As the scale and urgency of climate emergency becomes ever more apparent, urgent action is required on the critical challenges of protecting the environment and supporting sustainable development.

Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency and UK Commissioner to the Global Commission on Adaptation, delivered the 2019 RSA President’s Lecture on 31 October 2019 at RSA House.

In the lecture, Emma Howard Boyd called on governments, industry, public agencies and civil society to forge new alliances and create new possibilities for action. At a time of global flux and uncertainty, Emma also discussed the guiding principles of leadership that are needed to drive transformational change.

The event built upon the positive reception of the final report published by the FFCC, and on the RSA’s reputation as a trusted convener of honest, positive and future-focused conversations. It took place at a critical moment for those engaged in decision-making and practice across the triple challenge of climate adaption, protecting nature and people’s health and wellbeing.

The lecture was introduced by HRH The Princess Royal, RSA President and Tim Eyles, RSA Chairman. Sue Pritchard, Chief Executive, Food, Farming and Countryside Commission, chaired the discussion.

Note: this event was originally published on the RSA website (Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce), which hosted the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission between November 2017-April 2020.