In his lecture, "Priorities for Reducing the Use of Energy and Materials", Prof. Meadows explained what forces can bring about social, political and financial change and what policies could help to reduce some of the most serious consequences.

The huge consumption of energy and raw materials in the developed countries and rising consumption in emerging economies have led the world to the brink of ecological disaster. Only if we succeed decoupling the surge in global economic activity from resource use, it will be possible to continue to create wealth for the people.

The lecture was organized by Bank Austria and the Club of Rome - European Support Centre in Vienna. More information, and the presentation of Prof. Meadows, are available at http://www.clubofrome.at/zukunft/archiv_meadows.html (website in German).

October 26 and 27, the Club of Rome convened in Amsterdam for its 2009 annual Global Assembly. This year's Assembly was the last of seven international conferences of the Club of Rome in the run-up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen in December. Keynote speakers like NASA's James Hansen and former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev addressed the interdependency of the climate, energy and economic crisis and the opportunities they offer for sustainable growth.

More information at: http://www.clubofrome.at/2009/amsterdam/index.html (website in English)