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The Prince of Wales introduces the Business and Environment Programme's 2007 London Lecture
1st February 2007
The Prince of Wales introduced one of the world’s leading retailers at the 2007 London lecture of his Business & the Environment Programme (BEP) today.
H. Lee Scott, Chief Executive of US firm Wal-Mart, the guest speaker at the Banqueting House in London, outlined his vision for businesses to use their influence to achieve sustainable business practice.
The Prince of Wales's Business & the Environment Programme’s London lectures are held every three years and are one of the key events within the Programme’s calendar of activities.
Attended by around 400 guests, including Environment Secretary David Milliband, the lectures act as a premier international forum for business leadership, and are an opportunity for the alumni network and representatives from the business community to hear from a key global business figure.
The BEP was established in 1994 and is run by the University of Cambridge Programme for Industry. It helps senior executives explore the business case for sustainable development and integrate sustainability principles into their organisations.
The Prince made a brief speech to the audience before Mr Scott’s keynote address.
His Royal Highness said: "As the leader of one of the world's largest corporations, Mr Scott is in a position of extraordinary influence.
"Like other major international retailers, the decisions taken by his corporation can make a huge difference to our world - and indeed to humanity generally."
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, of course I don't need to tell any of you that true sustainable development is about far more than the environment alone. It is about building a society both now and for future generations in which the natural and social capital are in harmony.
"My point is that to achieve this we urgently need leaders who are willing to make the first move.
"If I may say so my challenge for each of you here tonight is 'What are you going to be first at? Where can you, and your organisation, lead the way on sustainability?'"
Lee Scott, Chief Executive of Wal-Mart, which owns the Asda chain, highlighted the strides his company is taking in adopting eco-friendly policies in an address to The Prince of Wales and business leaders.
He said: "We all have an opportunity to be more sustainable, but, even more, we all have the responsibility to be more sustainable.
"We need to be sustainable companies and countries made up of people who live sustainable lives."
"If we do that, if we do it throughout the coming decades, I believe we will make sustainability sustainable.
"And this generation will leave a healthier humanity and a healthier planet to future generations."
The Prince arrived at Banqueting House on foot after walking the short distance from Clarence House and walked back at the end of the event.
Last year, The Prince launched a review of all his travel arrangements and those of his household to see where changes could be made to reduce carbon emissions.
After the speech around 40 key members of the audience attended a private dinner at Clarence House.
Click here to read The Prince's speech.