of a gathering that will add even more positive momentum to the changes now getting underway."
Hannah Pathak, CEO of Forum for the Future, said: “With the pace of change and complexity seeming to be constantly accelerating, it's essential that we remember that we have agency to shape the future. To do this, we need to co-create positive visions of the future to orient and collaborate towards. 
"This is at the heart of the Sustain Britain Conference: collaboratively shaping a positive future, whilst building innovation and resilience.”
Ed Gillespie added: “I am really excited to be speaking at Sustain Britain at such a critical time. We need to see things we’ve never seen before, think things we’ve never thought before, and do things we’ve never done before if we are going to collectively rise to the very real challenges we face together. Which is what makes Sustain Britain such an essential event to participate in. I can’t wait!”
To book free tickets to attend the Sustain Britain Conference on Friday 18th September, visit Eventbrite or www.sustainbritain.co.uk
 

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