Professor Jan Rotmans, world-leader in Transitions to Sustainability, will present to the Taranaki community on 3 August, at ‘Taranaki Transition: our low-emissions future’, a Taranaki-specific event that is part of the Aotearoa Transition Launchpad Series.

Activated by Venture Taranaki, with support from Toi Foundation and the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment, Professor Rotmans will present virtually via Zoom, sharing his expertise on how to navigate, govern and energise sustainable transitions, including bringing together multiple perspectives and stakeholders, bottom-up community initiatives and beyond.

Professor Rotmans was a lead member in the Netherlands' Roadmap Next Economy (RNE), a 2016 society-wide process to craft a transformational living vision and plan for Rotterdam-The Hague.

The process undertaken by Professor Rotmans during the development of the RNE also influenced the formation of the Taranaki 2050 Roadmap.

“The Taranaki 2050 Roadmap team at Venture Taranaki drew inspiration from the RNE and the work undertaken by Professor Rotmans when we were shaping the concept of and process for the Roadmap in 2018,” explains Chief Executive of Venture Taranaki, Justine Gilliland.

“This is an invaluable opportunity for Taranaki, to gain an insight into Professor Rotmans’ research and international experiences, and to see how our Roadmap compares on an international stage,” continues Justine.

“It is fitting that Professor Rotmans has recognised Taranaki as the pioneering region working towards the transition to a low-emissions future in Aotearoa,” Justine says.

Professor Rotmans will share his learnings and insights from the RNE process, as well as exploring where to next, and how this ties in with the Taranaki 2050 Roadmap and pathway plans.

He will also cover learnings about internationally recognised approaches for sustainable transitions, how best to generate momentum, and how to steer such a complex, wide-reaching and dynamic transition.

The session with Professor Rotmans includes a presentation and a substantial Q&A opportunity for attendees.  

More than 120 community members have already registered to attend to hear from Professor Rotmans.

The Aotearoa Transition Launchpad Series will also see Professor Rotmans speak with government agencies in Wellington.

The general public can register their attendance for the 3 August (9am) event here.

Additional information

About Professor Jan Rotmans

Professor Jan Rotmans is a world leader in Transitions to Sustainability - how best to enable and accelerate a shift to a zero-carbon, circular, just society & next economy – a creative and exciting path for the 21st Century.

Combining big-picture vision with tangible realities on the ground, his work helps reframe the approach to transition thinking; stretching across traditional sectors and players, embracing a systems perspective, and helps make sense of the multiple elements at play.

Watch Professor Rotmans' previous TED Talk and 'Transition to a sustainable economy' presentations.

Find out more about the Roadmap Next Economy.

About the Aotearoa Transition Launchpad Series

The Aotearoa Transition Launchpad Series has been organised by Venture Taranaki in collaboration with David Henley of Otago University, supported by Toi, MBIE, and the Dutch Embassy.

Further events with Professor Rotmans in the Aotearoa Transition Launchpad Series are currently being planned for late 2021, including seminars at multiple government agencies, city councils and the Dutch Embassy.