HOUSTON, Sept. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — A new global initiative launched today by DNV GL and the Monday Morning Global Institute aims to identify opportunities for sustainable responses to social, environmental and economic mega challenges.
A series of eight workshops around the globe marks the start of the identification process. The results will be published in the first Global Opportunity Report in January 2015.
The workshops are being held in Johannesburg, San Francisco, Abu Dhabi, London, Mumbai, Oslo, Shanghai, and Sao Paulo. Participants are luminaries from business, academia, NGOs, youth organizations and public office. They will generate recommendations for how societies can prosper and sustain themselves in the face of five key risks: Extreme weather; dependence on fossil fuels; urban breakdown; scarcity of fresh water; rise in chronic diseases.
"Seeing sustainability challenges as opportunities rather than risks might seem a bit optimistic at first glance, but it is a necessary change of mindset," says Bjorn K. Haugland, Chief Sustainability Officer at DNV GL. "We know that we need to act fast and in collaboration if we are to address the problems ahead of us. Looking only at the risks to lifestyles and business as we know it might cloud our vision. The greatest risk we are facing is not seeing the opportunities in the transition to a safe and sustainable future."
"We need the input from all sectors to help identify areas of investment with the promise of creating long-term value for society, not just short-term profit," points out Erik Rasmussen, Founder and CEO of Monday Morning Global Institute.
Following the workshops, a global survey will be carried out to test which of the identified opportunities holds the greatest attraction to stakeholders.
"We don't stop after mapping the opportunities," adds Mr. Rasmussen. The Global Opportunity Report will also test the reception of the identified opportunities by rating them with the help of hundreds of stakeholders. This rating will help identify the areas where strong alliances for sustainable action most likely can be forged."
Building on the coming eight workshops, the project will develop the Global Opportunity Network. The aim of this is to provide an arena to share initiatives on how an opportunity-focused mindset can be furthered and how concrete alliances for sustainability can be forged.
About DNV GL
Driven by the purpose of safeguarding life, property and the environment, DNV GL enables organizations to advance the safety and sustainability of their business. Operating in more than 100 countries, the company's 16,000 professionals are dedicated to helping its customers in the maritime, oil & gas, energy and other industries to make the world safer, smarter and greener.
About Monday Morning Institute
Monday Morning Institute is Scandinavia's largest independent innovation tank, having for 25 year worked on innovating societies. The core in the work is the ambition to identify new insights to build more resilient societies. Monday Morning Global Institute brings the experience with changing agendas and deep knowledge of innovating societies from Monday Morning to the global debate on sustainability.
For more Information, please visit www.globalopportunitynetwork.org
Media Contact:
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