During seven years of investigative journeys in Indonesia, Brazil and East Africa, George Monbiot was shot at, beaten up by military police, shipwrecked, stung into a poisoned coma by hornets, and was even pronounced clinically dead. This goes some way to explaining his restless tenacity, which has made him one of the world’s most revered environmentalists and political activists. In 1995 Nelson Mandela presented him with a United Nations Global 500 Award for outstanding environmental achievement. He is a bestselling author, with works including The Age of Consent: A Manifesto for a New World Order and Captive State: The Corporate Takeover of Britain, a regular columnist for The Guardian, and founder of The Land is Ours campaign, which campaigns peacefully for the right of access to the countryside and its resources in the UK.

As part of his keynote lecture George Monbiot gave his views on the outcome of the Copenhagen summit for the world. He also discussed how we can develop a more sustainable future over the next decade. The lecture is introduced by Jane Davidson AM, the Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing.