\n<\/p>\n
I spend a lot of time outdoors (writes Will Hayler<\/a>, founder of Blue Earth Summit<\/a>), and I know I\u2019m not alone in saying that being in nature makes you want to protect it. But loving something and actually taking action to safeguard it are two very different things. That\u2019s what led to the creation of Blue Earth Summit\u2014a space where people from all walks of life come together to find solutions for regenerating the natural world. Inspire, Connect, Act.<\/p>\n Now, five years into running the event, I\u2019ve learned a lot about what works, what doesn\u2019t, and how to move beyond just \u201cpreaching to the converted.\u201d Here\u2019s why we started Blue Earth, what we\u2019ve learned, and one action you can take to move beyond loving nature to actually protecting it.<\/p>\n Spending time in nature creates a deep connection to it. This was really obvious to us from the start. My background is in surfing, and at the time, we were running a surf media title that focused on the ocean\u2014its beauty, its fragility, and what we could do to protect it. We started weaving environmental content into our media, but we always questioned how relevant it was. Who was listening? Were we just talking to people who already cared?<\/p>\n This realisation\u2014this need to move beyond just raising awareness\u2014was the first spark for Blue Earth.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve always believed that business doesn\u2019t have to be just about profit. It can do a lot of social and environmental good, too. But historically, business has been on the wrong side of environmental issues, extracting value from nature without giving anything back. The question for us was: How can we change that?<\/p>\n We wanted to challenge the idea that success and sustainability are at odds. Businesses that align their goals with environmental progress don\u2019t just help the planet\u2014they create more resilient, future-proof organisations. That\u2019s a big part of what Blue Earth is about: helping businesses see that doing the right thing can also be the smart thing.<\/p>\n Traditional climate events are great at raising awareness, but they\u2019re not always the best at bringing people together to create solutions. They tend to feel either like doom-laden warnings or technical policy discussions. We saw a gap: where was the energy, the innovation, the optimism that we saw in industries like tech and design?<\/p>\n If you go to a tech summit, it\u2019s all about possibility\u2014big ideas, bold ambitions, solutions that seem impossible until they happen. Why wasn\u2019t there a climate event with that same level of excitement? That\u2019s what we wanted Blue Earth to be: not just another environmental conference, but a space where people from different sectors\u2014business, public, and third\u2014come together to collaborate and take action.<\/p>\n One of the biggest challenges in environmental work is avoiding the echo chamber. In the first year of Blue Earth, we welcomed anyone and everyone, which was great. But as we grew, we started thinking more about how to reach people outside the usual climate circles.<\/p>\n The answer? Talk to people\u2019s passions. Instead of just framing everything as \u201ca climate issue,\u201d we connect through shared interests\u2014adventure, business, problem-solving, resilience. You don\u2019t have to be a climate activist to care about the outdoors. You don\u2019t have to be a sustainability expert to see the opportunity in making business more regenerative. When you start from common ground, the conversation opens up.<\/p>\n Early on, I wanted to shake things up\u2014tear down the old way of doing things and build something better. But over time, I\u2019ve realised that real change happens when you work with the system rather than against it.<\/p>\n People aren\u2019t going to stop flying overnight. They won\u2019t suddenly change the way they eat unless a better, more appealing alternative exists. If we want large-scale change, we need solutions that work for both people and the planet.<\/p>\n Take Ovo Energy, for example. Their number one priority is affordable energy. Number two is great customer service. Then\u2014almost as an afterthought\u2014they highlight that their energy comes from renewable sources. They\u2019ve baked sustainability into their business model, rather than making it the whole pitch. And guess what? It works.<\/p>\n That\u2019s the key: if you want people to adopt more sustainable habits, make it the easiest, most appealing choice.<\/p>\n If you love the outdoors and care about the environment, ask yourself: how can I build that into what I already do? Maybe that means influencing your workplace to make more sustainable choices. Maybe it\u2019s using your skills to support environmental initiatives. Maybe it\u2019s just shifting where you spend your money and attention.<\/p>\n Real change doesn\u2019t always come from big, dramatic actions. Often, it\u2019s small, consistent efforts\u2014scaled up over time\u2014that make the difference.<\/p>\n At Blue Earth, we\u2019re trying to create a space where environmental action is practical, integrated, and effective. The more people we bring into the conversation\u2014not just the \u201cusual suspects,\u201d but those outside the climate world\u2014the bigger the impact we can have.<\/p>\n So, what\u2019s one way you can start today?<\/p>\n And finally, let me recommend two excellent books:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\nThe Three Big Issues That Motivated Me to Take Action<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Time Spent Outdoors Naturally Leads to Wanting to Protect It<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Business Can Be a Force for Good<\/strong><\/h3>\n
3. The Climate Space Needed a Better Event<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Two Big Lessons From Five Years of Blue Earth Summit<\/strong><\/h2>\n
1. Don\u2019t Preach\u2014Connect People Through Shared Passions<\/strong><\/h3>\n
2. Work With the System to Change It<\/strong><\/h3>\n
One Action You Can Take Right Now<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Don\u2019t Just Love Nature\u2014Find a Way to Integrate It Into Your Work<\/strong><\/h3>\n