Solving Earth’s Environmental Challenges

If Friends Talking to Friends Won’t Get It Done, Bring Natural Enemies Together

KEY WEST, Fla. – Ed Russo knows what it means to mediate a cat fight. He’s a project director for Donald Trump.

Russo, therefore, was a natural choice to chair the first annual EcoSummit scheduled for Key West, Nov. 2-5. The Summit is an effort to bring together governments, business, industry and conservationists to tackle some of the greatest environmental challenges the world has ever faced.

“The DNA of environmentalists, business, industry and government are very different; they are natural enemies,” said Russo, a resident of Key West since 2001. “They don’t talk to each other. There’s an atmosphere of suspicion. What we’re doing is providing a forum for frank discussion of issues critical to all interests in the hopes they will find common ground on which all concerned stakeholders can build.”

The mission of the EcoSummit is to teach business and industry to be sustainable, using as few of earth’s dwindling natural resources as possible – at the same time improving their bottom lines. Other issues involve dealing with environmental changes that affect sea levels and the destruction of coral reefs on which countless species depend for life and safety. Ways must be found to drill for oil and gas in coastal waters without threatening environmental catastrophe, and reducing the use and disposal of plastics that crowd landfills and never decompose.
During the EcoSummit, participants will showcase the integration of environment, economics, equity and energy concepts – known as E4 – while addressing how to integrate the mission with real life in practical, affordable ways.
And it’s not all work. There will be a wide selection of eco-excursions that contribute to the local economy in socially responsible ways, while showing off the beauty and bio-diversity of the Florida Keys.

EcoSummit organizers don’t expect solutions to materialize during four days in November. But they do hope for serious cross-pollination of ideas that will continue to be defined and refined over the year leading up to the second EcoSummit.

“All fifth graders are environmentalists,” Russo said, “and then there’s some sort of disconnect. Environmentalists become intractable. Business and industry dig in their heels. And government sits on the sidelines trying not to offend anyone. We’re trying to provide a forum where we can break down these walls and make the sort of progress everyone can buy into, the kind of progress that will reverse the environmental threats we face while enriching world economies.”

The EcoSummit, which will be held at the historic Tennessee Williams Theatre, costs $375 for all sessions. One-day packages are available for $150. Reservations can be made at: http://ecoweekfloridakeys.com

For more information contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Jean Heller, The Visions Group, 727.424.4349 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it