Visionary thinkers, writers, and unconventional economists will gather this week to examine how to move Canadian society towards sustainability within a generation. The Canadian Society for Ecological Economics (CANSEE) will convene its 6th Biennial Conference at York University, Oct. 27-29.
This year’s conference will explore energy costs, ways to measure sustainability, ideas for fiscal reform, ecological ethics, women’s perspectives on economic justice, and techniques to manage ecosystems at appropriate levels of government. Notable speakers include top ecological economists Joshua Farley, Nancy Olewiler, Patricia E. Perkins, Peter Söderbaum, Louise Vandelac, Peter Victor, and David Korten.
"Modern economies place so much stress on the environment that the essential services it provides, from the material to the spiritual, are being seriously compromised and undermined," says Peter Victor, a York environmental studies professor. "Ecological economists understand that the economy depends upon the environment for all its natural resources, for life support, and for disposing of our vast quantities of wastes. These challenges raise ethical and political as well as economic and environmental challenges and we will tackle many of them at this year's conference."
To bring these issues into focus in Toronto through public education, events and advocacy for sustainable businesses, CANSEE will co-host a reception to inaugurate the founding of the Toronto Business Alliance for Local Living Economies following the keynote address by Korten, an award-winning author, on Friday Oct. 28 at 8pm.
For more information, contact Grant Boyle at 416-964-9223, ext. 224 or visit the CANSEE Web site.