We all watched the earth move at State of the Planet (SOP) 2010 literally and figuratively. The backdrop on the main stage in New York was a giant rotating earth, spinning from continent to continent as we connected leaders from around the globe who urged action on issues of climate change, poverty, economic recovery and international systems. And people were listening, with nearly a thousand at the “hub” site in New York and more tuning in on the web to see how they could turn dialogue into action on these issues.
This unprecedented global exchange was made possible through our partnership with The Economist and Ericsson, and with generous support from Charles and Liz Bowlus. The Economist, a SOP partner since 2008, brought clear expertise on the issues of the day and as Earth Institute Director Jeff Sachs noted, “a great place to find, on a weekly basis, what the latest discussions and debates are.” Ericsson, after bringing mobile connectivity to over half a million people in the Millennium Villages in Africa, became a partner in SOP this year for the first time, providing seamless and innovative video technology, a truly unprecedented display of the power of communication.
Jeff Sachs said it best – that these key partners as well as the many stalwart friends and colleagues of the Earth Institute here in New York and beyond are what give us so much heart and enthusiasm. Our supporters’ generosity, curiosity and commitment in participating in meetings, seminars, workshops and research and leadership in their own communities play an indispensible role for the Earth Institute. Jeff thanked all our supporters and expressed the Earth Institute’s commitment back to them and our commitment to the world under the banner of sustainable development.
With this continued generosity from our partners and friends, State of the Planet will be back in two years to once again bring the world together to make sustainable development a reality. In the meantime, we’ll be working every day towards this goal.
