On October 5, 2011, L. Hunter Lovins participated in The National Climate Seminar, a series of webinars sponsored by Bard College’s Center for Environmental Policy. The online seminars provide a forum for leading scientists, writers, and other experts to talk about critical issues regarding climate change. The series also opens a public conversation, inviting participants to ask questions and contribute their own thoughts.

Lovins is President and founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions (NCS / www.natcapsolutions.org). NCS works with businesses, governments, and civil society to develop practices that are sustainable for both people and the environment. Her lecture focused on ways that the United States can pull itself out of the current recession, while preserving natural and human capital.  

This E-ssential is an edited version of Lovins’ talk and the subsequent question and answer session. While some material has been cut and some language modified for clarity, the intention was to retain the substance of the original discussion.