Eco economist Jeffrey Sachs launches institute
16 July 2008
Hundreds of Sydneysiders packed into the Great Hall last night to watch the eminent economist Jeffrey Sachs deliver a speech that focussed on the dwindling resources of an overpopulated planet. The overflow of audience members watched a live feed of the speech from the room next door.
Professor Sachs, whose arrival coincided with the Pope's, kicked off his speech with a wry joke about the welcoming nature of the city's inhabitants, before focussing on the more grim business of global warming, overpopulation and food and water crises.
Sachs, who is one of the world's leading figures on combining economic development with sustainable environmental practices, praised Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for his stance on climate change whilst denouncing the US President George Bush for the invasion of Iraq and for its foreign policy.
The speech was part of the launch of the University's Institute of Sustainable Solutions.
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