Prof. Herbert Girardet

Since the 1980s Herbert has been working as a cultural and urban ecologist – as a writer, film maker, and as an international consultant. In 2007 he was co-founder of the World Future Council and, until 2012, he was its Director of Programmes. He has worked as a consultant to UN-Habitat and UNEP. He has developed sustainability strategies for major cities such as London, Vienna and Bristol. From 2010 to 2013 he was a senior adviser to the Riyadh-based Saudi Sustainability Initiative. In 2003 he was inaugural ‘Thinker in Residence’ in Adelaide, developing sustainable development strategies for South Australia that have been fully implemented.

At the Rio Earth Summit, 1992, he was a recipient of a UN ‘Global 500 Award for Outstanding Environmental Achievements’. He is visiting professor at University of the West of England. From 1996 to 2008 he was chairman of the Schumacher Society, UK, and founder-editor of the Schumacher Briefings. He is an honorary fellow of Royal Institute of British Architects, a patron of the Soil Association, UK, a trustee of Resurgence/ Ecologist, and of Artists Project Earth.

Herbert is author and co-author of 13 factual books, including: BLUEPRINT FOR A GREEN PLANET, 1986 (Dorling Kindersley); EARTHRISE – How we can heal our injured planet, 1992 (Paladin); THE GAIA ATLAS OF CITIES, 1992 and 1996 (Gaia Books); CITIES, PEOPLE, PLANET – Urban Development and Climate Change, 2004 and 2008 (Wiley); SHAPING OUR FUTURE – Creating the World Future Council, 2005 (Green Books); SURVIVING THE CENTURY – Facing Climate Change and other Global Challenges, 2008 (Earthscan); A RENEWABLE WORLD – Energy, Ecology, Equality, 2009 (Green Books): CREATING REGENERATIVE CITIES, 2015 (Routledge). Most of his books have also come out in foreign language editions. He has also written various reports and chapters for other books.

From 1985 to 2000 Herbert also worked as researcher, consultant, producer and director of many TV documentaries for major broadcasters, including the seven-hour TV series FAR FROM PARADISE, 1986; and three films made in the Amazon – JUNGLE PHARMACY, 1987, THE ALTAMIRA GATHERING, 1989, HALTING THE FIRES, 1990. The international TV series, THE PEOPLE’S PLANET, was broadcast in 2000.

He is Co-Founder and a Honorary Councillor of the World Future Council.