A new year always poses the question of what next? As we come to the end of our 2012 predictions series in which we asked our sustainability experts to share their thoughts on the upcoming 12 months, we'd like to throw the question open to you - what does this year hold for sustainability?
In his piece, Tony Juniper envisages a shift in narrative from sustainability to resilience. If society is to adapt and survive in the face of resource scarcity, ecosystem decline and extreme weather events, he writes, then restoring and protecting natural ecosystems is vital to society.
The need for a change in the financial sector is a clear trend in the series. In her piece, Emma Howard Boyd describes a "subtle, but important, shift towards longer-term thinking across a range of financial institutions" but warns that the pace of change must quicken if capital markets are to facilitate a sustainable economy.
John Sauven echoed her calls for long term investment and placed prominence on the roles of innovative thinking and strategic government in driving sustainable business forward.
In line with this enlightened form of capitalism, Ed Gillespie called for a 'screw business as usual approach' and predicted business leading the way to a more collaborative and creative economy that works primarily for people and planet not simply profit.
Andrew Simms wrote of the growth of a new, greener economy whereby transport, energy, food systems and building stock are all reshaped for a low carbon future, whilst a shift in cultural behaviour patterns sees a steady decrease in over-consumption.
With all these thoughts in mind, we're hosting a live discussion to garner your ideas on where sustainable business is heading this year. What should our realistic aspirations be for 2012, where and what changes need to take place and what role will business play in driving these changes? A selection of our 2012 writers will be online to drive the debate but we would really like you to craft the conversation.
Join us on Thursday 19 January 2pm - 4pm (GMT) for this exciting discussion and feel free to leave your ideas beforehand through signing in to comment here. You can also tweet us a question using #GSB.
The panel:
Andrew Simms founded the climate change, energy and interdependence programmes at the New Economics Foundation, and is author of Ecological Debt: Global Warming and the Wealth of Nations.
Alison Braybrook is managing director of Alison Braybrooks Consulting, a sustainability consultancy that helps companies make a positive social impact.
Ed Gillespie is co-Founder of Futerra Sustainability Communications.
Adrian Henriques is a social auditor and blogs at www.henriques.info. He is a member of Guardian Sustainable Business' advisory panel.
Maria Adebowale is director and founder of Capacity Global, a think tank and social enterprise working on environmental justice.
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