Sustainability: Newscaster Jon Snow talks to Dame Ellen MacArthur about the circular economy and rethinking the future, in a short film looking back on the first year of the Ellen MacArthur

Sustainability: Newscaster Jon Snow talks to Dame Ellen MacArthur about the circular economy and rethinking the future, in a short film looking back on the first year of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation.

Challenging Ellen on the fundamental principles of the Foundation’s mission – to inspire a generation to re-think and re-design for a positive future – Jon investigates the circular economy as a framework for change and questions the actual implementation and impact of such a model on business.

With over 5 years of research and a full year of the Foundation under her belt, Dame Ellen is well placed to handle these testing questions and to make a strong case for the circular economy framework.

The circular economy is a different business model. It’s a different way of looking at the system as a whole. We know our future doesn’t work long term, but within a circular economy it does.

Millionaire Doug Tompkins wanted to save a rainforest, so he went out and bought one in Southern Chile. Many Chileans though are not so keen on his philanthropy and regard him with

Millionaire Doug Tompkins wanted to save a rainforest, so he went out and bought one in Southern Chile. Many Chileans though are not so keen on his philanthropy and regard him with suspicion.

The self-made millionaire of the Esprit clothing company, Doug Tompkins, now languishes in an Eden of lush forest, deep rivers and abundant wildlife. His massive reserve, Pumalin Park, is an oasis of biodiverstiy. Conservative politician Jaime Orpis regards the swath of land controlled by Tompkins as a threat to national security. His reserve is a strategic 100km long corridor from the Argentine border to central Chile. For a nation still on the periphery of economic success having such a staunch anti-developmentalist tying up resources is also deeply irritating. Many would prefer him to take his high ideals back home. Tompkins though, came to Chile with a dream and despite the knocks he's staying until the government agrees to protect his park themselves.

Produced by ABC Australia
Distributed by Journeyman Pictures

In Klaus Jacob's first video interview (filmed 6/19) after the release of the much discussed

In Klaus Jacob's first video interview (filmed 6/19) after the release of the much discussed “Resilient New York” report, he talks about defining resilience, flood risk, managed retreat, intergenerational justice, and why NYC's climate plan is shortsighted. The climate projections (flood zones, sea level rise) used in the report stop at 2050, but the city's planning & construction need to consider risks beyond that date.

Klaus Jacob, research scientist at Earth Institute's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, warned of New York's vulnerabilities to severe storm flooding long before Sandy and has emerged as a central figure in discussions about post-Sandy NYC.