Speakers & Moderators

If you have heard of footprint, as in carbon footprint or ecological footprint, you already met Dr. Mathis Wackernagel. He conceived and developed this metric with his PhD advisor Bill Rees 30 years ago. Now, it has become commonplace for human impact on our planet.
Over 20 years ago, he co-founded Global Footprint Network, a sustainability think-tank, known for its annual calculations comparing the footprint and biocapacity of every country on Earth. Many cite the key statistics from these accounts: humanity is now using 1.7 Earths. This organization is also known for its annual Earth Overshoot Day. This day is regularly featured in over 100 countries around the globe. Mathis has engaged with national governments, international organizations, corporations and cities to address the implications of ecological overshoot for their ability to operate successfully in a future of climate change and resource constraints.
His awards include the 2024 “Nobel Sustainability Award” of the Nobel family’s Sustainability Trust, the 2024 “Orden de la Democracia Simón Bolivar” from the Colombian parliament, the 2018 World Sustainability Award, the 2015 IAIA Global Environment Award, and the 2012 Blue Planet Prize and several honorary doctorates.